Giving Compass' Take:

• Arguing that big and structural changes are keys to addressing climate change, YES! Magazine provides a list of three things you can do to help advance these efforts and avoid climate disaster.

• What role does clean energy investment have in advancing these efforts? How can we motivate and mobilize more Corporate Social Responsibility for environmental awareness?

• Here are a few extra communication tips for engaging skeptics in a conversation about climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a dire warning recently: We need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and we need to do it fast to avoid catastrophic climate change.

At the current rate, our global carbon budget will be spent in the next 10 to 14 years. We can’t wait another day to start drastically reducing emissions if we hope to stay below 1.5 degree warming.

In response to the report, articles have advocated for individual actions like turning off lights, eating less meat, and recycling. One article advised that, if you can’t change your commute by walking or taking public transportation, you might benefit from upgrading to a new hybrid or electric car.

While personal choices such as investing in renewable energy and eating less meat can certainly make a difference, it’s not always that simple. For many of us, putting solar panels on our house, walking to work, or buying a hybrid car aren’t easy choices.

The real change that needs to happen — and fast — is big and structural. Here are three ways to take the bold action that’s needed to reverse climate change.

  1. Fight poverty. There’s no question that we need to keep fossil fuels in the ground and rapidly shift to renewable energy. But while some people can afford home solar panels or electric cars, these choices are out of reach for others.
  2. Hold corporations accountable. Trash accounts for about 3 percent to 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, so recycling isn’t going to be enough to keep global warming below catastrophic levels, even if all of your plastic is making it into the right bin. And resources are needed to take recycled plastic and turn it into something usable again.
  3. Disrupt oppression. A study released earlier this year found that climate deniers are more likely to hold racist beliefs. The researchers note that while this trend was apparent during Obama’s presidency, Trump has further fueled it with rhetoric tying “White grievance and resentment” to climate change and energy policy.

Read the full article about avoiding climate disaster by Stephanie Feldstein at YES! Magazine.