R.

Atticus Miller

Professor Ayomide

ENC 2135

2/24/2024

The Importance of Climate Action

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” is a phrase that is instilled upon most youth throughout primary

schooling and early childhood, therefore it shouldn’t be a surprise that many grow up practicing

this instruction believing they are making the world a better place. Knowing this, it might be

alarming to learn that only around “6% of the 46 million tons of plastic waste generated annually

in the U.S. gets recycled” (Kummer PhysOrg.) Some are even more surprised to learn that many

local governments in Florida have voided the concept of recycling as a whole due to the idea that

it’s largely ineffective and a sad display of time and resources. Despite learning this, one should

not assume that these three R’s are not important as consumerism and waste management are

some of the biggest issues globally right now. Instead, it should allow one to draw parallels from

this to other major tragedies the Earth is facing. The purpose of this paper is to answer the

research question of whether or not individual action and everyday choices can truly make an

impact on the state of our climate. I hope this writing can represent the seriousness of the climate

crisis and remind readers to think about the meaning behind their actions as citizens are

encouraged to keep making change. It should be declared that within the lifetime of Generation

Z, climate will be unfathomably different if nothing changes, likely leading to consistent

catastrophe. This is a matter of statistical fact and logical sense, and new engineering, diplomacy

and petitioning for major corporate and political change is the only solution.
 It might seem pointless and like a reach in regard to how you conduct your schedule each

day, but by no means is climate change a distant threat, it is happening all around us in every

aspect of Earth. From coral bleaching, habitat loss, global temperature rise and ice caps melting

to a general rising frequency of natural disasters, the evidence is undeniable. Thus far, more than

one million of our species face extinction, July of 2023 was the hottest month ever noted, to

achieve net zero emissions by 2050 nearly 2 billion trees would need to be planted on top of

further efforts, and nearly fifty percent of the oceans coral has perished in the past 30 years as

stated (National Geographic in “26 Facts that Bring Home the Reality of Climate Change”).

These are just some of the depressing statistics exemplifying that climate change is by no means

leaving a single part of the Earth and Atmosphere untouched. Now when this is considered, one

should not be scolded for assuming recycling cans and bottles at home or switching to an electric

car would have an insignificant effect on reversing some of these effects. Many support the

proposition that media promoting things like this and consumed everyday is deliberately placed

by corporations to distract from their significantly larger impacts. Whether you choose to believe

this or not, or choose to make sustainable choices in your everyday life, it needs to be expressed

that the only way for true timely change is through diplomacy and Geoengineering.

“Geoengineering, the large-scale modification of Earth’s climate, is worth exploring because

countries have been cutting their emissions too slowly to make any near-term impact on climate

change” (Harvard- Kenneth Griffin Reversing Climate Change with Geoengineering). As cited,

solar engineering, ocean fertilization, direct carbon capture, and solutions of that nature are

phenomenal ways to slow and potentially reverse the effects of climate change. Discussion

among scientists and climate engineers typically does not entail ways of reversing the damage
we have done to this world. This does not mean they should be looked at as non-believers but

instead, as realists. Throughout schooling and consumption of media, one can easily become

depressed with the state of our planet, which is why we must promote more sensible forms of

change. Once you have fostered a true understanding of the damage humans have done and the

action it would take to soothe, an anger builds inside. An anger that was never there before for

many as it can be easy to feel accomplished when listening to corporations and politicians about

“the next steps for climate.” Steps that are always far too simple and unrealistic. Scientists and

geoengineers now encourage damage control. While their platform is still not big enough as

current and former presidents are yet to prioritize the state of our climate, they preach the idea of

controlling our future impact instead of faking this idea that we can reverse the past. While it can

often lack major respect and coverage, it should not go unnoticed that viable solutions are almost

never quoted as things like composting, recycling, using less water, etc. as these at-home

remedies are not taken seriously by those that have committed any thought to the future of our

climate. Instead, the United States and its leaders have been encouraged to advocate funding for

new sustainable technology, regenerative farming, ocean exploration, and much more. Despite

this and underwhelming answers from political figures and corporations, smaller steps as listed

should not be avoided all together as they are catalysts for much larger forms of change.

