Throughout the years, we’ve always heard from public officials, politicians and parents that climate change is a dire issue.
In school, we’ve been taught to lessen our ecological footprint and to understand the human impact on the environment.
But the question is, why is the issue of climate change always put at the bottom of the list of things to accomplish?
Sometimes it’s up to the kids to step up and be the adult. Young activists, like Emma Lim and Greta Thunberg, are switching things up.
Both are pushing global leaders and influential politicians to address climate change in an urgent manner — going as far as to speak at the United Nations and organizing mass protests around the world.
Lim has pledged to not have children until Canadian politicians take action on the issue of climate change.
“I am facing a future of economic instability, of food scarcity and extreme weather,” Lim wrote in her online pledge. “What if I have to sacrifice my child’s education to pay for a new house?”
Thunberg, at her speech at the United Nations, said that she doesn’t understand why people are focused on the economy more than the state of the environment.
“The basic problem is that basically nothing is being done to halt — or even slow — climate and ecological breakdown, despite all the beautiful words and promises,” Thunberg said.
Millions have joined Thunberg’s fight and thousands have signed Lim’s pledge, a majority of them being young people. These young activists have been praised for their accomplishments, but praise doesn’t contribute to taking action.
Canadians are concerned about the effects of climate change on their livelihoods, but a good chunk of them aren’t willing to spend $100 per year in taxes in efforts to address it, a poll conducted by CBC, Public Square Research and Maru/Blue found.
Matters such as finances and the cost of living were considered by Canadians to be more concerning than the issue of climate change.
However, adults should be just as concerned about the environment because it’s a future we all share. Throughout our lives we’ve been given terrible news about how the earth will change drastically years from now.
We’ve developed eco-anxiety, and that’s been fuelled by years of adults backpedalling on their promises.
In response, there will be some adults who roll their eyes when they hear that climate change should be considered a priority.
Lim and Thunberg’s actions won’t solve anything.
The world will continue on as usual, with Lim’s hypothetical kids or not.
Progress can only exist if there’s action, and even if it’s the smallest act, a chain reaction will follow.
Prayers, praise and liking a Facebook post on climate change isn’t going to be enough to save the earth.
We are on course for a future with rising sea levels, skyrocketing temperatures and crumbling ecosystems.
But, you know, what about those taxes?