Threats to our biodiversity, changes in rainfall patterns, public health risks: all are effects brought about by climate change. COP26, or the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, took place last October 31 to November 12, 2021, where world leaders gathered to accelerate climate change solutions. 18-year-old activist Greta Thunberg stated that COP26 is a failure since leaders of developed countries are still refusing to take any drastic action. But are these countries’ governments really not taking enough action, or are people simply seeking too immediate a change in our world?
Thunberg always emphasizes that the numbers are clear, so let’s take a look at them. Shocking to some, we have already made a lot of progress throughout the years through numerous projects such as the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty that has helped reduce chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons — two substances that contribute to climate change.
However, regardless of whether or not governments are doing their part, we have to focus more on ourselves, as we are major contributors to climate change. It is our job to check ourselves and contribute to helping out in this crisis. Our everyday activities such as the vehicles we use, the food we eat, and the choices we make can further worsen our situation. We are accountable for the damages we cause.
This is a major problem that numerous people miss. As much as we hate to admit it, sometimes we are just so fixated on the progress of governments and how they aren’t enough that some of us forget we all have a crucial role to play as well.
Now, it is important to note that climate change is a global issue, and the choices that one country makes affect others as well. Christopher Knittel, a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management stated, “The first key feature of climate change that puts it at odds with past environmental issues is that it’s a global pollutant, rather than a local pollutant. [Whether] I release a ton of CO2 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or in London, it does the same damage to the globe.”
Though China and other countries are emitting more carbon dioxide, all countries are facing damages and the effect of great amounts of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
This crisis is extremely significant in the Philippines as seen through various phenomena like Typhoon Odette which ravaged the country last December. With the Philippines being so close to the equator and an archipelago directly facing the Pacific Ocean, we are extremely vulnerable to climate change with millions of Filipinos at risk of losing their homes. We experience several impacts such as rising sea levels and growing numbers of extreme weather events, endangering our population.
This is a big issue that everyone is responsible for. It is our job to lend a hand and not just rely on our governments to fix this problem.
As students, we can advocate climate change by not only spreading awareness but also by being conscious of how our actions affect the environment around us. We can start with little steps like not buying items that don’t last long, respecting the environment, and conserving the energy that we use at home. These small deeds go a long way and help our world and future generations progress to having a better tomorrow.
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