Considering the path forward, as the world continues to battle the effects of drastic

change in our climate, the natural human response is to determine what can be done to prevent

havoc and disaster. Because it's understandable that the driving cause of climate change is fossil

fuel burning and greenhouse gas release, common sense tells many that industry and

transportation is mostly to blame for this. Therefore, one must wonder, is there any rationality in
the idea of individuals making “sustainable” changes to their everyday lives and is this a feasible

way of making any change at all? An idea that is present in Supernormal Stimuli written by

Deirdre Barrett explaining that given the current state of our world, our genetic make-up does not

prepare us for combatting issues like this. The answer to this question however, is subjective but

regardless, there is a call for collective action. Corporations and politicians must be held

accountable as they play the major role in amending the current standards. Through advocacy for

new policy, renewable energy, harsher emission restrictions, and much more, the environment

can see new light. This does not mean that we must shy away from individual sustainable

choices as they promote the right attitude and motivate the collective, but remain cognizant of

where significant action needs to be taken. The United Nations displays recent updates and

provides hope in examples like progress seen in past COP meetings and amending of the Paris

Climate Agreement (“Climate Change” The United Nations.). They say Rome wasn’t

constructed in a day and in these past years it has become clear that direct change is possible

through petitioning and protest whether it entails civil rights, unfair wages, or our climate.

To close, it should be relayed that climate is not a distant phenomenon, it showcases clear

and present danger that needs direct attention and action. Again, it may not be enough to follow

suggestions like “Actions for a healthy planet” from the United Nations. The trends, effects, and

statistics are undeniable and there is no longer room for dispute or slow progress. Through

diplomacy, collective effort, education, and belief, the world can be built back brighter and future

generations can be at ease.

Annotated Bibliography:

“Actions for a Healthy Planet.” United Nations, 2020, www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions.

This rather basic article serves the purpose of providing readers with twelve basic steps

they can take to "save the climate." The steps include: Saving energy at home, switching

sources of home energy, walking or biking to work, switch to an electric vehicle, consider

the amount of travel, recycle, waste less food, eat more vegetables, save money, plant

native species, clean up the earth, and speak up. While many would look at these tips as

super helpful, the question has to be asked if they could truly have an effect on our

climate. The purpose of including this peer-reviewed source by the United States is to

relate back to this question. Many major sources of credible science media would deny

that enough individuals will ever take these steps to make a sizable difference on the state

of our climate, yet it is important to include possible perspectives and motivations from

different sides and those of the same side.

Barrett, Deirdre. Supernormal Stimuli: How Primal Urges Overran Their Evolutionary Purpose.

W.W. Norton, 2010.

In this book, Harvard University psychologist Deirdre Barrett explains how the

once-crucial human instincts no longer prove useful in this technological and industry

driven world today. The title of the book refers to native human instincts; for instance,

protection of territory and sexual reproduction. Barrett explains that these gut drives are

no longer important for survival in an overpopulated world of consumers. The disconnect

 between current human lifestyle and that of our ancient predecessors is to what she

attributes many of the world's major issues. While this source does not directly align with

the idea of climate change, the argument for a major fault within modern human lifestyle

in relation to our design can be blamed entirely for the current state of our Earth. Barrett

would likely argue that individual, everyday human action to reverse damages to our

climate would not be a sensible use of human time or energy as our world is dominated

by consumption and continuous advancements in technology. Deirdre Barrett presents a

credible reference given her current career and research/experimentation in the process of

writing this analysis. While opinionated, it is also dominated by evidence-based study

and extensive thought. This book is an outlier source yet has elements that align perfectly

with the question of whether or not we have the power to reverse current catastrophe.

“Climate Change.” United Nations, United Nations,

www.un.org/en/global-issues/climate-change. Accessed 31 Jan. 2024.

This article from the United Nations serves as a base reference to the current situation of

the climate. It begins with an explanation of climate change as a whole and transitions to

the impact humans have on greenhouse gas output. Further issues are discussed including

expected rises in food insecurity, sea level, ocean acidification, and global temperature.

