Tag: Climate change

Climate Change: why are we still debating its existence?

By Anonymous

How may climate change transform our lives you ask? rising sea levels, increased greenhouse gas emissions and extreme heat waves across the world have been on the rise in recent years (Oreskes,2005). These statements may not mean much to you, but environmental scholars have connected the direct links between human utilization of fossil fuels such as oil and coal and the release of enormous amounts of heat trapping carbon dioxide into the air and its continual interaction with the natural environment in not so positive ways. Although many may disagree, science and common sense suggest climate change is real and will affect humans in ways which will transform the lives of future generations to come if we don’t act quickly. In NASA’s “vital signs of the planet series”, the effects of climate change are listed for those who dare to care.  

What may climate change do you ask? well, according to a New York Times article published in 2017, the current rate in which heat is accumulating on the earth due to human emissions and deforestation of carbon holding plantation is roughly equal to the heat which would be released if 400,000 atomic bombs were detonated. Experts estimate by the year 2040 things will begin to deescalate and the irreversible ramifications of climate change will begin to take a firm hold. Think about it? What would all that Carbon dioxide do to our weather conditions, agricultural yields and daily human life. It is reported the animal kingdom will suffer the most casualties during this period. Their direct dependence on the natural earth means they stand right in the shooting line of this beast called climate change. In this New York Times article big questions pertaining to climate change are addressed using short answers.

400,000 atomic bombs, that’s insane!!, however many people are still in denial about climate change including world leaders. Skepticism has increased and heads of states such as Donald Trump are openly fighting the facts about climate change and how it is affecting the planet. His views on the subject have remained consistent over the years and he isn’t shy from expressing them. Even before his presidency, tweets about his non-agreeance to globally agreed on facts, about the changing climate of the world were becoming more frequent. For example, in October 2015, he tweeted “Boy its cold outside, wouldn’t be bad to have a little of that good old Global Warming right now!” (Trump, Donald. Twitter post. October 2015, 1.30AM ) after responding to a question about climate change and the cold weather America was having. Check out the link to read more tweets. (Insert link)   

As it may be, skeptics of climate change are increasing and spreading their views about the topic. You ask why this may be? Psychologists Gorman & Gorman 2019, put forward a few reasons why some people choose to deny climate change. Gorman & Gorman 2019, suggest one reason for denying climate change might be motivated interference or having a bias to dismiss certain evidences that may contradict your way of life. For example, people whose daily bread is dependent on the oil industry may be inclined to favor rhetoric against climate change as it supports the continuation of their livelihood. Another reason why so many people dismiss climate change is the size of its implications. If true, climate change will force many people to come to terms with the truth which will mean deep self-reflection and the acknowledgment of immediate change. Eating less meat and removing cars from daily human life as well as expelling the airplanes used for tourism to lessen the carbon dioxide emissions made by humans maybe hard for some people to adopt. Climate change experts have also long understood the economic benefits invested in the fossil fuel industry. Industries such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and other giant petroleum companies spend millions on propaganda to mislead the public’s perception on climate change and the decline of the earth. They work tirelessly to influence politics at the top level and invest heavily in projects which advance their interests (Gorman & Gorman, 2019).

According to Greenpeace, 2019 the oil and gas companies in America spent 142 million dollars on lobbying the US government on climate change in 2014. Oil and gas still remain the number one contributor to climate change this century. It is important world nations band together and confront this unforgiving beast as it destroys indiscriminately. Future generations will then have access to a world which appreciates balance and avoids waste. Which in turn will pave the way to the enhancement and development of humanity (Greenpeace, 2019).  

References:

Gorman, S & Gorman J.M. (2019, January 12). Climate Change Denial. Facing a reality too big to believe [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.pschologytoday.com/intl/blog/denying-the-grave/2019/climate-chnage-denial

Greenpeace. (2019). Oil. Retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/global-warming/issues/oil

Oreskes, N. (2005). The scientific consensus on Climate change. Science, 306(5702), 1686.

Climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet

By K Boyes

These words are not from some crazy greenie.  These words are from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2018, p. 79).  The IPCC a United Nations body with 195 member countries, established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organisation.  You can read their Global Warming of 1.5ºC report here .  This is a substantial piece of work written by over 200 editors, authors and contributors and citing over 6,000 scientific references; a summary of the report is available here

Key messages are that we are already experiencing extreme weather and rising sea levels, and, to avoid irreversible changes, such as loss of ecosystems, we need to limit global warming to 1.5°C; this will involve rapid transitions in energy, industry, housing, transport and other areas.  But climate change is not the only serious environmental concern.  There are many others including: plastics in the environment; pesticide usage; declining insect numbers; deforestation, loss of biodiversity and extinction of species. 

These issues are relevant to social work.  Climate change has already created many climate change refugees and this will increase if we continue on with our present usage of fossil fuels.  Everyone will be affected in some way by unchecked climate change.  This is also a human rights and social justice issue in that poor people are disproportionately affected by climate change and environmental degradation, for example, by having less choice about where they live and work and so being at greater risk of exposure to pesticides, car exhaust, industrial chemicals and extreme weather events.    

These issues should be of concern to social workers everywhere.  However, social work as a profession has been slow to give attention to the natural environment.  Social work has been criticised for being anthropocentric (Besthorn, 2012; Peeters, 2012), meaning that human interests are considered above those of other beings.  This is reflected in our use of ecomaps and genograms which assess social functioning but neglect relationships with the natural environment (Zapf, 2010).  It is also evident in the scant mention of environmental sustainability in our codes of ethics and codes of practice, and in the lack of political action and leadership from our international and local representatives. 

Social work is behind in responding to the environmental crisis.  This may be partly because of the highly effective discourse of climate change denial.  But what would you think if you knew that much of the climate change denial campaign is funded by fossil fuel corporations? (Dunlap & McCright, 2011).  Strategies include those which were so effective for the tobacco industry such as creating doubt and uncertainty, and criticising journals, scientists, and scientific institutions (Dunlap & McCright, 2011).  

The reality is that we are part of the ecosystem and we will all be affected by environmental degradation and climate change.  Environmental issues are not contained within national boundaries.  Carbon emissions enter the atmosphere and affect the whole planet.  Plastics or pesticides that enter the food chain in one country may be consumed in another.  If 40% of insects become extinct as a result of climate change, this will affect us all.  Biodiversity is important for the health of the planet.  It is not just about cute fluffy animals.  If we continue to neglect the natural environment we are likely to be faced with war, famine and disease.

Wake up!  This is an issue which needs your attention.  You need to be informed about this issue so you can make wise decisions, small and large.  Who to vote for.  What car to buy.  What products to buy.  How to dispose of your waste.  Whether to drive, walk, cycle or take public transport.  How many children to have.  Whether to use pesticides or not.  Your decisions affect the planet, yourself and other people.  You are part of the ecosystem. 

There are also many roles for social workers -see Lena Dominelli

References:

Besthorn, F. H. (2012). Deep ecology’s contributions to social work: A ten-year retrospective. International Journal of Social Welfare, 21, 248-259. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2397.2011.00850.x Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/30627646/Deep_Ecologys_contributions_to_social_work_A_ten-year_retrospective

Dunlap, R. E., & McCright, A. M. (2011). Organized climate change denial. In J. S. Dryzek, R. B. Norgaard, & D. Schlosberg (Eds.), The Oxford book of climate change and society. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199566600.003.0010 Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284261736_Organized_Climate_Change_Denial

Dominelli, L. ( 2011).Climate change: social workers’ roles and contributions to policy debates and interventions International Journal of Social Welfare. 20, 430–438

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2018). Global Warming of 1.5°C. Geneva, Switzerland: IPCC. Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/

Peeters, J. (2012). The place of social work in sustainable development: Towards ecosocial practice. International Journal of Social Welfare, 20, 287-298. doi: 10.111/j.1468-2397.2011.00856.x Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230485576_The_place_of_social_work_in_sustainable_development_Towards_ecosocial_practice/download

Zapf, M. K. (2010). Social work and the environment: Understanding people and place. Critical Social Work, 11(3), 30-46. Retrieved from http://www1.uwindsor.ca/criticalsocialwork/social-work-and-the-environment-understanding-people-and-place

