Global warming always seems to cross my mind as I sweat through an other Los Angeles August. Harking back to my youth, when it “just wasn’t as bad”. I heard the term ‘global warming’ for the first time in a Time for Kids article in the 3rd grade, when I was about 8 years old. And I remember thinking, how far off in the future all of the warnings seemed to be, how we could absolutely thwart this issue by heeding a few simple adjustments, and yet, here we are. Across the globe we are seeing severe weather systems that do not seem to be letting up.
June to August 2022, persistent heatwaves affected parts of Europe, causing evacuations and at least 26,000 heat-related deaths, making these heat waves the deadliest meteorological events in 2022. The highest temperature recorded was 47.0 °C (116.6 °F) in Pinhão, Portugal. My in-laws outside of Buffalo, NY, have survived two “once in a lifetime” storms in the last 3 months. Bomb cyclone, is the term used for storm Elliott that hit the US just before Christmas, and remarkable chiefly for its continental scale, lightning speed and intensity. Less noticed than Storm Elliott but possibly just as significant were the disastrous Christmas floods in the Philippines and Brazil, and the worryingly warm holiday period experienced across much of Europe. Temperatures of more than 26C were recorded in France, Spain and Italy, with many Alpine ski resorts closed for lack of snow as rain fell and temperatures climbed 15C above normal. Traditionally, it’s Australians who spend Christmas on the beach. Soon it might be anyone.
As global temperatures continue to rise, it is important for individuals, businesses, and countries to work together to reduce their carbon footprint and find solutions that will help mitigate the effects of climate change. However, traditional solutions are no longer enough. We need creative solutions that will have an immediate impact on our environment. Let’s explore some of the ways in which we can use creativity to fight global warming.
Innovative Technology
One way to combat global warming is through the development of innovative technology. This includes everything from renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, to more efficient methods of transportation such as electric cars or shared rides. By investing in these types of technologies, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels while also reducing pollution levels. Additionally, with advances in AI and machine learning, we can use predictive analytics to help us better understand how our actions impact the environment and make more informed decisions about how best to tackle climate change.
Behavioral Change
Another way to combat global warming is by changing our behaviors on an individual level. This could include things like reducing our consumption of goods that require high energy or water usage, or using reusable shopping bags instead of single-use plastic ones. Additionally, we can make small changes in our daily lives such as investing in appliances with higher energy efficiency ratings or turning off the lights when leaving a room. These little changes may seem insignificant but they can have a big impact when done on a large scale.
Community Engagement
Finally, communities must come together to address climate change at a local level by implementing initiatives such as waste reduction programs or green infrastructure projects. Such initiatives not only benefit the environment but also create economic opportunities for those involved while improving quality of life overall in the community. By engaging citizens in meaningful dialogue about environmental issues and encouraging them to take action through volunteering or donating money or resources, it can help drive tangible results and create lasting positive change for generations to come.
The effects of climate change are being felt all around us—from more extreme weather patterns to rising sea levels—and it’s time for us all to take action if we want future generations to live healthy lives on this planet. Creative solutions are needed now more than ever if we want to successfully combat global warming and ensure a brighter future for all of us. Through innovative technology, behavioral changes at an individual level, and increased community engagement on environmental issues, we can make a difference and ensure that future generations have access to clean air and water while living in harmony with nature.
CREATIVE PROVOCATIONS:
What are some ways that you individually attempt to make a difference in the environment?
How can you can get engaged in your community?
