To stave off a climate catastrophe, the world needs to cut emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gasses by 50 per cent within the decade.
For many, ambitious targets such as this can induce a sense of dread and paralysis.
But ahead of International Mother Earth Day on 22 April, experts say there is a lot we can do as individuals to counter the climate crisis. At the top of the list: pushing governments and businesses to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are upending Earth’s climate.
“The climate crisis can be overwhelming to think about, but we need all hands on deck right now,” says Niklas Hagelberg, Coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) programme on Climate Change. “Through collective action, people really can reduce emissions substantively and build resilience to climate change.”
UNEP recently launched Act Now: Speak Up, a campaign that showcases how citizens can compel governments and businesses to up their climate game. Its goal is to spur the kind of systemic change that Hagelberg says will be crucial to limiting planetary warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, considered a red line for the Earth.
Here are five ways you can combat the climate crisis, courtesy of Act Now: Speak Up:
Approach your local government
Addressing the climate crisis requires political will. You can familiarize yourself with issues related to the climate crisis and where political candidates in your area stand. Use your vote to support those committed to reducing emissions, and call on others to take climate action more seriously.
By writing letters, organizing meetings, arranging political debates and joining a political party, you can encourage leaders to commit to the goals of the Paris Agreement, increase the transparency around climate policies and devote resources to adapting to existing climate-related challenges. Also, call on them to shift subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy and energy efficiency, commit to ecosystem restoration projects, and use public funds to finance green technology and innovation.
Urge businesses to take action
Businesses must promote sustainability – not only to safeguard the planet, but also to ensure their own long-term stability. You can urge your employers and the leadership groups of other businesses to embrace the goals of the Paris Agreement and to join the Race to Zero, which outlines how businesses can become carbon neutral by 2050.
Ask your company to take the peat-free pledge and commit to No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation (NDPE) policies. You can also call on corporate leaders to reduce their emissions in line with scientific evidence by emailing, writing open letters or through social media.
Ensure your investments make a positive impact
You can support sustainable development by choosing socially responsible financial institutions, such as those that are signatories to the UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). UNEP FI convenes alliances dedicated to net-zero targets in asset ownership, banking and insurance. The 400 investors, banks and insurers that are signatories all set strong standards for green investments.
If your financial institution is not a member, you can review its operating policies and commitments to ensure it promote net-zero operations. If it doesn’t, either urge it to join UNEP FI or switch to a member of UNEP FI to ensure your money supports green options. Additionally, you can reference the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment, which are voluntary measures to guide responsible investment for both organizations and individuals.
Volunteer in your community
With environmental issues impacting an increasing number of people, there are more opportunities than ever to help your community. You can support public campaigns to raise awareness about the climate crisis by joining marches and signing petitions.
If you’re able to get more hands-on, you can join efforts to restore damaged ecosystems and organize ecosystem restoration projects yourself. These include restoring and rewilding ecosystems. Additionally, citizen scienceopportunities can help UNEP and environmental advocacy groups better coordinate action around the world.
Spread the word
Talking to those around you – whether they are environmentally conscious or not – is a simple yet effective way to tackle the climate crisis.
The simplest way to take action can also be incredibly effective. Sharing your concerns and actions with people in your online and offline networks can encourage support and spur additional action. This builds motivation and increases the likelihood of a cascading effect, whereby more and more people champion environmentally friendly behaviour.
Faith groups and common-interest societies, such as those catered towards certain hobbies, can also be amplifying platforms, supporting climate action, adaptation and restoration.
International Mother Earth Day is celebrated around the world on 22 April. The 2022 theme ‘invest in nature’ highlights the urgent need to close the USD 4.1 trillion financing gap in nature by 2050 to meet the world’s climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation targets. UNEP’s Finance for Nature report calls for investments in nature-based solutions to triple by 2030 and increase four-fold by 2050.
