We all hear about the climate emergency, but what is it exactly? And why is Greta Thunberg so angry? In fact, for a young teen she knows her stuff, and because she knows how serious things are but gets given a hard time by some politicians, it’s understandable why she is livid.
The climate emergency is basically the tipping point, when climate change becomes irreversible. This is a positive site, but basically if that happens, we’re all stuffed. There will be much drought and storms and burst river banks and seas, the ice caps will melt, the polar bears will go extinct, and we will all be dead. And we’re not far off.
So all the political powers have decided on various years, by which time we must live a carbon zero life. Problem is, most of them don’t go far enough. It ranges from 2030 to 2050, and that will be way too late. Thank goodness President Trump is leaving office, as he doesn’t want any restraints at all, and just signed up for more drilling of the Arctic, hopefully that will reverse, when he is eventually turfed out. It’s strange that people against the caps on carbon say that it’s for say ‘American jobs’. Because all of them (and their children and their grandchildren) will all be dead anyway. 97% of climate scientists say that climate change problems are mostly manmade – and the 3% that don’t, have all been found to have vested interests.
So what can we do? Unfortunately our present government is not taking things fast enough. But to be fair, neither are most opposition leaders. Even the shadow chancellor talks about ‘economic growth’, even though zero growth is the only way to save the planet. We can’t keep making and chucking stuff away, that’s where the problem lies. So here are a few books to explain, then explain how to help.
If you want to know how committed your own MP is to stopping climate change, The Guardian has a score card, so you can look him or her up. As a quick primer (this was before the 2019 election), Caroline Lucas (Green) scores 92. Jo Swinson (Lib Dem) scored 50. Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) scored 92. Boris Johnson (Conservative) scored zero.
- The Climate is Changing: Why Aren’t We? offers easy tips to change, from the clothes you buy to the food you eat, and knowing when to harness the power of social media to demand climate action. Daisy (founder of Ocean Generation) weaves together inspirational stories, stats and easy green switches.
- Climate Emergency Atlas is an illustrated guide with 30 maps to understand which countries and coasts are most at risk, and which countries are generating the most Co2. What will the polar ice caps look like in 10 years time? Which countries have successfully harnessed renewable energy?
Palm Trees at the North Pole is a book on the hot truth about climate change. Written for children ages 8 to 12, it shares the science and history of climate through through awesome facts and detailed colourful illustrations that will make youngsters feel part of the solution.
