Article Series:The Silver Lining - Youth Involvement in Climate Change Action | T.Nikolov, I.Ristova
- Andriy Kumanovskyy
- Sep 3, 2019
- 3 min read
Greta Thunberg. Fridays for Future Movement. Youth for Climate Action UN.
These are but a few of what are now globally renowned symbols of our fight against climate change. We say our as it is no longer a fight that only a select few have chosen to pursue. Instead it is a fight that crosses borders and brings together those least likely to agree on much of anything else. Who is leading the charge? Who are the ones everyone is looking excitingly at? The youth of today, or in other words, the leaders of tomorrow.
In this article series we will pursue a new perspective on the Climate Change fight. We will present to you unique thoughts and perspectives on everything from the latest research of health impacts due to the changing climate to some exciting campaigns, approaches, facts and statistics that have spread awareness and changed consumers’ behavior. Then, we will produce a checklist, one that individual persons, and more importantly small corporations, will be able to fill out to receive their “Reduce and Reuse Approved” badge.
Setting the Stage: Who Owns the Earth?
Central to the whole debate of climate change action is who will it impact, and by extension, who must act upon it. By far, one of the best answers to this question that we have across is the one that states: “We do not own the environment, but instead, borrow it from our children, who borrow it from their children.”
Taking this long-term perspective, which expertly side-steps any boundaries on politics and/or national interests, it becomes quite clear that it is not a question of ownership we must debate, but rather care. As such we come to a new question:
“Have you taken good care of the environment you borrowed from your future children?”
We have a responsibility to the people we love and generations to come. This might be the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced - we owe this win to them.
Our Next Article: But what can one person do?
Ah, yes. How can one individual positively impact a phenomena that stretches across the globe and beyond? Climate change is scientific. It includes ozone layers and gas-exchanges and carbon-equivalents that an average lay-person has little control over. So, what can you do?
The answer? Lead by example. Our first article of the series will look at examples of individuals that have been able to enact change either within their own small circles, or on a global scale. It will look at which approaches have proven to be the most effective, which awareness campaigns have provided dividends, and which small actions can have incredible impact.
It’s time to get people everywhere talking about this issue. It’s time to spread awareness. It’s time to protect the planet. It’s time to protect ourselves.
And Later On: So, does this impact our health?
Climate change isn’t just bad for the planet’s health – it’s bad for people’s health too. The environment is providing us with oxygen, food, water, shelter, and security and those things are way too fundamental to ignore.
According to the World Health Organization, “Climate change is among the greatest health risks of the twenty-first century. Rising temperatures and more extreme weather events cost lives directly, increase transmission and spread of infectious diseases, and undermine the environmental determinants of health, including clean air and water, and sufficient food.”
Changes in a person’s physical health or surrounding environment can also have a serious impact on their mental health.
In the next article series, we'll explain to you the connection between weather conditions and public health. We will also show you how can we fight back - providing you solutions that can help us improve the quality of life and work toward a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
Comments