Climate Action: Global responsibility for climate change
The effects of climate change are already crossing borders, leading to biodiversity loss, and reshaping our planet. Floods, droughts, wildfires, and extreme weather patterns are increasingly becoming the norm rather than the exception.
According to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring firm, air quality is so severe that people can breathe with ease in only seven countries—Iceland, the Bahamas, Australia, Grenada, Barbados, Estonia, and New Zealand. .
To address climate change, we should adopt a mindset of internationalism and look beyond national policies by embracing global cooperation, through global travel, international studies, and global governance rather than isolation.
Action Plans
Integrating climate education into the school curriculum
Educators can shape a climate-conscious generation by fostering awareness and action through school curricula. This can be achieved by embedding sustainability, climate science, curriculum supplements, and ecological ethics in students’ education. Such efforts will encourage students to think critically and analyze issues related to environmental justice and global climate policies.
When young people are empowered to act, they will be at the frontline of climate activism, promoting innovative solutions through circular economies, renewable energy, and sustainable development. Moreover, in the digital age, they can leverage social media to connect with sustainability initiatives worldwide and amplify climate awareness. Through persistence and passion, young people can also push for climate-friendly policies in local governments and schools.
Embracing Global Systemic Action
Global citizens can enact an internationalist approach to climate action by advocating for global funding for sustainability projects and stronger climate policies. However, meaningful action must also start locally, with globalists investing in green technologies such as carbon capture, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy.
Moreover, when people around the world come together for climate action, marginalized voices are amplified, ensuring that communities most affected by climate change have a seat at the decision-making processes. This has become even more important when it comes to nations in the global South. In December last year, for instance, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) started climate change hearings on the legal obligations of some countries to mitigate the effects of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable nations to its impacts. Over 100 countries sent lawyers to The Hague for this case—a clear demonstration of the achievements global unity can bring to address pertinent issues around climate change.
Think Global, Act Now
Climate Change is not a siloed problem that falls solely on governments and non-governmental organizations alone—it is a shared responsibility. Globalists, teachers, and students can also inspire, implement, and lead meaningful climate action. By embracing a global perspective, we can drive meaningful change to protect our climate. For those interested in culture and opportunities around climate change, and other global issues, visit our global collections to be educated on global issues and stay informed on pressing challenges.
For educators and students interested in curriculum supplements and opportunities to take informative climate action, visit our collection of resources, specifically tailored for you. Additionally, here are more ways to engage globally, for internationally curious students:
Connect, explore, and become even more worldly at Carpe Global, where you can learn about great resources and opportunities like those shared above! Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media @carpeglobal.
Michael Araka is a communications consultant with Carpe Global. Michael writes extensively on policy issues and current affairs. He holds an Msc in Management Science in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University where he was a Schwarzman Scholar, and a BA in Ethics and Politics from Bard College Berlin.
