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Whose job is it to save the planet?

A couple of days ago, we watched @Guardian‘s 15min short doc “Climate carnage: whose job is it to save the planet?” where you follow environment editor Fiona Harvey as she prepares for #COP27.

During Fiona’s interviews with politicians, scientists and activists, it quickly becomes clear that during the 30 years of #COP conferences, nothing has changed much – CO2 levels are still rising, and we’re nowhere near limiting global warming below 1.5°C. While the situation is dire and extremely complex to solve, we have all the resources and knowledge available to fix climate change. But somehow, we’re not getting anywhere near real and equitable solutions.

Most current politicians (mostly pale, male and stale) will not experience the terrible consequences of climate change – hence the lack of political will – but our younger and future generations will. This is one of the reasons why young activist voices (such as @domipalmer) have become more dominant in climate spaces; it is their future they are fighting for. She believes that we can push for change if people stand up, fight back and make their voices heard; collective action is a powerful tool.

Now, world leaders and a massive delegation of fossil fuel representatives (630+) are debating if they can afford to let biodiversity and the human race die in the upcoming excruciating environmental disasters and the inevitable and irreversible climate changes. This doesn’t make sense, but this is the reality of the situation. Ecological and social scientist Dr Aaron Thierry argues that governments will keep making terrible decisions unless there is a significant popular demand for them to change. Our role in solving the climate crisis is to get on the streets and demand that change.

And with that in mind, we want to leave you with something Fiona Harvey said at the end that resonated a lot with us: “Saving the planet is not a burden. It is a really good thing; it is a positive thing, something to celebrate. Something we should all enjoy.”

The documentary isn’t long, but definitely worth watching. Please do. It’s embedded below!

Elise & Joy

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