The Climate Countdown and What You Can Do To Reverse It

Two weeks ago, Climate Week NYC, took place as the largest climate summit this year, bringing together individuals and organizations from the private, public, and philanthropic sectors from all over the world to discuss climate action in the pursuit of a net-zero future. You may have seen their giant LED screen plastered on the side of a NYC building, displaying the precise amount of time our earth has (a little more than 7 years) until we surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, otherwise known as the point of no return. If we do not take serious action now, we will undoubtedly experience the worst impacts of climate change, including unsustainably-rising sea levels, flooding, loss of coral reefs, wildfires and other unthinkable disasters.

Now, you can look at this situation one of three ways: denial, defeat or action. I choose the latter. I urge you to always remember the power you have. Word of mouth matters. What goods and services you spend your money on matters. And most importantly, your vote matters.

After reading a range of different publications and watching lots of depressing documentaries, I've boiled it down 5 overarching ways you, as an individual, can make the most impact.

1. ADOPT RENEWABLE ENERGY

By limiting the burning of fossil fuels that create greenhouse gasses, we can slow the warming of our climate. Some ways of doing this include switching to clean utility companies like Arcadia power, installing solar panels on your home or driving an electric vehicle (and charging with a renewable energy).

2. LIMIT MEAT CONSUMPTION

The most conservative estimates suggest that raising livestock accounts for nearly 15 percent of global greenhouse gases emitted each year (other studies show closer to 50%). If you must eat meat, consider farms that claim to have "regenerative farming" techniques that are less resource intensive than factory or traditional farming.

3. REFORESTation

By helping to repair the earth's "lungs", we can convert some of the excess CO2 in our atmosphere into Oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Programs like Grow Ahead, One Tree Planted let you plant a tree for just a dollar.

4. CONSUME Less, WASTE LESS

This one goes against everything our capitalistic society has taught us. By only buying what we need, and then properly disposing of what we don't: recycling, composting and donating, we can preserve natural resources and limit greenhouse gas emissions.

5. REPRODUCE LESS

Yes, you read that right. Arguably the most impactful way to slow climate change, is to limit the size of our population. At 7.594 billion people on the planet today, the world population has grown exponentially by about one billion every 13 years since 1960. This trend cannot continue, especially not the way each person currently contributes to climate change.

If any of the above matters to you, the single most important thing you can do is to vote in November, for candidates and legislation on the action end of the spectrum, not denial. Register to vote here.