Summary reader response #3

In the article, “Five years since the Paris Agreement, the world must get ambitious on climate action”, Sharma (2020) addressed the world’s efforts to reduce the existing effects on climate change at the global Climate Ambition Summit. As of the fifth year of the Paris Agreement, Sharma noted that a total of 75 leaders are committed to including net-zero energy, nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and adaptations and resilience in their plans. Amongst the submitted revised plans for climate action, he highlighted that President Xi Jing Ping announced that China will reach carbon neutrality before 2060. He also mentioned that Singapore intends to invest in environment-centric projects whilst Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong encourages countries to work together. In addition, Sharma emphasizes that a significant change in ambition is necessary to tackle climate change. Thus, improvements must take place by the world leaders: increased international resolve and partnership. Sharma (2020) concluded that the progress on the COVID-19 vaccines had proven that nothing is impossible if everyone works together to combat climate change. I agree that individual efforts are as important as the world’s partnership efforts because the awareness of every individual matters to combat climate change.

Individual efforts in reducing the existing effects of climate change are important because "our actions do influence the people around us" (Rowlatt, 2019). An example would be Greta Thunberg, who is a teenage climate activist. One movement Greta exemplified was opting to be whisked across the Atlantic on a racing yacht instead of taking the plane to her climate change meetings in New York. As a teenager, her actions have captured the world’s attention. This clearly demonstrates that individuals do possess the capacity to make an impact on reducing the effects of climate change. Even if our efforts might not be as large scale, I am still convinced that there is still hope to be part of the solution in reducing the effects of climate change. 

With that said, the affluent have a greater individual responsibility, given that they exert a larger impact on the environment, in terms of carbon emissions. According to Bhalla and Barclay (2020), the richest 10% of the world’s population were responsible for 52% of cumulative carbon emissions and ate up 31% of the world’s carbon budget from 1990 to 2015. The high purchasing power entails them to consume more which is directly proportional to the carbon emissions emitted. Therefore, affluent individuals should acknowledge the significant role they play in exacerbating the effects of climate and act upon it.

The education platform has a high possibility of shifting individuals' mindsets to act on climate change. Education is a powerful platform to raise awareness of global warming because it educates individuals to be more aware of the current effects of climate change. Furthermore, Sharma (2020) mentioned that climate change is not an issue that the government can solve alone but it takes every individual to act on it. Tan (2018) stated in a survey done in 2016, that only “9 out of 10 were concerned about the effects of climate change on future generations.” Through this statement, it is evident that not all individuals are aware of the existing effects of climate change. Hence, I believe in educating individuals from a young age to cultivate a like-minded mindset towards reaching climate goals.

Overall, though some may feel that individual efforts do not matter because they are merely one out of the seven billion people, I conclude that every individual has a huge role to play in reaching the Paris agreement goals. Therefore, I agree with Sharma that everyone needs to work together to combat the existing effects of climate change.

 

References:

Alok, S. (2020, 20 December). Commentary: Five years since Paris Agreement, world must get ambitious on climate action. Channel News Asia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/uncop26-climate-change-commitment-net-zero-clean-energy-uk-13798700

Justin, R. (2019, 19 September). Climate change action: We can’t all be Greta, but your choices have a ripple effect. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-49756280

Audrey, T.(2018, 27 January). Climate change: Many think they can’t make a difference. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/climate-change-many-think-they-cant-make-a-difference

Jag, B and Eliza B. (2020, 20 November). How affluent people can end their mindless overconsumption. Vox. Climate change is accelerating because of rich consumers’ energy use. Here are some solutions. - Vox