From Guest Blogger Devin Morrissey: The Need for Social Reform in the Face of Climate Change

Technology alone isn’t going to save humanity from the effects of climate change. Headlines claiming otherwise might make for great slices of clickbait, but they aren’t being entirely truthful. While new technological innovations this year like increasingly affordable solar panels and improved electric vehicles — have made a notable positive impact on the environment, society as a whole can’t leave the burden of reducing pollution and waste on the shoulders of this sector.

If you need proof of this, look no further than the effects of climate change on human health. The pollution generated through sectors such as agriculture, forestry, electricity production, and transportation have increased global temperatures at an alarming rate since 1970. Climate change results in higher temperatures, reduced air quality, the spread of disease, and food shortages across the globe.

While we should continue to seek technological solutions to this problem, there is a dire need for social reform. As noted in a resource by the University of Nevada, “Due to climate change and urban development, the health of the earth and its individuals is devolving. By creating transformative social initiatives that engage communities to take charge, society as a whole can improve.”

This starts at the individual level, and we can do our part by committing to climate advocacy. What can you do to foster this positive change? Here are a few ways you can make an impact in your local community, as well as the world:

Express Your Concerns to Local Authorities

In order to be heard, you need to speak. This begins with voicing your concerns with local officials or agencies such as your elected official, community groups at town hall events, or local engagement initiatives. Rationally express the need to reduce pollution from ecological, financial, and community wellness perspectives.

If you want to bolster your case, get specific. If you live in a rural community, explain how biodigesters could convert methane from livestock waste into usable energy, how locally grown biofuels could help, or how no-till farming could reduce fuel use and pollution. If your area has seen deforestation in recent years, explain that planting new trees can slow climate change. If you explicitly provide solutions to problems ailing your community, your recommendations are more likely to be taken seriously. Urban areas with energy problems could benefit from hydroelectricity, solar panels, or wind turbines. Research your community’s needs and find an eco-friendly solution to suggest.

You can even make an impact at your workplace. Again, make specific suggestions to your managers that meet the needs of your work environment. Offices that don’t have a compost program should adopt one; this can greatly reduce waste and its associated costs. If you work in an industrial setting, recommend that heavy equipment, such as industrial grade generators, are bought used and frequently checked for efficiency. This would limit the use of additional materials during the manufacture of this equipment and prevent energy waste.

Amplify Your Voice

It can be difficult to make headway on an individual basis, but working with a local climate advocacy organization can amplify your message considerably. You can find volunteer opportunities at such organizations online at websites like VolunteerMatch or Idealist.

Supplement these efforts by engaging with others about climate change, both in person and online. Share evidence-based articles that demonstrate the effects of climate change, and those that offer solutions to the problems it is causing. Write to editors. Every time you provide a signal boost to these messages, you can influence public discourse surrounding the issue.

Just remember that this sort of engagement shouldn’t supplant true advocacy. With the recent extreme weather seen in both Texas and Florida, the effects of climate change are becoming more obvious than ever before. By inspiring change in your local community, you can be a part of the solution.