Recently, the voices around the world on climate change have grown significantly louder. Reports from NGOs, governments and private enterprise have continued the call for action on the global warming emergency. Public opinion polls released in the last few months in Canada and the United States have revealed growing public concern about the issue.
Yet what has changed? If so many people are worried about environmental destruction, where is the concrete action? Telling pollsters that you demand action from government is a great starting, but it’s not exactly a solution.
The science is clear, and the conclusions are subtle. Either humanity as a whole must reduce its destructive behaviour, or it faces the end of its present civilization. Actions must speak louder than words, or else our chances are slim.
So who should bear the burden of action? The youth, students of U of T and abroad, are best placed to manage this crisis effectively. It is young people who will live in this world for the next century and give birth to the children who will inherit it after us. Previous generations faced world war, threats of nuclear annihilation, economic depression, and the oppression of minorities. Our time will be marked by a much greater struggle, a struggle that will require more than words, protests, and opinions.
Our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, employers, and teachers are not the ones with the greatest stake in this struggle. If they are to change their practices, young people are the only ones who can convince them. Yet it is a safe bet that almost all students and youth in Canada are not taking the actions necessary to secure their own future.
Everyday life will have to change for every citizen of the world, especially those in industrialized countries. We have to insist that everyone in our personal network turn down their thermostats, use vehicles and electricity sparingly, buy energy-efficient cars, light bulbs and appliances, and reduce consumption of plastics and other non-renewable resources. If they cannot make all these changes, then offsetting emissions by buying credits from wind, solar, and biofuel manufacturers is an effective and cheap alternative.
Action within one’s network of acquaintances will have a small but direct impact on the fight against climate change. However, getting into the trenches requires more than these small measures. Activism and participation in the political realm is another necessary part of this struggle. Whether or not they like the idea, today’s young people, especially students, will constitute the political elites of the next generation. Starting today, youth must insist on an immediate change in direction on climate change. Only by acting with a strong hand will change be achieved and the future made brighter than it seems today.
We can only hope that, for once, action will not be taken too late or carried out half-heartedly. This crisis is real, and it demands real work that may not be easy. Let’s choose to take action, before it’s too late.
