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After March for Science: 5 Actions to Tackle Climate Change

  • Demonstrators march to the U.S. Capitol during the March for Science in Washington, D.C., April 22, 2017.

    Demonstrators march to the U.S. Capitol during the March for Science in Washington, D.C., April 22, 2017. | Photo: Reuters

Published 23 April 2017
Opinion

Despite scientific data and broad consensus, there are still those that continue to deny the effects of climate change.

Though April 22 has come and gone, the old adage that Earth Day is every day couldn’t be more relevant to combat global climate change. Climate change may seem like a relatively new concept, but its effects and impacts have gradually been building up for centuries. The history of the phrase, “climate change,” and its appearance in popular discourse dates back to 1979 when the term was discussed at the first world conference about the climate. Climate change is used to refer to any modification in weather patterns or environmental conditions. However, at the same time, it is possible to identify the human impact on the planet and take steps accordingly to minimize its effect.

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Despite scientific data and broad consensus that global temperatures and sea temperatures are warming as a result of carbon emissions, there is still a segment of society that denies the existence of this phenomenon. For these reasons, in more than 600 cities this year, Earth Day brought with it a "March for Science" that saw teachers, students, tech workers, and the average people concerned about the planet’s future unite to encourage the U.S. government to continue funding vital institutions working toward this goal. The mission of the March for Science was a “celebration of science” that could help bridge the “divide between the scientific community and the public.”

While groups like the March for Science take to the streets to demand top-down attention for climate change, there are many bottom-up approaches each one of us can take in making the planet a more sustainable place.

1. Reduce your carbon footprint left from CO2 emissions from cars and heavy vehicles by using bicycles or walking, when possible. For each gallon of gasoline saved, we would be reducing nearly 9,000 grams of CO2. Many smart cities are encouraging the use of bicycles as a means of alternative transportation.

2. Save energy by disconnecting electric appliances when they are not in use, remembering to shut off the lights, or using natural sunlight when possible, and programming the thermostat to save on energy-intensive HVAC units.

3. Make use of the 3Rs: Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse. Recycling can save 730 kilos of CO2 per year with only 50 percent of the garbage generated in the average household.

4. Take steps to combat deforestation by planting a tree and becoming a more informed consumer. In the medium term, this tree will have an impact on the CO2 absorption. When buying wood or wooden products, choose those that come with proof of sustainable origins.

5. Urge your government to promote and incentivize sustainable cities through renewable energy, smart transportation options, efficient building design, composting solid waste, and ensuring robust recycling infrastructure.

It is fundamental to develop campaigns such as the March for Science that unites diverse segments of society to collectively address the challenges that climate change presents for all of us living on this planet. These five actions to tackle climate change are well-known, but how many of us are actually doing them? The more individual responsibility people can take, the greater our collective impact.

Geovanny Vicente Romero is the founder of the Dominican Republic Center of Public Policy, Leadership and Development. He is a political analyst and lecturer based in Washington, D.C. You can reach him on Twitter.

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