Change with Climate Change
by Nessie Kubeere
Our lives are in a constant state of flux with this characteristic extending to the world at large. When growing up, I referred to Pluto as a planet and could effortlessly get carried to bed when I fell asleep on the couch. Now, Pluto is not on the list of planets and if I sleep on the couch, I’ll be there when I wake up. We still have constants like how water is still made up of two hydrogen molecules and 1 oxygen molecule. And this is the kind of blend that we live in today -constants and dynamics.
The earth has been existing for over 4 billion years and humans have been here only since two million years ago. This was made possible by the Great oxygenation event of 2300 million years ago. Human beings are social beings; no organism can survive on this planet alone. However, our actions are leading to rapid reductions of populations of thousands of species. The world population has been increasing. From just over 6 billion in 2000 to about 7.8 billion in 2020. A percentage increase of 22%. I cannot wrap my head around biodiversity and wilderness loss that has taken place during this same 20 year period. Each species biotic and abiotic factors are interdependent. We survive on a balance, which has been tipping over.
Growing up, nature was a big part of my life. Break times involved playing with growing grass as we chased grasshoppers or splashed the water with our gum booted feet, to playing with mowed grass. Our class trips involved visits to see animals. We grew trees in school that was used for shade during lunchtime. Depending on the seasons, we would ‘earn’ fruits from trees located on our way home from school. Back at home, I tended to the vegetable garden.
All the while, I wanted to be a hummingbird.
I became actively involved in environmental work 5 years ago when I realized that despite my everyday behaviours being beneficial, our earth needed everyone to adopt healthier behaviours. Over time, I became aware of the different complex yet simple causes of climate change and the important role biodiversity plays in the survival of life.
Human beings are the wisest animals on the planet. We are creators of our destinies, futures and as is recently being proven, creators of earth’s demise. Human beings have overwhelmingly contributed to climate change, biodiversity loss and deterioration of our ecosystem. We have over time engaged in behaviours as well as activities that are resulting in our current situation. The tsunamis, floods droughts, pandemics, extinctions, infestations, wars, diseases, can be traced to our past behaviours from the Industrial Revolution, colonialism to date. And the destructive habits have not stopped and neither has the negative effects.
Throughout the time I’ve been engaging in environmental activities, I end up with more questions than answers despite learning more and doing more. Well, I can say that I come across complex factors that are at play and need to be considered to not only create but also implement everyday behaviours to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Before I dig in, I want to ask; how will we influence everyday thoughts and behaviours and adopt daily healthy habits to save this planet and preserve ourselves?
Question is, at what cost?
How can we explain keeping oil, coal, minerals, gasses and other resources underground to a people that was relieved to finally have such deposits to exploit themselves? How will we tell people in Turkana that Ngamia one should not be exploited?
How do we tell the common mwananchi, Wanjiku, that her actions are bound to worsen climate change in a manner that will compel her to transform her behaviours?
How do we simplify the complexities of climate change: policies and science behind it without being guilty of oversimplification?
How can we disseminate information about climate change mitigation and adaptation while avoiding greenwashing?
When will we be honest with ourselves and analyse information fed to us?
We have become a society that degrades not only nature but the people too. When we get all excited about development and growth, we ought to ask ourselves whether this so-called 'development' is beneficial to us and future generations. The development we aspire will be attained at what cost?
And when will we be honest about the immense negative impacts of the brown economy?
Money where our mouth is.
What kind of people do we choose as our leaders?
Can businesses be honest about how green and eco-friendly they are?
What are we investing our money on?
When will we stop being blinded by money, more jobs, higher GDP while the entire time, our beautiful motherland is famished?
How will we actualize our ambitious NDC? Who will finance NDCs? We say we are above money but we need money to get things going. And we know where the money came from. But then again, we don't want dirty money.
It is about time justice is granted after all the historical injustice done to the poor and indigenous communities. And we demand not the justice of words, filled with a veneer of sugar designed to momentarily please and blind from the more damage being caused. Time has flown, the past is behind us but the reality of what the past brought us to cannot be ignored.
There are times when it all seems daunting, solutions don't seem to work and propaganda is eroding progress. But think about it. Human beings are so powerful, we have been in existence on earth for well under 1% per cent of its existence and look at how much we have achieved (good and negative).
This is home for all of us.
To my fellow Africans and indigenous groups, whenever we think of development, a particular image comes to mind. Question is, why do we look up to them yet they are unable to manage some of their situations (think exported waste and carbon footprint)? Can we curate our solutions?
Maybe there is another survivable planet out there and we can relocate. Considering the chances and odds and forces at play on this planet, many people (and species) I know will be as lucky as 10 consecutive years of lottery winning if they get a chance to leave earth.
Even now on earth, a lot doesn’t stand a chance because we have made policies that infringe on rights. Couple that with economical, sociological and cultural limitations. Seriously, people, we must change!
Aaargh. I sound so angry and pissed off. I am. At the same time, I feel encouraged by the future. It still appears pretty gloomy but at the back of my mind, I know there are collaborators, activists, journalists, policymakers, leaders, advocates of ecological restoration. Many of us are ready to go all the way. We have collaborators from developed countries, the privileged so to speak who are willing to right the errs caused by their forefathers.
Not yet Uhuru
We are making strides, youth are very vocal about climate change and ecological protection. We the youth are policymakers and pushing policymakers to curate better guidelines. Information is slowly reaching the masses. I was privileged to attend the first edition of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice. Here, I interacted with other passionate and knowledge-hungry change-makers burning with the fire of informing and educating.
Individuals from the privileged countries are accepting their role in leading us to our current situation and are willing to make necessary changes. Many more people are choosing to adopt environmentally healthier behaviours; we have eco-friendly packaging, and rapidly switching to renewable energy. Children as young as 12 are fighting for climate justice!
I prefer walking the isolated and densely forested paths. As I walk slowly and feel intimidated by the tall large trees, wondering which snake might be lurking, I can't help but smile then wiggle my lips because a fly had just rested on it. So much has to be right so that humans and other species can live on earth.
Is there a one size fits all solution?
Solutions are a complex blend of the most suitable options, tested or not tested but proven by desired positive outcomes.
Multiple sectors in the world’s ‘backend’ need to be addressed simultaneously.
Despite the complexities involved, I know the power of simple actions.
Bottom line: it took us a lot of years to get here: to reduce our water reserves: to warm the oceans and fill them with waste: to melt the poles. It will take bold moves, in a shorter period to make the desired impact e.g. keeping temperature increase below 1 degree Celsius.
We must #changewithclimatechange
©Kn3ss
About
Nessie Kubeere is an environmentalist, waste-picker and mental health advocate and writer. She is in love with nature, people and all things art. She believes in the power of collaboration and cooperation. As the secretary of Slums Going Green and clean CBO in Kibera, she engages herself with community advancement, climate activism and waste management. Nessie enjoys listening to people's story and more so, being part of the story.