We should be scared.
We should be scared that we live in a country that, despite being considered one of the most powerful nations in the world, accepts the belief that climate change is anything less than lethal.
We should be scared that, according to the World Meteorological Organization, in the next five years, the global temperature will exceed the internationally agreed-upon temperature limit for global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, and we’ve elected a leader who actively refers to this crisis as a ‘hoax.’
During his first term, current President-Elect Donald Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Nearly every nation in the world is part of this agreement, which aims to limit emissions and prevent the global temperature from increasing. By leaving the agreement, the United States is setting the world back immensely. Not only that, but as a powerful country, the United States’ withdrawal could easily persuade other countries to follow in our footsteps.
Throughout his campaign, Trump suggested that he wanted to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. According to Politico, he even said to the Economic Club of New York, “my plan will terminate the Green New Deal, which I call the Green New Scam.”
The scariest part of all is that this is the voice of the people.
Most Americans voted for this.
We voted for an administration that has promised to work against the climate crisis.
It is too late now to go back on the decision we’ve made. It is now up to us to do as much as we can on a small scale. The fight against climate change has not ended, but rather become more intense and important than ever before.
Think before buying. Fast fashion is responsible for almost 10% of global carbon emissions, according to Earth.org.
Clothes should last for months, if not years. Instead of cycling through ten-dollar articles of clothing every few weeks, whenever possible, buy pieces that will last.
Recycle. An everyday task can keep tons of waste from ending up in landfills. Recycling paper minimizes the trees cut down in order to keep up with production—trees that are necessary to remove the carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.
Americans have decided who will run this country. Now it is up to every individual. The job is in the hands of every consumer. The simple choices—reduce, reuse, recycle—and all the cliches are more important now than ever before.
We must not simply demand change, but create it. It is the job of Americans to demonstrate the kind of leadership that we want to see.
Most importantly, we have to vote.
The most significant power any American holds is their power to vote. Change happens at the ballot box. Although the outcome of the latest presidential election has been decided, in four years Americans must demand a leader who both acknowledges and plans to tackle the climate crisis.
We have to do better in 2028. We must demand a leader who will do what needs to be done in order to stop climate change.