I’m worried for our world

By Keyboard Worrier

I’m worried for our world. Growing up, climate change was embedded in the school curriculum in classes like social studies. It just became that though, a topic, something that we needed to understand, but not something we were encouraged to significantly do something about. Other than the good ol’ reduce, reuse, recycle slogan that was ingrained into our psyche since we were children, there seemed to be a lack of thought about what went on after you put an item in the rubbish bin. We were taken on visits to the local dump and shown piles of smelly trash that would soon be buried underground. Educating us on what a sustainable future would look like by simply following the 3Rs, we’d be safe from a climate catastrophe. Now that I’m older, I realised that we were being shown the massive screw up of the generations that came before us. The burden of fixing this rotting world has been placed on us. Children such as Greta Thunberg are taking climate change seriously through leading the global campaign of ‘School’s Climate Strike’ and unashamedly telling our world leaders the harsh reality that no one wants to hear.

I’m worried for our world. I’ve always made a conscious effort in picking up after myself, and calling out others who were to litter; but thinking about minimising or even eliminating the amount of unrecyclable plastic from my lifestyle was daunting. It was that, a normal part of my everyday lifestyle. Earlier this year with the reminder of the 11 years we have before we have a full on climate crisis, I started not sleeping. Lying awake at night thinking about what can we possibly do to save this beautiful world that has been destroyed and taken for granted, all for our convenience and capital gain.

I’m worried for our world. Why are we using unrecyclable packaging in the first place? Who even thought that was a good idea? Unrecyclable or litter is just another euphemism for ‘it will exist forever’, ‘will never go away’, and ‘will continue to have it’s harsh chemicals leach into the earth it’s buried below or the oceans it washes up in’. The euphemisms sounds a lot nicer than the reality. Every time these companies produce products that can’t be recycled while producing greenhouse gases during the process, they are making the conscious decision to kill the planet. Out of sight, out of mind, has seemed to be the name of the game for far too long.  Something I’ve never understood is WHY are we using and creating goods that can’t be melted back down and made into something else? It just absolutely bewilders me. When I asked this question to a fellow classmate, they replied, “because of capitalism”. Ok I get that being sustainable isn’t the most profitable (apparently), but what’s the real opportunity cost here? Our planet is suffering. The challenge for world leaders is to unite, and bring in international law against producing goods that can’t be reused and recycled. Starting with packaging, as that has the shortest lifecycle of all. If capital gain is to continue getting in the way of saving our planet before it’s too late, I can’t think of anything more selfish.

As a tertiary student, with very little money and trying to get by on a budget, I’ve discovered truly how difficult it is to purchase goods with minimal plastic, or that are completely recyclable. On your next supermarket trip, look at everything that is packaged in unrecyclable, soft plastic. During my last visit, I found that the $3.50 frozen pizza had its entire packaging as soft plastic, but the $7 frozen pizza is in a carboard box that could be recycled. It’s obvious what the financially viable option is here, and thus helping the planet is made a battle between the rich and the poor.

I have realised that being sustainable while on a budget requires being organised, and if we want to save our planet we should all incorporate these simple things into our routine:

  • Prepare your lunch and bring it in to work or university in your reusable Tupperware container
  • Remember your keep cup
  • Don’t accept plastic straws (if you need one, invest in a metal reusable one)
  • Keep your reusable shopping bags in your car and don’t accept a plastic bag unless absolutely necessary. (if I forget mine I pay the price by having to try carry it all to the car with my hands)

We’ve run out of excuses for not choosing these sustainable options. You might not believe in a doomsday where we all feel the wrath of God, or even that the world could be one day overrun by a zombie apocalypse. However, I urge you to believe in a climate catastrophe that could soon be coming our way, because you can’t escape the facts of what is clearly going on around us. Like Greta said, we should be panicking.

Media articles of relevance:

EPA. (2017). Overview of Greenhouse Gases. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases

Thunberg, G. (25 January, 2019). ‘I want you to panic’: 16 year old issues climate warning at Davos – video. The Guardian.  Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2019/jan/25/i-want-you-to-panic-16-year-old-greta-thunberg-issues-climate-warning-at-davos-video

Thunberg, G. (16 April, 2019). Greta Thunberg’s emotional speech to EU leaders- video. The Guardian. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2019/apr/16/greta-thunbergs-emotional-speech-to-eu-leaders-video

United Nations. (28 March, 2019). High-level meeting on climate and sustainable development. United Nations. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12131.doc.htm

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