This article is actively updated but serves to educate the collective on the consequences

of these changes and the importance of reducing consumption. In relation to the research

question of whether or not individual effort can reverse some of these effects, this article
 serves as a way to provide basic understanding of the severity of the climate crisis to the

reader of such a paper. Additionally, it discusses current and former actions taken; for

instance, the Paris Climate Agreement. The peer-reviewed source is beyond relevant and

credible as it is presented by the United Nations and backed by resources from the COP,

Annual Climate Summits, and much more.

Cohen, Steve. “The Role of Individual Responsibility in the Transition to Environmental

Sustainability.” State of the Planet, 14 May 2021,

news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/05/10/the-role-of-individual-responsibility-in-the-transit

ion-to-environmental-sustainability/.

In this article, Steve Cohen declares what he believes to be the responsibility of

individuals as the human race transitions into lives of increased sustainability. Cohen

begins by stating that he sees little value in criticizing the lives of others in the context of

their degrees of sustainability. He also prefaces his opinion with the idea that nobody

should have to live with limits to modern basic necessities such as lighting, air

conditioning, showers, etc. Perhaps the most important aspect of this article is the main

argument from Cohen. He uses a claim by another professor to provide a rebuttal about

human responsibility. He states that the duty of individuals is to encourage a shift in

mindset oriented towards growth, diplomacy, and collective sustainability. Instead of

pinning blame and placing each other on moral high grounds, we must come together to

promote learning of new mindsets. Like other articles, this source serves as an opinion in

support of one side regarding the research question of whether or not individual efforts

will create positive change for our climate. While opinionated, this paper is backed up by
 research from other professors and the life work of Cohen himself. Cohen is a professor

at the University of Columbia working in sustainability and tirelessly works to promote

and achieve true sustainability making this source beyond credible.

Mann, Michael E. “Individual Choices Won’t Be Enough to Save the Planet.” Time, Time. 12

Sept. 2019, time.com/5669071/lifestyle-changes-climate-change/.

In this article, Michael Mann asserts that focusing on individual choices in effort to

reduce carbon emissions and climate change causes the collective to lose focus on the

"gorilla in the room." The main idea of this piece is to inform others on the damages

caused through pointing fingers and blame at particular lifestyles. Additionally, Mann

highlights that a lot of the time this is not the fault of the consumer. He cites deflection

campaigns: one of many strategies by industry to divert attention and blame from major

sources of pollution, placing it on the shoulders of individuals. This source serves as the

tip of the iceberg in this paper, directly relating to the question of whether or not

individual choices each day can have an impact on the climate disaster. While the answer

to such a question will be up for interpretation, Mann declares that the current state of our

world should be attributed to lack of political and corporate action. When writing a

research paper, citing sources from both sides is important and it is clear where Mann's

heart lies. While many would see a take like this as an opinionated paper, this does not

correlate with a lack of credibility. Michael Man is a current professor and director of the

Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at The University of Pennsylvania. A

title like this not only makes him qualified to speak on subjects relating to sustainability

and climate, but also encourages readers to listen to his thoughts on the state of our
 world. His paper is riddled with everyday examples and situations that make it much

harder to ridicule.

Terent’ev, N.E. “Climate Change as a Factor in the Development of Companies: Corporate

Strategies and Guidelines for State Industrial Policy.” U.S. National Library of Medicine,

U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 Sept. 2021,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8460055/.

This article primarily discusses the impact of climate change on the growth and

development of companies and industry. The National Library of Medicine highlights

recent major effects but also offers insights to effect on GDP and the economy as a

whole. Major heads are encouraged to make changes not only for the environment, but

also for the health of the United States. Many excerpts discuss sustainable policy and

company response to such, highlighting this idea that industry has the most impact on our

climate. This peer-reviewed article directly aligns with the research question of whether

not human everyday change could help our climate as it indirectly points blame on

positions of high power. Additionally, citations of surveys, statistics, and endless data

provides a credible source of potential industry risk.

Kulkarni, Sanjana, and Jovana Andrejevic. "Reversing Climate Change with Geoengineering."

Science in the News, 3 Jan. 2022,

sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2022/reversing-climate-change-with-geoengineering/.
Kummer, Frank. "Only about 5% of Plastic Waste Gets Recycled in US." PhysOrg, 5 May 2022,

phys.org/news/2022-05-plastic-recycled.html.