A Year in Climate Care: Forward and Back

By Daniel Shapiro’23
Because we as a species have to be reducing our emissions by a sizable portion for the next decade if we are to be net zero by 2050, the year of 2021 was required to be a climate focused one. Although some governments ultimately did not deliver on key steps needed, there were numerous international talks and negotiations. Despite government inaction, there was movement on other fronts.

In 2021 there were massive civilian engagements, with many local governments taking action as well. 2021 became a mixture of successes and failures in the grand task of saving the environment.
“I think we took a step in the right direction this year,” said junior Dashiel Kreutzman.  “A lot more can be done to curb the climate crisis; I hope we see more progress.”
“If not enough is done, and done as soon as possible, I fear this is going to become irreversible,” said junior Sabrina Smokler.
Last year saw COP26, the 2021 UN's climate change conference. A half-measure that did do some good, it was ultimately unsuccessful in achieving greater goals. But on the human level, there were hundreds of thousands of people, all striving for justice and social action across the globe despite current restrictions.
Throughout the pandemic, the slowing down of the world caused massive drops in emissions, and demonstrated how much people can adapt within a short time span. This crisis was not the first (nor will it be the last), but people endured, people voted and people acted, by protesting and demonstrating, lobbying and organizing and trying to fight the climate crisis even while another crisis raged around them.
Last year, there was a President who strove (and somewhat succeeded) to get influential climate legislation passed into law. While these acts were not nearly what the crisis calls for, it was a start. 
Out in the world, legislative successes appear to be few and far between.  However, thousands of people, young and old, are all willing to do what is right, as are legislators on state and local level.
On a local level, in Trenton, NJ the NJ Green Amendment, an amendment to the state constitution that adds the rights to clean air, pure water, a stable climate and a healthy environment to the Bill of Rights, is being considered. 
In Massachusetts, for example, lawmakers signed a critical climate bill that requires the state to be net-zero by 2050. That alone is not nearly enough, but it shows a small change in what climate legislation can do. 
Furthermore, in May a Dutch court ordered that Royal Dutch Shell, a large oil company, reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by the end of 2030. This was a huge step in the right direction, and demonstrates what can be accomplished.
Last year we got to see the ravages of the climate crisis first hand, both economically, with flood and fire damages costing billions of dollars for each disaster, as well as physically, with droughts and cyclones causing massive damage to infrastructure. However we also got to see some positive landmarks as well.