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0 Climate change is a global problem that directly affects the environment. Scientists have warned that there is a limit of 1.5°C that the planet’s temperature can increase to prevent climate disruptions and other associated climate disasters like world hunger, heatwaves, floods, and conflicts over resources (Climate Clock, 2015). In major cities like Berlin, Germany; New York, NY; Seoul, South Korea; Rome, Italy and Glasgow, Ireland, massive “Climate Clocks” show a countdown to the deadline of limiting global warming to 1.5°C by 2029 before the harm is irreversible (Climate Clock, 2015). This article will discuss the climate change and what a person can do to have an individual impact on climate change.
Climate change is often seen as the responsibility of corporations and governments. Corporations are viewed as having the most significant impact on climate change. A global non-profit Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) report in 2017 found that only 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global industrial greenhouse gases, and more than half of global industrial emissions can be attributed to 25 corporate and state producers since 1988 (CDP, 2017). The lack of action by politicians, policymakers, and government officials to curb the damage done by corporations through penalties is also to blame for climate change. Proposed penalties pushed by some politicians or even new solutions to the climate crisis are often dismissed by politicians in opposing parties. For example, the proposed Green New Deal championed by United States Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which would try to reduce the United States’ gas emissions to zero, would address climate change’s impact on oppressed minority groups and create millions of jobs in the renewable energy sector, failed to pass in the Senate in 2019 (D’Souza, 2019). Some politicians diminish the crisis of climate change or even refuse to believe that it exists, instead mocking those who care and influencing their supporters to also ignore it, like former president Donald Trump, who once argued against global warming existing because it was cold outside that day (People’s World, 2019).
Canada’s Impact on Climate Change
In Canada, there have been some actions taken to mitigate climate change. Canada ratified the legally binding Paris Climate Agreement in 2016 and vowed to reduce Canada’s contribution to climate change (CBC News, 2019). By 2030, Canada has promised to cut emissions by at least 40-45% (CBC News, 2019). The Pact for a Green New Deal was also created in 2019 by Greenpeace Canada and has millions of supporters who push for the Canadian government to impose its own Green New Deal to answer the climate crisis and the inequality it enforces (CBC News, 2019).
While it is clear that climate change can be blamed on corporations and politicians who refuse to act, individuals are also partially responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, it was estimated that the average Canadian produces 14.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide, 5.7 tonnes more than the average United Kingdom citizen (Bernstien, 2021). This footprint includes food, housing, transportation, goods, leisure, and services (Bernstien, 2021).
Solutions
There are many ways methods and decisions that one can make to decrease their individual impact on climate change. Individuals can make easy solutions and changes to try to mitigate their carbon footprint. When purchasing vehicles, individuals can research and opt for more environmentally friendly ones. It is recommended that individuals stop participating in fast fashion and buying mass-produced clothing, as these items are produced in ecologically harmful factories with materials that do not break down (like polyester and acrylic) and often end up in landfills (Hayes, 2015). Individuals should instead buy products made with more sustainable materials, like recycled cotton or organic hemp, made by sustainable clothing brands (Hayes, 2015). Buy cleaning products that are marked as environmentally friendly or made with better chemicals for the environment. Buy food products produced in season and regionally instead of exotic and out of season. Use energy-efficient appliances, smart thermostats, and double or triple-glazed windows.
However, many of the presented solutions to being more environmentally friendly and sustainable to reduce one’s carbon footprint can alienate lower-income individuals. These solutions often recommend making new purchases to replace already-owned items. Replacing these items costs money and is usually more expensive than existing alternatives. Sustainably made clothing is more expensive than fast fashion. Environmentally friendly products are also more expensive because their materials are more expensive. Sometimes seasonally and regionally produced products are also more costly. Many of these environmentally friendly solutions place lower-income individuals who want to reduce their carbon footprint at an impasse as they must decide between being environmentally friendly and financially responsible.
There are other, more accessible, and cheaper ways to reduce their carbon footprint that do not alienate low-income individuals. People can lower their meat and dairy consumption, as farm animals produce nearly 14% of human-induced carbon emissions, and cattle produce methane gasses (Levitt, 2021). Public transport or carpooling whenever possible is better for carbon emissions and often cheaper than driving everywhere. Starting a compost and using food waste for soil to produce fruits and vegetables is better than buying fertilizer, as synthetic fertilizers emit carbon dioxide. Food waste can also be limited by using recipes that call for all parts of the food (the recently popularized trend of ‘scrappy cooking’) or preserving fruits and vegetables in jars. Turning off electronic devices when not in use helps with carbon emissions and energy bills. People can also make sustainable versions of everyday household products like green cleaning products, laundry detergent, lotion, and soap to limit their single-use plastic and use of harmful chemicals. Voting is another way people can lower the overall carbon footprint of Canada by voting for politicians who advocate for climate action and have concrete plans to make a difference.
The Sustainable Community Aid Network (SCAN) is currently running its Sustainability on My Mind program. This program teaches Malton, Mississauga residents ways they can be self-sufficient and environmentally friendly. We recently ran a workshop where participants learned how to start a mason jar herb garden. We also have one coming up on May 31, where they will learn about food preservation.
Although climate change seems like a daunting problem bigger than ourselves, there are things that the individual can do. We are all responsible for making these changes and doing our best for the environment, whether making smarter purchasing decisions or using easy at-home methods. By using the methods mentioned, a person can change their individual impact on climate change.
References
Bernstien, J. (2021, October 11). Canadians are among the world’s worst carbon emitters. Here’s what we can do about it. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/how-canadians-can-cut-carbon-footprints-1.6202194
CBC News. (2019, May 10). A Green New Deal for Canada: What it means. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-newsletter-green-new-deal-canada-1.5129864
CDP. (2017, July 10). New report shows just 100 companies are source of over 70% of emissions. Cdp.net. https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/media/new-report-shows-just-100-companies-are-source-of-over-70-of-emissions
Climate Clock. (2015). Science. Climate Clock. https://climateclock.world/science
Combined Sources. (2019, January 30). Trump’s absurd attempt to use cold spell to deny global warming. People’s World. https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/trumps-absurd-attempt-to-use-cold-spell-to-deny-global-warming/
D’Souza, D. (2019, March 5). Understanding the Green New Deal & what’s in the climate proposal. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/the-green-new-deal-explained-4588463
Hayes, A. (2015, August 17). Fast fashion explained and how it impacts retail manufacturing. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fast-fashion.asp
Levitt, T. (2021, October 27). What’s the beef with cows and the climate crisis? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/27/whats-the-beef-with-cows-and-the-climate-crisis
The Solutions Project. (2020). What is The Green New Deal? – proposal summary guide. The Solutions Project. https://thesolutionsproject.org/info/what-is-the-green-new-deal-proposal-summary-guide/
- Impact of a 1.5° C Increase - May 26, 2023
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- Individual Impact on Climate Change - May 12, 2023
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