Chaitanya Davé

Global warming or Climate Change is real. The earth and its atmosphere, oceans and rivers are getting warmer and warmer year after year. Out of last 17 years, 16 were the warmest in the history in last several million years. There is no question about it. In its entire history, humanity has never faced a threat of this magnitude ever before. Thousands of scientists around the world have agreed on this. Governments around the world are trying to come to an agreement to jointly combat this threat to humanity. But we don’t know if they will succeed.

According to the findings published in the Lancet Journal and reported by The Guardian of UK (October 30, 2017), health of millions of people around the world is being damaged by climate change. Air pollution is causing millions of early deaths every year, with 800,000 deaths annually related solely to coal burning.

Every one of us has a duty as a world citizen to help stop the climate change. If not for ourselves, at least for our children and grandchildren. Because if global warming is not contained and stopped within next few years, climate change will be irreversible. Then our children and grandchildren will face terrible consequences from this catastrophe awaiting us. Hundreds of millions will starve, become homeless and many will perish.

So the question is: What can us as individuals do to help mitigate global warming? Here are some steps all of us can take to help combat climate change:

• Start driving small gas-mileage efficient cars. Driving the electric car will be the best option. Or drive a hybrid car; or at least a small high-mileage car. If majority of the people in the world do this, this will help reduce millions of tons of carbon emissions.
• Replace your old refrigerator with energy efficient one which are easily available today. This will save lot of energy.
• Install solar panels on your house. This will be the greatest step you can take to help mitigate climate change. With solar-powered home, you are not only producing your own electricity, you are even giving the excess electricity produced to others and getting paid for this. Your electricity bill will be zero or close to it and the solar powered home will pay for the solar power installation in seven to ten years depending on your current electricity bill. Also, your solar-powered home will increase in value.
• Be vegetarian at least one day a week. Water being a scarce commodity today, it takes 518 gallons of water per pound of chicken while it requires 1,847 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. According to The Economist (Dec. 31st, 2013), it takes 5 to 10 kg. of wheat to produce 1 kg. of beef, 2 kg. of feed to produce 1 kg. of chicken and 1 kg. **of lamb requires 4 to 6 kg. of grains. 
  According to Earth Day Network, if the entire U.S. population did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles—or taking 7.6 million cars off the road.
• Combine several daily chores in one trip. That way, you will drive less, save money and help reduce carbon emissions.
• If possible, share a ride with others to and from your work reducing your driving. Also, use public transportation such as a bus or a train whenever possible.
• Insulate your home appropriately to reduce excessive need for heating or cooling.
• Take shorter baths. Save water, a vital commodity today.
• If possible, grow your own vegetables. This way, you will eat healthy organic food and help climate change.
• Elect politicians who believe in climate change and will do something about it. Make them accountable by talking to them and by demanding what they are doing to help mitigate climate change.
• Divest/disinvest, in other words don’t invest in fossil fuel companies, oil companies, mining and metals companies. Invest in Green energy corporations such as solar panel manufacturers.
• Avoid using plastic bags for your purchases.
• Use locally grown foods—fruits and vegetables—as average food item in America travels some 1500 miles to be in our dish today.
• If you can, plant trees in your backyard.
• Always recycle the plastic containers, glass bottles, cardboards, newspapers and metal parts.
• Don’t depend on your politicians to thwart this greatest threat. They are not as moral, ethical, smart or conscientious as you might think.
• Talk to your children about global warming and its devastating impact on humanity and ask them to do their share.
• Be politically and socially active. Think globally and act locally! Take parts in protests locally and nationally…protests against climate change, wars, violence and injustice anywhere.
• Donate generously to organizations who are working to mitigate the climate change. Some of them are Earthjustice, 350.org, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, Greenpeace, Environmental Defense Fund and many more. Remember, these organizations are working for a better life for our children and grandchildren. Our money is not going to come with us when we depart this world. Help these great organizations do their vitally useful work.
• To add to all of the above, share this article with all your friends and family.