How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Embrace Change: The Story Of A Trader-Turned-"Treehugger"
Working in the field changed everything.
In 2005 I volunteered on the Earthwatch research project that would change my life. I joined a team of researchers and fellow volunteers from around the world to work on a project to restore the mangrove forests of Africa's Swahili coast.
It was here that I came to understand the devastating human cost of climate change: Coastal homes of mud, dung and straw would be physically threatened by rising sea levels and coastal erosion. The increased frequency and severity of tropical storms would threaten person and property. The bleaching of coral reefs would mean the decline of fish stocks and a traditional way of life-which had remained largely unchanged since the end of the 19th century-would be lost.
It occurred to me then that the terrible injustice of climate change is that it will most affect those who are least responsible for it and those least equipped to deal with its consequences.
I resolved then and there to change my life and to try to inspire others to do the same. I set about securing a career with Earthwatch, the organisation that had such a profound impact on me; and have been with Earthwatch Australia for nearly two years.
Making the step change.
Every day I hear stories of people taking their first step towards change. They make their homes more efficient, they go back to school, email their politicians, drive a smaller car, recycle or catch public transport. The change they undertake themselves creates a ripple effect that touches their families, workplaces, social and professional networks, schools and local communities.
Which such huge and seemingly intractable issues before us, it is easy to become disengaged, to simply delegate responsibility to others. We see it in our politics - unless other countries act, we will not. We see it in our industry - that unless our competitors act, we must not. And we see it in ourselves - that unless all others act, we cannot.
I wonder if people from today's failed and struggling industries will be called to become more engaged with the real world around them, as I did. (Certainly that's my hope.)
In the few minutes it will have taken to read this post, roughly 25,000,000 kilograms of greenhouse gases will have been emitted into the atmosphere and concentrations of CO2 will be heading past 385ppm. Dangerous climate change is not inevitable, but we cannot rely on others to take action on our behalf; we must take the first step ourselves.
It is not important which first step you take, only that you take it.
Image credits:Earthwatch project led by Dr. Huxhuam to conserve mangroves in Kenya.
By: Richard Gilmore, Executive Director, Earthwatch Australia
Please welcome our colleague Richard Gilmore to the Earthwatch blog team. We're psyched to take our blog to the next level: international participation!
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