March for climate change, what is it all about?

Published 30 September 2019

School Strike for Climate

Global Warming was predicted early in the 19th century. Although, at the time the scientist,  Svante Arrhenius thought warming the earth by 5-6 degrees Celcius would take thousands of years.

He also thought humanity might benefit from it. Boy was he wrong.

We're now a hundred plus years past the fact and not enough has or is being done to address the issue.

And guess what? We're running out of time. 

The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement has given countries until 2100 to limit global warming to 1.5-2 degrees.  So far the climate modelling studies produced to date use this 2100 date in their modelling.  

The problem with this scenario is that it gives people the ability to say we have time, rather than acting now.  If individuals, societies and governments don’t change now, it will make it even harder for the future generation to deal with the problem. 

Or as Communities Manager, Susie Robertson says " I kind of liken to the fact that there is a small leak coming through the roof. It's probably going to cost a lot of money to replace the roof now, but if I don’t do it the house will eventually become unliveable, and my kids will have to foot the bill.  How irresponsible would that make me?"

Why School Strike for Climate Change?

The bottom line is that our track record isn't great. 

We're failing, and the youth of today are sick of it. They want less talk and more action. And they want it now.

“People are dying; entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!” - Greta Thunberg 2019  

How you can help?

Make small changes in your own life, talk about those changes with your friends and families to begin to have some wider influence.  Get on board with community initiatives that help reduce CO2 emissions, tree planting, wetlands recovery, protecting our oceans.  Talk to your local councillor, write submissions on relevant legislative changes, oh and take part in climate marches when they happen.