For the month of July, we are going to look at the role we play as individuals in the fight for the environment and against climate change. As individuals and communities, we often discuss how we can change our individual actions to help the environment and curb carbon emissions. It is important for our youth to have a realistic outlook on what they can change. It is also very relevant for our youth to be capable of distinguishing between the individual and systemic impacts of climate change.
Climate change is literally a global issue. Many of the solutions that can deeply curb carbon emissions would have to occur at a systemic level. Systemic can be defined as: “relating to a system, especially as opposed to a particular part”. As you look at the following resources, reflect on the definition of systemic.
Below we have two resources that look at this relationship between individuals and systemic change. The first is a PDF that looks at the relationship between what pushes animals and plants toward extinction and what can potentially stop them from becoming endangered. It also highlights positive ways different animal and plant populations have been increased to avoid extinction: Threatened and Endangered Animals and Plants.
The second resource is a video about recycling. This video looks deeper into the issues of systemic and individual change in relationship to the environment: Is recycling worth it anymore? People On The Front Lines Say Maybe Not.
As a family or as an individual, take a look at these resources and discuss the differences between systemic and individual change in relationship to the environment.
This month both of our meetings will be at 6:00pm. Our first meeting this month will take place on Monday, July 11. We hope you will join us on Zoom.