The global warming time bomb – 12 years to avoid climate change catastrophe

The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report on 6 October 2018 highlighting the fact that we need to be making MUCH bigger strides in a shorter time to avoid catastrophic climate change repercussions. The IPCC report demonstrates that unprecedented changes are needed across society to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels., a target we are nowhere near reaching currently.

Written by 91 authors and review editors from 40 countries, the report also features 133 contributing authors, over 6,000 scientific references and was subject to 42,001 expert and government review comments before publication. In summary – its worse than we thought, in 10 to 20 years at our current rate, the beginning of the end will begin… the report describes a world of worsening food shortages and wildfires, and a mass die-off of coral reefs, intensifying droughts, heat-waves, floods, storms – destruction of property, loss of life and increased poverty.

Avoiding climate change chaos will require a major of societal transformation that is “unprecedented in scale”, the United Nations has warned. You can read summaries on the report below. The long and short of it is we will be up the creek without a paddle unless we all act now – we cannot rely on governments and corporations. Lead by example and others will follow, make simple lifestyle changes that will become effortless habits without you even blinking. In short reduce your support of planet harming activities: the biggest offenders: plastic, meat, fossil fuels/coal, consumerism, energy efficiency. Be conscious of what you are purchasing and eating –  could you be lightening your load on the planet? The answer is probably yes. We ALL can… Don’t be daunted by the list below, just do what you can, but please try, the future of our planet really does depend on it.

Here’s how:

Stop using plastics

1. Recycle
2. Buy bamboo toothbrushes
3. Stop using plastic straws
4. Use plastic free earbuds
5. Always take your (preferably non-plastic) bags to your supermarket
6. Buy as much food as you can without packaging (most of your veges can be purchased this way)
7. Visit plastic free supermarkets (they exist)
8. Avoid disposable nappies
9. Ladies, we know this is tough one – reject traditional tampons
10. Take your own mug to your local coffee shop
11. Use disposable paper products instead of plastic
12. Call people out on littering
13. Volunteer to clean up beaches

Food @ at home

1. Eat less meat and dairy
2. Waste less food – Compost your waste
3. Grow your own vegetables
4. Eat more locally sourced seasonal food
5. All your household cleaning and beauty products can be switched to natural alternatives from dishwashing detergent to deodorant to sunscreen

Business

1. Print less, save paper
2. Investigate refillable ink cartridges
3. For ALL your large scale print requirements, use a printer who prints on recycled paper using vegetable inks
4. In retail, encourage your shoppers to bring their own bags.
5. In catering, use biodegradable and plastic free packaging, cutlery and take-away items

Transport

1. Walk more
2. Cycle more
3. Pool vehicle rides more

Energy

1. Move your website to renewable energy website hosting
2. Use a washing line instead of a tumble dryer
3. Keep energy use low by continuing to turn off equipment / lights when not in use
4. Switch to LED lightbulbs
5. Ensure there is a blanket and timer on your geyser, switch the thermostat down as low as you can
6. When budget permits: Insulate homes, Add grey water systems, Add solar
7. Save and re-use as much water as you can
8. Demand low carbon in every consumer product

Behaviour

1. Be conscious of your behaviour and decisions
2. Buy less – live a modest and minimalist life – the less you have the more you will enjoy life
3. Buy less clothes – don’t fall into the fashion trap – recent claims are that the fashion industry is one of the top five most-polluting industries in the world, alongside the oil industry. 
4. Use ethical suppliers where possible
5. Switched your daily search engine from Google to Ecosia

SOURCES & FURTHER READING

1. The IPCC Press Release
2. Huffington Post – New UN Climate Report Dims Hope For Averting Catastrophic Global Warming
3. New York Times – Major Climate Report Describes a Strong Risk of Crisis as Early as 2040
4. The Guardian – IPCC climate change report calls for urgent action to phase out fossil fuels
5. Vox.com – A major new climate report slams the door on wishful thinking