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The common images we see of climate change include stranded polar bears, animals without homes, and extreme weather events. These images paint a very specific picture of the situation. It is ironic that humans tend to focus on animals and the natural world, when it is we who experience some of the worst impacts of environmental destruction. Climate change has detrimental effects on people, including profound impacts on human rights such as those relating to health, education, housing, food and clean water. 

For many years, farmers worldwide have expressed that, with each passing year, it becomes more difficult to harvest crops because rainfall is unpredictable. Communities in times past could predict the seasons, and plan for their own food security. In January of 2015 and March of 2019 , the country of Malawi faced unprecedented floods that killed hundreds while disrupting the livelihood of thousands. In fact, climate change has created refugees all over the world, not only in Malawi. Yet, when comparing the emissions of CO2 due to an average person in Malawi vs an average person in Canada, the average Canadian contributes 15 times that of the average person in Malawi.  

This means that the people on earth who are most at risk of climate change are not the ones causing the most harm. The most vulnerable, such as those in developing countries or in more marginalised Indiginous communities, are not driving cars, taking plane rides, or over-consuming, yet they face the impacts of over-consumption almost daily. The choices that more privileged Canadians make in regards to consumption, and the resulting emissions of CO2, are impacting rural and marginalized communities’ ability to provide for themselves and plan for their futures. 

This brings us to the idea of climate justice and the morality behind the choices we make. Climate justice “begins with the idea that the adverse impacts of a warming climate are not felt equitably among people.” People of colour, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and women are all disproportionately affected by climate changes such as extreme weather, which disrupts access to food and clean water Acknowledging this inequality is daunting but can also be inspiring. Having this knowledge can allow us to try and make better choices - choices that both reduce our impact on climate change and that recognise climate injustice harm, and avoid abandoning those behind who are disproportionately affected. The effects of climate change exacerbate inequitable social conditions. Some Indigenous communities are already seeing their homes and livelihoods lost to rising sea levels or drought. For example, the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe in Louisiana, USA has lost nearly all of its land and are being forced to relocate to higher ground. In Canada, Inuit populations that rely on sea ice are losing it to climate change. “Living off the land is still a big part of life in Labrador’s coastal communities.” The loss of sea ice is impacting food security since animals like seals are migrating with the changing ice. Ice serves as an important physical connection used to access traditional hunting grounds as well as connect communities that lack other infrastructure. The community of Ringolet, Labrador, in fact, has no roads and relies heavily on ice trails to connect them to hunting grounds and other communities.   

Acknowledgement is only a small part of what needs to be done. We must more ambitiously work towards zero carbon emissions. The challenge is immense and the focus is rightly on industrialized, developed countries to cut their emissions through initiatives that focus on efficiency gains or switches to renewable energy. Furthermore, developed countries need to economically support developing countries in their goals to develop in ways that do not contribute to emissions - which has never been done before. This will require immense support from developed countries as humankind works together to reach our zero carbon goals. 

There is some good news! Change is happening, and happening quickly. There are many ways that we, as individuals and also as a country, can reduce our impact on the climate. In Canada, production of renewable energy from wind, hydro, tidal, earth, solar, and biomass sources has been on the rise. In fact, Canada ranks 7th in the world for production of renewable energy. Choosing renewables both as a consumer, but also in your support of political parties that want to see growth in these industries is critical. 

Another way that we can reduce our impact on climate is by finding ways to make our diet more sustainable. At Reimagine Agriculture, this topic is near and dear to our values. “As it currently stands, animal agriculture is rife with environmental externalities. It requires a massive amount of resources to raise an animal to the point where it can be slaughtered, and the process often results in the release of climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions.” One way to make food production in Canada more sustainable is to support new and emerging technologies such as clean meat, alternative meat, and alternative dairy. Another way that we can look at sustainable food use is through the lens of food waste. As an individual we can incorporate more sustainable foods into our diets while also tracking our own food waste, and the waste of our food suppliers. As a society, we can invest in or vote for sustainable food products and the minimizing of food waste in our systems. 

There are many many ways that we can reduce our impact on climate change, and a vast number of different sources of inspiration. If melting glaciers or species loss is not inspiring, remember that climate change can be framed as an inherently social issue that disproportionately affects already marginalized people. In fact, there are also organizations out there that are seeking to close this gap by including race, gender and class in climate conversations, such as Climate Justice Alliance. 

The injustice of climate change needs to be viewed through the lens of marginalized peoples. If we care about issues of poverty and marginalization, we must also care about our environment, and the people who depend on it.