No Act Is Too Small for Climate Change
Climate change is the phrase that represents a catastrophic, doomsday, and complex network of solutions that obviously beyond our reach. So many people say that it’s the responsibility of the policymakers. Some say it is the businesses responsibility, and some say that it’s a sign of doomsday where God will come and save the people who believe in God. And some will say that by stop drinking water from plastic bottle won’t change the climate!
So, why bother changing our way of living for something that we know is unavoidable?
- A sign of doomsday
The main world’s religions are so looking forward to the end of days. The world will come to an end because they believe that God will come and separate the believers and the non-believers and put them in heaven or hell. So, why bother us to save the Earth if the world is going to end anyway, right?
Now, I’m a follower of Jesus, so I do believe in doomsday. But if we continue to live our life with ignorance of our environment, one day we will destroy the Earth and somehow, we arrive at the doomsday that we make. A human-made doomsday!
One thing I know for sure, I don’t want to die knowing that I am a part of a society that create doomsday. I want to die peacefully, knowing that I have contributed my best to the environment.
2. The responsibility of the businesses
The customer’s demand is what drives businesses. For example, if the customers don’t care about where their clothes come from, it’s a good business because they can continue what they have been doing so far. But if the customer’s start demanding to know where their clothes come from and how it made fairly, companies will have to rethink and create products that cater to the customers’ demand.
3. Is it only the responsibility of the government?
When I started volunteering for climate action, I learned something important, “Politicians don’t create political will; they respond to it.” It makes sense, right? It makes me understand all my “why” questions for so many years.
We, the citizens, should create the political will. If we, the citizens, push our government to do something about climate change, they will eventually respond. Government is not the leader of the nation; it’s the people. If we want climate change actions, maybe it’s time for us to choose policymakers supporting climate actions.
4. Stop drinking water from plastic bottle won’t change the climate.
No, it won’t! It won’t if only a fraction of the world’s population do it. But what if more than 51% world’s population stop drinking from a plastic bottle? It’s a whole different story!
It might bring lower profit for water plastic bottle brands and their stakeholders. It might push them to rethink their products, packaging, and how they should present their brand to meets the customer’s demand.
We’ve seen it already nowadays! With the rise of reusable water bottles & reusable packaging, automobile companies start producing electric vehicles, and manufacturers begin to look into renewable energy to power their facilities. Even Japan is in the process of making renewable energy powered vessels.
So, where should I start?
I cannot tell you how to do it. I can only share with you my experience, and hopefully, it will inspire you to start taking action yourself.
- Where do I want to work?
I’m not an angel. I had more than ten years of experience working with businesses that are contributing to carbon emissions. I had many business traveling activities that I couldn’t even count how much carbon emissions I produced.
But I have to start somewhere if I want to be a part of the solution for climate change. Having experience working in many businesses allows me to choose where I want to work. I choose carefully. I aim for small local businesses, and if possible, with a mission to support the environment.
2. Volunteering in non-profit organizations
I have been doing lots of volunteering activities like planting trees, beach clean-ups, and teaching children about the importance of the environment.
Currently, I am volunteering at Citizens Climate Lobby Australia, where they lobby Australian politicians to put a price on carbon and return that price as a dividend to the Australians, known as The Australian Climate Dividend. I am also volunteering at Western Australia Naturalist Club, a not-for-profit club that promotes and protect the Western Australia natural environment and wildlife.
Check out your local not-for-profits and see which one that you can volunteer.
3. Change my lifestyle
You cannot say you are taking action on climate change without changing your life daily. However, changing a lifestyle is a life-long journey. So, take your time to change.
I started by taking one action every year.
a. My first year was to stop drinking water from a plastic bottle and always use a reusable shopping bag for shopping.
b. My second year was to stop using a plastic straw and separate my trash.
c. My third year was still about separating my trash but also find ways how to reduce my waste.
And it goes on and on from year to year until I have a 100% conscious lifestyle someday.
4. Expand your knowledge
There are many aspects of climate change, and one cannot be an expert in all aspects. Even the scientists can be an expert in one thing at a time.
Expand your knowledge. Read and watch, not just what you want to hear but also what you don’t want to hear. I watched what Donald Trump said about climate change; I listened to what the religious leaders spoke about climate change. But I also watched Attenborough’s movies to see how the environment has changed, and I read what scientists are saying, even if it scares me.
Now, if each one of us takes one small climate action, multiply it by 1.398 billion people (the total population of China in 2019), can we say that our movement is too small?
