Three of our students, Gerdus Minnaar, Amber Jones and Cibella Wilkens, were asked to think about this question and quickly brainstorm an answer, they came up with the following:
What can we do?
There are several small things at home we can do collectively that can have a great impact, for example taking shorter or cold showers and other things that will reduce the household electricity usage. We can also purchase more locally sourced groceries or even grow your own, reducing the carbon released by transport. We can also make use of more environmentally friendly modes of transport to reduce our carbon footprint. Obviously don’t forget to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle as ever.
There are other things we can do in our communities that could help reverse the effects of climate change, for example planting indigenous trees, spending more time outdoors to build appreciation for the environment. We can also raise awareness and educate people about good practice.
Education and awareness
Ultimately, if we become more educated and equip ourselves with the required skills and knowledge, we may be able to develop to take up a position in which we can make a greater contribution in the fight against climate change. This, however, will take time and while we are honing our capabilities it is essential that we still do the small things that have a big collective impact.