Reading 1 blog- Reva Panda

When the homo sapien species first emerged, they were initially seen as in insignificant species that would most likely die out. Yet, through our remarkable ability to adapt and use our resources, humans were able to expand past our initial surroundings and thrive in our new environment. However, as humans evolved and spread across the world, we began to create a trail of destruction behind us. According to leading reports, the amount of carbon dioxide we plan to emit far exceeds the amount that the Earth can sustain. As we move towards a two degree world, we have begun to see drastic changes in the Earth’s numerous ecosystems. While scientists and climate activists have insisted that something needs to change, it is hard to do so easily. 

The primary step to creating change is a desire to do so.  One of the key reasons why humans have survived for so long is due to our behavioral plasticity.  If there is a strong enough will to change, there is a possibility that society will be able to reconstruct the way we utilize resources. While this task seems simplistic, the truth of the matter is that it is not. According to Bill McKibben, one of the primary reasons for the current inaction towards climate change is the lack of a physical threat. Without a face to put behind carbon emissions, people fail to tap into an “us versus them” mentality, and therefore do not see the issue as an imminent threat. McKibben argues that people need to learn to disassociate with billionaire oil and gas industries for true change to come. However, these industries and their capital has become an integral part of our society. By removing carbon in a system that is dependent on it, many people will suffer. This means that as we shift towards more green jobs, we need a solid framework for creating a more equitable transition that focuses on distributional, procedural, and restorative justice. This can be done by combining numerous perspectives that combine methods from economics, politics, science, and social studies to create a comprehensive plan to maintain our planet.