In recent months, Greta Thunberg has become a household name as well as the unspoken leader of the global movement to bring attention to and put an end to what she calls the climate crisis. No matter what you know it as – whether it be climate change, global warming, or even something else along those lines – our environment is crumbling around us and we must all come together to change our ways before the damage we have caused becomes irreversible.
In May, Thunberg was featured on the cover of TIME magazine and was named a Next Generation Leader. Her work has garnered international attention, and she has made waves in schools across the world as well as being recognized by leading politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. AOC and Thunberg are two of the leading forces of the climate-justice movement, and they were featured on the cover of The Guardian in June.
Thunberg, who is taking a year off from school to focus on her activism, has been leading strikes once a week in various places across the world. These strikes are known as Fridays for Future and are geared at getting students involved in climate activism as a method of raising awareness for the planet’s most pressing issue. Getting students across the world involved in climate activism is a direct result of Thunberg’s weekly strikes, and it has drawn more attention to the climate crisis than ever before.
We are facing a critical point where we must take action before it is too late for the effects of climate change to be stopped, and in the best of cases, reversed. Although it was said that we had 12 years to save the planet, more recent research has shown that we have as little as 18 months to start making drastic changes. Our window of opportunity to change our ways and cut emissions back gets smaller every day, and Thunberg is spreading that knowledge through her strikes and the talks that she gives around the world.
At a TED Talk in Stockholm last year, Thunberg talked about the inaction from people around the world and the pressing need for some serious changes to take place. One of the most resonating parts of her talk was when she mentioned that hope, on its own, will not solve the climate crisis we are facing. She said, “instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then, hope will come.”
What many people don’t realize is that the climate crisis is not only impacting humans. Our actions are directly impacting the future for animals and plants as well—this encompasses everything from the livelihood of future generations to the mere existence of many of the species that we are familiar with today. Based on recent data, about 200 species go extinct every day, and sea levels are rising at an alarming rate. Global weather patterns have become more severe, and populations all over the world are facing unprecedented conditions when it comes to floods, fires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
The bulk – if not all – of these environmental issues are a direct cause of human actions. And while positive human action is necessary to help save the planet, the kind of practices I’m talking about here are definitely on the negative side of this argument. Between soil degradation, deforestation, overfishing, greenhouse gas emissions as well as pollution, there are many things that we do as a population that negatively contribute to the environment. We are truly in the midst of a crisis, and we must all change our ways in order to see some positive long-term effects.
When it comes to the climate crisis, the facts can be discouraging and even a bit scary. Thankfully, through the work of climate activists such as Thunberg and all of the students that have taken part in her weekly school strikes, some things may be changing sooner than expected. Our generation is taking matters into their own hands and making our voices heard when it comes to issues that we feel strongly about. While it’s scary to think about the fact that generations before ours mishandled information about climate change and decided not to take action before it was too late, our time to change our ways and preserve the planet as much as possible is long overdue. It says a lot about the climate crisis that it has taken young people and their hard work to start seeing this an issue that deserves international attention and action.
There are countless things that we can do in our everyday lives to combat some of the issues that I mentioned above. When it comes to getting legislation passed and forcing large corporations to change their malpractices, contacting representatives, spreading information by word of mouth, and participating in climate strikes such as the ones that Thunberg leads on a regular basis. These are a great way to draw attention to the cause as well as let members of local or even national governments know that this issue is important to you.
Reducing waste is another common method of switching over to a more sustainable lifestyle. Things as simple as skipping plastic bags at the grocery store and taking your own can make a lasting difference. It will definitely take more than everyone simply turning down plastic straws to make a lasting difference, but there are eco-friendly alternatives to every product out there! Here is a list of simple, cost-effective, and manageable ways that you can live a more sustainable life.
- Buy an extra set of silverware to keep with you (in a backpack, purse, etc.), so you don’t have to use plastic ones at quick-service restaurants. Bamboo utensils have become popular recently, but any kind will work!
- Buy reusable zip-lock bags to avoid throwing bags away after every use. Stasher bags are my personal favorite, and I use them every day! They have a wide variety of sizes and designs available.
- Take a reusable bottle or tumbler with you everywhere you go! I always have a water bottle with me (Hydro Flasks are my personal favorite) and like to store my KeepCup in my backpack for mid-day coffee runs.
- Try to limit the amount of packaged food that you buy. Instead of buying pre-cut carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower, buying the whole vegetables can save you money and reduce the amount of plastic in your groceries! While chopping your own vegetables might seem like a lot more work, it only takes a few minutes and your food will be fresher than the packaged version would be.
There has also been a push for going zero-waste in recent months, but this may not be a feasible option for everyone. As college students, a lot of us don’t have too many options when it comes to regular access to zero-waste food items such as produce. Although the zero-waste lifestyle is a good goal to keep in mind, it can be overwhelming to try to cut everything out at once. Instead, I recommend working toward being as waste-free as possible, but to not be too hard on yourself when it comes to using things that are packaged. If anything, try to reuse it! Get creative with leftover glass jars and save cardboard boxes transporting or storing items. Every time I receive a package, I keep the box for the next time that I move! It saves me from having to buy moving boxes the next time I need them and is a really simple way to limit my waste.
Making small changes to your diet can also have a very positive effect on the environment. I’ve been vegan for nearly two years now and love to make recipes for friends and family to try! Just like cutting out plastic, the transition to a plant-based lifestyle should be gradual. For some people, completely cutting out all animal products can be too much at once. Simply making a few vegan meals a week or even trying a new vegan recipe every week can be a great way to try new foods and learn about vegan alternatives! There are tons of online resources for going vegetarian or vegan, and there’s a lot of information available about why they’re more eco-friendly lifestyles.
As we are in the midst of a critical point in history where we have the ability to prevent the worst from happening to our planet, I urge you to think about the ways you might be able to contribute to climate movement. We can all make a difference, but we must act now if we want to ensure that the planet is still around for future generations.