In the past, the average global temperature has shot up much higher and plunged much lower than today. But what's problematic today is that humans have collectively impacted the natural pace of climate change.
The truth lies in front of us, still, we try hard to ignore it. The reality of climate change lies in front of us. Let us be frank with ourselves, we all know of climate change though we try to overlook it. Putting a stop to climate change is one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations or the U.N. Yet no actions to stop climate change are in sight. Arranging and attending climate summits isn’t going to stop climate change, in fact, it just increases the carbon footprint of individuals who are flying all over the world to attend these summits. These talks set the goals but who is working on them? The United Nations has even said that we perhaps have just a little over a decade left to limit climate change-driven disaster. To initiate action against climate change, some places have declared a state of climate emergency since 2016. In December 2016, Derabin, a city in Sydney, Australia became first in the world to declare a climate emergency. Last May, the UK became the first country to declare a climate emergency. There is no exact definition for the term itself, places have their own approaches to this, some places, for example, have the aim to achieve zero carbon emission while others have promised electric cars and sustainable homes and such. But the reality is that a vast majority has not yet declared a climate emergency yet. Nevertheless, one age group is working relentlessly to change the certainty of the future and that age group is that of the YOUTH. With a lot of energy and hope to change their future, the youth is working day and night to slow down this climate change disaster. They believe that they can bring change to everyone's lives. They are not just writing and speaking but are also proving their worry about the future by organizing climate protests and marches against climate change. It is not just the youth of one country but youth from all over the world. They have made it clear to the governments worldwide that if they do not take climate change seriously and do not start taking actions in time then there will be no people to elect the government and none to govern the people. Now another question that arises is why only the young are working on this so passionately? Why is everyone in this world not helping and guiding to stop climate change? Since there is no authoritative answer to this , I will answer to satisfy myself. People think that we are still a long way from being directly affected from climate change.What they don’t understand is that it is affecting us daily. The intensifying heat during the summers and the rising cold of the chilly winters are all signs of climate change. But if they still don’t realize then we have to make them understand. This is already in progress. What started as an isolated strike by the teenager Greta Thunberg in Sweden last year has grown into a full-blown students’ movement against climate change. Though Greta Thunberg could be called the face of the movement, several young activists all over the world are doing their bit to make a difference. Young climate protesters have grabbed the attention of the world. In the United Nations, they made it loud and clear that they were not going to grin and bear the brunt of climate inaction. Millions of children, in an attempt to shift global gaze to climate, skipped school to join the climate march. Students demanded that governments cut greenhouse gas emissions and frame stronger environmental laws. These young voices believe in changing their future the way they want it to be. The world is staring at a climate emergency and its effects. Thankfully, some of them are driving change. They believe in themselves and in us.
On September 23, Greta delivered a dominantly influential speech at the UN Climate Summit accusing the world leaders of failing her generation.
She said, "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are at the beginning of mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”
But that’s not all. Thunberg lives what she believes in – to lower her carbon footprint, she is vegan and also does not fly but rather uses a carbon-free emission boat.
Droughts.
Floods.
Severe storms.
Climate change is here and its impacts are only going to get worse - unless we act now. Whether it is organizing a climate strike or using reusable bags, young people from around the world are taking actions - small and big - to protect their future.
So do your little part in taking climate action today, because it is only together that we can create a better world.
If you are a youth reading this or even an adult then you can do your bit by taking these 6 actions right now!
1. Use a refillable water bottle and coffee cup.
2. Air dry your hair and clothes.
3. Take short showers.
4. Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum.
5. Bring your own bag when you shop.
6. Speak up
And after you start doing all this do one more thing- Educate Yourself
You don’t need to believe what people tell you. You can find out for yourself. Educate yourself about the impact of climate change on your life and others. Calculate your carbon footprint and find out ways to reduce it. Find out about your rights when it comes to climate change.
It is said that youth with dreams become adults with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such vision – because it isn’t enough to simply talk about bringing change. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to simply believe in it. One must work at it. Let us work at it. Together. Starting now.
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