Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health. There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all. IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report, 2023
Climate apathy is getting me down. Changing rainfall patterns, increasing bushfires, heat waves, rising sea levels and bleached coral. And yet, action from much of the community doesn't reflect a sense of urgency for our circumstances. Maybe it still feels like this climate change stuff is far away, or someone else's problem. Like the Government should do something. Or big corporations. Like the oil companies or gas companies. If others don't pull their weight, why should individuals be the ones making sacrifices? What difference can one family make?
When I talk about making changes in my household, responses range from 'that's great' to 'you know what we do here doesn't matter', usually followed by some comment that relates to densely populated countries.
I understand that climate apathy, or the struggle to take action can come from many places, let's have a look at a few but first let's get grounded in a common understanding of what we're talking about.
Getting on the same page
There is always more to learn about the impact human actions are having on the planet, as scientists are expanding their knowledge constantly. However, one thing has been known for decades, and that is that climate change is anthropogenic, meaning humans have caused and continue to cause climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) contains a wealth of information from the world's best scientists.
Some people may think that climate change is a problem for future generations and not an immediate concern, but again, it is clear that climate change is already having an impact and the time to act is now, in this decade. Here are some summaries below -
Is there scientific evidence climate change is caused by humans?
What impact is climate change having in Australia?
What might cause climate apathy?
I've also been reading a lot about the culture of toxic individualism, which is generally considered more of a western phenomenon, where we embrace an individualistic over collectivist culture. Its where we place excessive emphasis on the individual, often at the expense of collective responsibility and action. It can be characterized by a belief that individual success and happiness should take precedence over the needs of the community, and that individuals should be able to achieve their goals independently. Think of social media advertising you might be exposed to and how it promotes an ideal lifestyle, career or family situation.
Individuals may feel that their personal actions won't make a significant difference in the face of a global crisis, and that it's not their responsibility to take action on a problem that they see as being caused by larger systems and institutions. They may feel that making significant changes to their lifestyles to reduce their carbon footprint is too inconvenient or uncomfortable, and that they should be able to continue living their lives without making significant sacrifices for the greater good.
Affluence?
Like toxic individualism, it could also be true that more affluent folk feel that their wealth insulates them from the effects of climate change and so do not feel the need to take action.
I love this note from The American Psychological Association - on research that suggested people "who are apathetic toward climate change may also be more emotionally unresponsive in other areas of their lives". A study from Emotion found "participants with more blunted emotional responses to climate change tended to be male, conservative, and formally religious". Surprise factor, zero.
A sense of powerlessness?
Climate change is a complex issue, and individual actions may feel insignificant in the face of global challenges. Some feel a sense of powerlessness, that their personal choices or actions cannot make a meaningful impact in the grand scheme of things.
For all of us though, the time for individual and collective action is now. It's important for us to recognize the impact of our own actions on the environment and to take responsibility for their role in contributing to climate change, as well as taking collective action to push for systemic change and hold institutions accountable for their role in creating and perpetuating the crisis.
The message given at the 58th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC) held in Interlaken, Switzerland, 13 - 19 March 2023, was both an urgent call to action, coupled with a ray of hope if that action is taken now.
All global modelled pathways that limit warming to 1.5°C (>50%) with no or limited overshoot, and those that limit warming to 2°C (>67%), involve rapid and deep and, in most cases, immediate greenhouse gas emissions reductions in all sectors this decade. IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report, 2023
But can individuals in Australia really make a difference?
It's easy for me to say 'yes!' of course we can. And I fully recognize that my version of 'we' is certainly one of privilege, of someone who owns a car, has a roof over my head and disposable income to buy takeaway coffee. For those who also live my privilege, if we buy, eat, prepare & dispose of food, we wear clothes, purchase goods and services, drive cars or use transport, take holidays, own pets, live in houses and if we do those things, then we can make a difference to climate change.
If we have jobs or we are part of a volunteer group, community group, school community or similar and have the power of voice to influence, lobby or make decisions to the way our work/community groups:
use energy,
where energy comes from or how it is purchased or stored,
how waste is disposed of or recycled,
how goods and/or people are transported,
how our groups' impact on the environment, including waterways or biodiversity,
then we can be a change for good. Every day we are faced with a myriad of choices, many of them habitual, about how we show up in the world and impact on the environment, contributing to climate change.
I want to arm you with different sources of information, so you can choose to make some simple swaps or changes and gradually lessen your impact.
I know that some of you are still unconvinced of the impact on your individual choices, and it's hard to see the power of compounding change and collective action from a culture of individuality. So, to understand if individuals can make a difference, we need to look at some of the numbers - who, where, what are the biggest emitters, and why. Next post, back to the data!
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