Everyone has to take personal responsibility for climate change

By Letter to the Editor on August 26, 2021.

Editor:
A short time ago, I wrote a letter to the Herald decrying the fact that some aspects of climate change are now upon us, and are likely to get worse. A few people I know said, “I read your letter,” adding nothing more. What could they say? It was a letter of despair.
Unlike some of the more modest problems of life, despair, more than hope, is where we have to begin with climate change.
But does that mean we must languish in hopelessness the rest of our days getting more and more inert and distressed as climate change proceeds? Most pundits say we must allow technological cures or big science. Perhaps this is so but big fixes are beyond personal engagement for most of us, no matter how important they may be. We can, however, do some things:
1. We can insist that parties and governments address climate change as their top priority. In that matter, we can withhold our vote, write letters, protest, etc.
2. We can do little things individually: use less fossil fuel, fly less often, embrace solar energy, etc.
3. We can make ourselves exemplars for others, and speak openly about our collective need to do the little things within our power and reach.
Most importantly, if we do not make these or similar efforts, we will find it harder and harder to act, thereby threatening our planet’s health as well as our personal mental health.
Doing something, no matter how small will help alleviate much despair, and allow us to retain some of the agency and authority that all humans need to thrive.
Finger pointing and blame will accomplish very little. We should not allow smug climate change deniers to dictate our responses and actions, however, as anti-vaxxers have been able to do to some degree in regard to COVID-19.
Just as climate change deniers should be kept from setting the agenda, those who have long protested climate change, no matter how correct they are in pointing fingers of blame, should not spend so much energy condemning us all, leaving everyone feeling assaulted.
Everyone must remind themselves that we are all to blame for climate change in one way, not just certain persons or groups.
At the same time, none of us are specifically blameable, given the slow imperceivable growth of climate change after the emergence of 19th century industrialism.
We are all blameable, to some degree, however, for being so slow after having had 35 years warning of what was to come.
But given that it is everyone who will feel the effects of climate change, we should feel personally compelled to take action in the future.
James Tagg
Lethbridge