Sustainability 101: What is Climate Change?

Rick Crawford

Being a sustainability consultant and in the field of sustainability for nearly a decade, I sometimes forget that I may be speaking a different language when talking about topics such as: the tragedy of the commons, sustainability, sustainable business and others. So, I am writing some blog articles about basic concepts and principles of sustainability with the intent to educate others about why it’s so important to protect the planet through the “Sustainability 101” blog series.

The cliff notes version is that climate change is the unnatural warming of our planet from burning fossil fuels. However, NASA provides a more detailed definition:

Climate change refers to a broad range of global phenomena created predominantly by burning fossil fuels, which add heat-trapping gases to Earth’s atmosphere. These phenomena include the increased temperature trends described by global warming, but also encompass changes such as sea level rise; ice mass loss in Greenland, Antarctica, the Arctic and mountain glaciers worldwide; shifts in flower/plant blooming; and extreme weather events.

NASA

So, when we burn fossil fuels, they emit gases which remain in our atmosphere and causes what is called the “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect basically traps the gases, which warms our planet. A few of the major contributing greenhouse gases are: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. You may be wondering, what are the effects of climate change?

We are currently experiencing sea level rise here in Charleston, SC, as well as an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes followed by unprecedented amounts of rain. Additionally, the oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb much of the heat from climate change, which is causing coral bleaching, changes in migratory patterns and making it more difficult for shelled animals to survive. In the Rocky Mountains, they are experiencing less snow pack, which leads to warmer water temperatures and is bad for cold water species. The American West is also experiencing an increase in droughts and forest fires as a result of climate change.

Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you.

Wendell Berry

The point is climate change has the potential to be catastrophic and I simply love fishing, camping and the outdoors too much to just stand by and let it happen! Climate change is here, and is happening now. The good news is that we can all do something about it and here is a short list of ways we can protect the planet:

1. Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you: That’s right! Just being a good neighbor and thinking outside of ourselves helps create a mindset of considering how our actions impact others.
2. Grow Your Own, or Buy Local, Fruits and Vegetables: Growing your own fruits and veggies has smaller carbon footprint because of less miles traveled. Don’t have a green thumb? No worries, you can always buy local at a farmer’s market, which also helps keep money in your community and builds a strong local economy!
3. REFUSE Single-Use Plastics: Single-use plastics are actually petroleum based so by refusing them, you are not only helping to keep our rivers and oceans clean, but are also fighting climate change!
4. Conserve Energy & Consider Renewable Energy: Most of our electricity comes from burning coal, so make sure your home is insulated, which helps keep your A/C and heat inside. Install LED light bulbs which also helps to conserve energy and saves money on your power bill. If you have the means, consider installing solar or wind as renewables eliminate the need for fossil fuels for electricity!
5. Be a Conscious Consumer: Always try to reuse or upcycle any old clothing or gear, but when buying new, consider what that brand and product stands for. Look for things like the 1% for the Planet logo, or do a little digging on the company website to see what the brand stands for because ultimately, we vote with our dollars.
6. VOTE: Just as we can vote with our dollars and support brands that are working to solve environmental problems, we can also call and email our current elected officials know that acting on climate is important and if they don’t act, your vote belongs with the person who is going elect a leader who will act on climate.
7. Protect What You Love: Go fishing, surfing, hiking, camping, sailing, walking…anything that gets you outside in nature. If we collectively decide that we love and value nature, then there will always be people there to protect her!

With a growing worldwide population, and the reality that climate change is here and already making a forceful impact, it’s easy to get caught up in the negative hype, so don’t! Stay positive, keep making an impact by making conscious and mindful decisions and don’t forget to respect and enjoy this big beautiful world. Imagine a sustainable planet with thriving forests, healthy oceans and species rebounding and a world powered by clean, renewable energy! I’ll be doing my part by providing inspiring stories about people and companies working hard to fight climate change, end plastic pollution and save forests and species from extinction through this blog and The Sustainable Angler Podcast. Let’s build a sustainable planet together!