3. Do your bit!

Topic: How can we mobilise public opinion to get people to demand climate action and change lifestyle habits and behaviours to reduce carbon emissions?

All of us, in some way or the other are aware about the climate changes occurring around us. But, how many of us actually take the initiative to do something about it? What we think is, someone else will do it! Let someone more ‘woke’ come clean the mess that we are leaving behind. This general thought process of ours have ultimately dragged us to the edge of the mountain. One more miscalculated step, and we fall right into it without any way of returning. Chennai faced an acute water deficit of a staggering month long time period. A bottle of packaged drinking water costed 450 INR/. The Arctic is melting, the polar bears dying, the whales and turtles are suffocating with plastics wrapped around their faces, humans are developing new and different diseases everyday due to the high carbon emission in the air. It’s just not a very good time to be alive, is it?

So, what all can we do to get this under control, even if a little? How can we inspire people to bring small changes in their daily lifestyle habits and behaviours to reduce carbon emissions? Here are five ideas on how we can start taking action:

• Being more Informative: Despite a growing number of climate mitigation policies, humans have increased their rates of greenhouse gas emissions dramatically since 1970. Although, many are concerned about it, the concern often do not change to action. This, always might not be voluntary. There is also a lack of information often faced by those who want to work towards the cause. So, more informative campaigns should be carried so that people can have access to more news and information.
• Growth in Communication: After the big circulation of information, comes the communication of the same. Information will only reach a handful of people without the help of communication. And the easiest way of near or far communication now a days is of course, social media! Social media campaigns across the different platforms should be carried in abundance so that the circulated information reaches far and wide and to every class of the society. That, right there, is the beauty of social media! But, do not forget to “unplug your device” after you’re done with that Instagram post. Anytime a cord is plugged into a socket, it’s drawing energy! That’s contributing to carbon footprint.
• Setting a goal: Once the information and the communication part is sorted, the goal setting should be done. Goals should be small, realistic and logical. A step-by-step made up goal takes less time and labour to be achieved. For example: Set a goal of ditching your Sunday chicken curry for a bowl of organic vegetables.
• Taking a pledge: It is often said and believed that when people take a pledge or a promise, they are more unlikely to break it, especially if it’s on a public platform. So, if by taking a pledge for Mother Earth makes people do something to reduce her cries, be it! People can take small pledges like “Walking/cycling to work”, “Planting more trees” and move forward accordingly.
• Implementation & Feedback: Lastly, all the goal-setting and the pledges should be put into action in the last step called implementation, in a step-by-step process followed by feedbacks so that the one putting in the labour gets the well-deserved appreciation in return. How can you implement? Let’s start by not indulging in fast-fashion.

To sign off with, it’s high time! Though, the situation did not turn this gross overnight but let’s take baby steps towards solving it. Let’s do our bit!