Education

In order to properly comprehend and act upon the threatening environmental issues that prevail in today’s society, it is critical to understand the basic terms of climate change, climate justice, and climate action. 

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Many scientists have warned that Earth is currently in a pivotal moment in time where it has roughly a decade before it reaches an irreversible environmental condition. However, despite the countless warnings from experts and Instagram posts on climate change, there is still information that many have yet to learn about. 

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Climate Change 

The comprehension of climate change is fundamental; however, it is not an exclusive term. Concepts such as climate justice and climate action are closely related, as well. 

 

Climate change was defined by The United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as “a change in climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable periods of time.” 

 

The concept is not simply a synonym for global warming, nor is it a “future problem”. Despite climate change being a natural ecological phenomenon that distinguishes our changing environment, it is an event that is being altered and accelerated chiefly by society. 

 

It is through harmful human-driven activities that climate change is sustained and allowed to pose many dangers for the planet, and, consequently, society. It is realities such as excessive emission of Greenhouse Gasses (GHG), the burning of fossil fuels, contamination, and more that pave the way for the drastic and unstable changes in the environment that we are already facing. 

 

Human-inflicted actions like these are the reason why sea levels are rising, droughts, heatwaves, and different storms are becoming more frequent and intense, crops are less, coastlines are eroding, and more. They are also actions that undeniably correlate to significant and disproportionate environmental disparities in communities. 

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Climate Justice 

Climate change is a global event that excludes no country, community, or person. Like many other issues in society, climate change also affects some more than others, in this case, it is the impoverished and vulnerable communities. 

 

According to the UN’s Climate Justice for a Changing Planet: A Primer for Policy Makers and NGOs by Barbara Adams and Gretchen Luchsinger, climate justice is defined as “an agenda that seeks to redress global warming by reducing disparities in development and power that drive climate change and continued injustice. This implies transformative changes and the need to look beyond national boundaries to what is good for the world as a whole.”

 

According to Daisy Simmons (2020) from Yale University, climate justice is a term and a movement that acknowledges climate change can have differing social, economic, public health, and other adverse impacts on underprivileged populations. 

 

Climate justice brings forth the ethical and political injustices present in underrepresented communities within society that are more susceptible to the effects of climate change. Namely, it is the equitable consideration and inclusion of every social group  in the development of initiatives (considering every sector) that might involve environmental repercussions, pre-contemplated or not. 

 

As Earth’s environmental condition worses, the lack of climate justice is more present now more than ever. For this reason, it is important to distinguish the different ways to act upon climate justice. Some of these actions include: ensuring the equitable and effective inclusion of impacted communities in social and political planning and decision making; monitoring climate action; demanding and ensuring equitable fund distribution; recognizing human rights as a transversal element (Puentes Riaño, 2019). 

 

Other, more personal, ways climate justice can be encouraged can include adopting more sustainable habits and educating others about Earth’s environmental condition and how this has significant negative impacts on select groups of people within society.

 

In order to promote and act upon climate justice, it is important to place climate action as the pivotal point of engagement and education in society. 

Climate Action

As of 2016, the UN created the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in which climate action is the 13th goal.

 

As defined by the UN’s Development Programme (UNDP), climate action refers to “stepped-up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-induced impacts, including: climate-related hazards in all countries; integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; and improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity with respect to climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” 

 

Climate action takes various forms and goes to different lengths. It is a practice that can be done in both a collective and individual manner. However, it is certainly most effective on a team effort. 

 

Ideally, if every person, community, and corporation gave their part in becoming more sustainable--or simply more conscious about the effects of climate change--the planet’s condition would drastically change in a positive way. However, not everyone can be sustainable, and not every corporation favors pivoting to a more sustainable business or production model. 

 

Nevertheless, the truest and most effective way of taking and promoting climate action is by simply educating others, as well as proposing sustainable options and ideas to work, community, or religious related groups and schools/universities, not supporting unsustainable and harmful companies, using less plastic, and more. By taking these measures, climate action is undeniably taking place.

 

At the 2019 73rd UN General Assembly on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, scientists and speakers at the Assembly warned that there are only 11 years left to prevent irreversible damage due to climate change.

 

The assembly's President, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, remarked, “We are the last generation that can prevent irreparable damage to our planet.” 

 

It is no longer a matter of wanting to be part, it is a matter of having to participate. Climate action is not only society’s most viable measure at saving the planet and vulnerable communities, it is simply the only. 

 

We don’t need solutions, we need action.