Blog Action Day 2009: Fear of (Climate) Change

How do you write about a concept as massive and complex as climate change? It’s the little things that matter the most, so let’s break down what exactly we’re talking about here:

Climate = the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.

Change = to become different, altered, or modified.

Climate is a very basic concept. Climate is rain, wind, sun, rain … you know, what meteorologists talk about. Change is also very basic, but people have a much harder time understanding or adapting to it.

The climate naturally changes and our planet naturally goes through times of warming and cooling. Our current problem is that our planet’s climate is changing faster than is normally does. The science is there in black & white – we’re experiencing one of the most rapid changes in climate in the 4.5-billion-year history of our planet.

So why do we deny climate change is happening? Why do we deny the fact that humans are the only species capable of creating such change? The answer is within the problem itself: change. Our culture fears change, both rapidly & over long periods of time. Being flexible and adaptable is not something many of us are taught.

While our music, fashion, and technology grows at hurried rates, we depend on certain elements of our life to remain steady. Those things that we’ve come to trust and depend on are now changing – thanks to climate change – and it is rocking our world: food, water, the seasons.

It’s time to stop fighting, stop lying, stop denying. Our climate is changing, we are the cause, and only we can change it for the better. Every small step leads to big differences in our government, culture, society, and overall well-being. Don’t over-analyze, don’t seek perfection, don’t compete – just start. Each journey beings with one step and now is the time to take it.

Accept climate change

Be NICE

Help the planet

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This post is proud part of Blog Action Day 2009.

[Image taken by Victoria Klein]