Dealing with climate change: We must ‘think big and think fast’

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The age of climate denial and inaction in the United States is finally coming to an end. Survey results released in January from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication indicate that the majority of voters from both political parties support initiatives to combat climate change. Joe Biden kicked off his presidency by recommitting the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement and cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline. New York State is also moving forward with the implementation of ambitious climate policies, in particular the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which mandates net zero emissions economy-wide by 2050. 

Considering that (1) our nation is already experiencing devastating impacts from climate change (e.g., drought, hurricanes, wildfires) and (2) climate experts from around the world agree that global emissions must be dramatically reduced within a decade to avoid widespread suffering and irreversible tipping points, this popular and political support for climate action is long overdue.  

As a climate solutions advocate here in the Genesee-Finger Lakes region, I occasionally hear from steadfast climate deniers who passionately express opposition to our work, but those instances are rare. The vast majority of conversations I have with local community leaders and residents indicate that people are concerned about climate change and want bold action to address it. However, despite this consensus about the need for local climate action, there’s much less clarity about how to take action and what actions our region should prioritize. 

Unfortunately, this lack of understanding frequently leads people to either (1) focus on small changes to their personal habits that don’t match the scope of the problem, or (2) avoid taking action all together, because the climate crisis feels too overwhelming and hopeless. Neither of these approaches will effectively alleviate their concerns over the long-term. 

But it’s not surprising that people are uncertain about how to address climate change, given the complexity and politicization of the issue, the fossil fuel industry’s deliberate efforts to spread misinformation and our human tendency to fear the unknown. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have all the answers and I dislike that feeling of uncertainty. However, I can say for sure that it is in our region’s best interest to get serious about mitigating the climate crisis, and doing so effectively will require us to think big and think fast. 

Climate change touches virtually every aspect of our lives, so the solutions must be equally comprehensive. So long as (1) climate-friendly products and services are difficult to access and more expensive than their environmentally harmful counterparts, and (2) the bulk of an individual’s carbon footprint comes from indirect sources that he/she cannot control, the transition to clean energy will be dangerously slow.

For this reason, climate advocacy organizations are increasingly focusing on systemic solutions to climate change that target root causes of the problem and large emitters (e.g., government and industry). In addition, climate advocates increasingly recognize the need to prioritize equitable, intersectional climate solutions that allow all people to quickly and affordably transition to clean energy, regardless of income level or other demographic characteristics, while taking advantage of the many co-benefits that climate action provides (e.g., positive health outcomes, economic opportunity, and improved quality of life). 

For example, the following systemic climate solutions, if implemented quickly, would equitably benefit Rochester-area residents over both the short and long term:

• Dramatic expansion and improvement of our public and active transit systems to make walking, biking and riding the bus more practical and attractive than the use of personal vehicles;
• Investment in workforce development for clean energy jobs, especially for minority populations that are currently underrepresented in the clean energy sector; 
• Energy use disclosure requirements that allow commercial and residential tenants and buyers to easily compare properties (on an apples-to-apples basis) and assess what their monthly energy costs will be, before signing a lease or purchase agreement;
• Prohibition on gas hookups in new construction to improve indoor air quality and avoid costly retrofits for building owners once a state or national carbon pricing system is enacted.

In practice, accelerating climate progress at the systems level will require a comprehensive suite of policies that support the efficient use of clean energy and carbon sequestration, while decreasing our use of fossil fuels and other harmful practices that cause global climate change (e.g., deforestation, use of chemical fertilizers, industrial livestock production, industrial processes that release fluorinated gases). In addition, a systemic approach to addressing climate change will challenge us to rethink our basic assumptions about humans’ role on this planet and move from an economy that relies on the extraction and exploitation of resources to achieve short-term financial goals, to one that prioritizes long-term stability and shared prosperity through regenerative, symbiotic relationships with the natural world and each other. 

Some may find these ideas extreme, naive, or just plain silly. But let me be frank: the window of opportunity for effective climate action is quickly closing, and if we fail to act boldly now, the consequences will be dire. That’s not my opinion; that’s the scientific consensus. And although I genuinely prefer to focus on the many positive benefits that climate action affords, I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the truly frightening nature or massive scope of this crisis. 

Given our economy’s current dependence on fossil fuels, the path to a carbon neutral future is precarious. Global emissions and global temperatures continue to rise, which is costing us dearly. For example, hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters across the United States caused $95 billion in damage last year. As a region, we aren’t doing much better.  

Nevertheless, I remain hopeful.

Opportunities abound for using climate solutions to promote regional prosperity and security. We have an abundance of natural and human resources that position us well to lead the nation’s transition to clear energy and reap the corresponding benefits. It’s not going to happen magically and it’s not going to happen through small, incremental measures. But if we collectively invest our time, energy and money in bold, systemic climate solutions, I anticipate that 2021 will be a year of great progress for our climate and our local communities. Every organization and individual has a role to play in making this transition possible. Together, we will create a region that thrives both today and into the future.

Abigail McHugh-Grifa is executive director of Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region.