11 years. Only 11 years is the scope of time in which we can put a stop to climate change. And we are the last generation to make that happen. 

In last year’s UN Summit, General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés of Ecuador warned delegates: “We are the last generation that can prevent irreparable damage to our planet.” This shocking news not only reveals the future predicament our planet will be in but further reiterates the bitter truth that many around the world continue to ignore: that climate change is real. And it will be destroying our planet in a decade unless we take significant action immediately. 

Our actions to prevent climate change include things we do every day, such as bicycling more instead of using cars to reduce carbon emissions. Making sure we save energy and follow the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) are also some ways we help stop climate change through our day to day actions. But we can’t do this alone; there must be a worldwide effort taken by everybody in order to make a significant impact on being able to stop climate change. But before we address this issue together, we need to help acknowledge and show people around the world who still believe climate change doesn’t exist its devastating effects. For those who continue to believe that climate change doesn’t exist, they must learn that it surely does. Just because those people may not be facing disastrous floods, hurricanes, droughts or famine where they live, doesn’t mean that climate change doesn’t exist. We may be fine today, but what about tomorrow? What about a month from now? A year? A decade? Sitting idle is not going to stop the island of Kiribati from sinking because of rising sea levels. It’s not going to stop the cyclones in South Africa. It’s not going to stop the wildfires in Australia. And it’s not going to stop the floods in South Asia. All these disastrous events are taking place around the world because of climate change. This is why it’s important to take action as soon as possible. 

Life in the future may very well be different than how it’s now, maybe with flying cars and other cool technologies. But in order to experience the future, we need to save our home, our planet first.

Sources: 

“Only 11 Years Left to Prevent Irreversible Damage from Climate Change, Speakers Warn during General Assembly High-Level Meeting | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases.” United Nations. United Nations. Accessed April 16, 2020. https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12131.doc.htm.

“5 Natural Disasters That Beg for Climate Action.” Oxfam International, April 7, 2020. https://www.oxfam.org/en/5-natural-disasters-beg-climate-action.

Khishigjargal, Timoci, and Gertrude. “Youth for Climate Action.” UNICEF. Accessed April 16, 2020. https://www.unicef.org/environment-and-climate-change/youth-action.

“6 Actions to Fight Climate Change.” Sustainability for all. Accessed April 16, 2020. https://www.activesustainability.com/climate-change/6-actions-to-fight-climate-change/.

Image Sources: 

Polar Bear on Ice – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/270145677632074184/
Earth Burning up – https://www.businessinsider.com/what-can-kill-planet-earth-2016-3#the-sun-and-our-position-relative-to-it-is-perhaps-the-most-important-piece-of-our-tenuous-existence-9