SIX STEPS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT

SIX STEPS TO COMABT CLIMATE CHANGE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT

Dress: Amazon Earrings: Committee owned

From the pandemic to the brutal acts of racial injustice, the fires in Australia at the beginning of the year to the West Coast fires more recently, this year has been a whirlwind. As college students, we have the unique opportunity to impact the effect climate change has. Climate change is an issue that demands our attention.

“What climate change does is it amplifies things,” said William Gutowski, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences. “It makes things worse, and it exposes even more strong practices that haven’t been dealt with the wisest. It amplifies the consequences.”

Climate change amplifies natural disasters such as fires and storms similar to the derecho that passed through Iowa in August.

“With the derecho, we saw that while we do not experience fires or some of the immediate rising sea levels, Iowa is definitely going to deal with climate impacts,’’ said Paige Penningroth, a clean energy field organizer with the Iowa Environmental Council. “Climate change does not only impact those living close to an ocean or near a dense forest; it is affecting us as well.”

Natural disasters like the derecho in Iowa are going to happen more frequently as the world warms.

“If we effectively continue on the same path we are now, it is very likely that we will have increased fire activity, increased floods, stronger hurricanes, you name it,” said Alan Wanamaker, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences. “Natural disasters are essentially being set up by a warming world.”

So what can we do?

Pay attention to those who are disproportionately affected by climate change. “As we have seen with the pandemic, the communities that are the most vulnerable are the ones who don’t have the same power or the access to power and at times they are not as wealthy, and that comes into factor with climate change,” said Gutowski.

Advocate for these communities and educate yourself on environmental injustice.

Pay attention to your own lifestyle and how you burn fossil fuels. Make conscious decisions in your daily life, like walking or biking to school or work instead of driving.

Pay attention to credible science. Do not get caught up in social media and follow accounts that are not valid. Be sure to follow real, credible sources.

Shop from companies and brands that are environmentally conscious.

“Demand that companies that you’re putting your money down to buy their products are environmentally conscious and only shop with people who take climate change seriously,” said Wanamaker.

Get involved in groups on campus.

“Telling everyone to get involved in a specific area they care about, you don’t have to tackle all climate issues, that’s hard, but finding one group or one issue that matters to you and trying to raise awareness for it,” said Penningroth.

Find an issue you’re passionate about and join a group that advocates for that cause.

Vote. Vote for politicians that are supporters of the environment and are concerned for the future of our world. “If you want to be heard, and you want things to change, you need to go to the ballot box,” said Wanamaker.