Hope for change

“Since our leaders are behaving like children, we will have to take the responsibility they should have taken long ago.” — Greta Thunberg

At the Poland United Nations Climate Conference, COP-24, the shining star was Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old Swedish expert climate activist. Last week, she had a private meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres demanding action. “I will not beg the world leaders to care for our future, I will instead let them know that change is coming whether they like it or not,” she said.

Greta says politicians and journalists don’t know how fast the climate is shifting and don’t understand the radical changes required to avoid extinction. “They don’t know what the Albedo effect is or the Keeling Curve, or other things as simple as that, they don’t have a clue. Grownups say one thing and do the opposite.”

When she was 8-years-old, Greta heard about the climate emergency at school. She was told to turn off the lights and use less paper to mitigate the crisis. At the time, it did not make sense to her, but she decided to give it a try. Greta and her parents read and learned all they could about the emerging crisis. Greta decided to start a sit-down strike at the Swedish Parliament. Her friends did not want to join, so she went by herself. After two weeks she was asked to move, and she continued the strike across the street.

Greta is inspiring kids all over the world to save their future. School Strike for the Climate has become an international civil disobedience movement. What can we learn from Greta and her parents’ total commitment and personal changes to fight the climate crimes?

The climate for change in America is now

America is not walking away from climate action. Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and former Mayor of New York City, said, “With Washington asleep at the switch, local governments, states, businesses, and citizens from across the political spectrum are taking steps to tackle climate change and build a bright future for our country.” The Bloomberg special documentary Paris to Pittsburgh premieres December 12 at 8 p.m. CST, on the National Geographic Channel.

China leading the world on climate

At COP-24, Li Gao, Director-General at the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment, noted that the financial responsibility should rest with developed countries. “Climate change was caused by the unlimited emissions of developed countries since the Industrial Revolution, therefore, those countries should take on more responsibilities,” Li said.

China has a three-pronged climate strategy: Revise their economic development program, migrate to a low-carbon energy system, and build a green regenerative industrial system. China is leading the use and manufacture of all-electric vehicles.

Results: As of 2017, China had cut CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP by 46 percent from the 2005 level, fulfilling its commitment to reduce CO₂ emissions 45 percent by 2020. China’s carbon dioxide emissions per person are much lower than that of the United States, Li noted. China has been helping poor countries with solar power energy solutions.

Respecting Gaia

The Trump Administration’s disregard for life and the living Earth is a common occurrence. Supreme Court rulings, executive orders and environmental decisions destroying public lands, wetlands, water, and endangered species are out in the open. Not even frogs are getting a break. The “dusky gopher frog” was in the way of a Weyerhaeuser project to harvest pine trees. Chief Justice John Roberts said, “Warts dot its back, and dark spots cover its entire body. It secretes a bitter, milky substance to deter would-be diners.” Is Roberts a biologist or an ecologist? I wonder how the dusky gopher frog would describe Roberts? Respecting Gaia is required to stop the climate decline.

Be like Greta and rise up

Please see the YouTube video “Greta Thunberg’s School Strike for the Climate” and listen to her powerful words. Meet her father, a human rights and environmental justice activist, and hear how Greta has changed his priorities “Greta & Svante Thunberg – Straight Talk.”

Dr. Luis Contreras