implementing change on the national level is difficult. absolutely. in the United States, hyperpartisan politics have forced Congress into constant gridlocks and hindered their ability to produce legislation that can really make a difference.
however, that’s where communities and individuals can truly come into play: reaching out to state and federal representatives and senators and swaying public opinion can truly make a difference.
how people vote and choose their governments also factors in—who do you want in office and will best represent your interests in preserving the environment?
and when enough individual and local voices are heard, that’s when national change really starts to happen.
with that in mind, that’s when national governments can start to have an impact on the international stage.
countries set examples for each other. their decisions and legislations to reduce factory carbon emissions or enact better protections for coral reefs or to establish better alternative energy programs can encourage other countries to follow suit.
groups like the United Nations can be vital to promoting discussion between countries in setting a collective goal towards environmental sustainability.
resolutions set by the UNFCCC, like the Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse emissions, are not binding for most countries, but they still are effective in setting goals and frameworks for countries to follow in reducing pollution and fossil fuel usage. As a result, it is extremely important that countries sign and ratify them. the United States’ recent withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement is a sign of change in the wrong direction.
climate change will have devastating consequences on every single nation.
it is imperative that countries unite against this common threat.
because climate change is not a problem that respects borders.
an ocean in crisis 