Adapting to Climate Change

Learning to live a new lifestyle in our changing climate

By Dana Benner
Published on November 2, 2023
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Adapting to climate change is something we’ll all have to do. Here are some steps you can take to help mitigate climate change mitigation on a personal level.

There is no doubt that our environment is changing. As I sit and write this piece, the western United States is going through a 22-year drought, and there is no relief in sight. Aerial images show Lake Mead is a mere fraction of what it once was. Europe is on fire, and the Greenland Ice Sheet is melting at an alarming rate. So, what are we to do when it comes to adapting to climate change?

It’s simple; we must change our way of doing things and adapt to the changing world. While the answer may be simple, the application of change is not. In this article, I hope to give you some ideas on how you can make changes, how you can cope, how you can make a difference, and what I am doing to try to make things better.

Education is Key in Adapting to Climate Change.

I recently heard an environmental scientist say something to the effect, “We can’t change what has already happened, but we can change things going forward.” We can all throw up our hands, point fingers, and have a pity party, or we can do something to help mitigate climate change. I, for one, want to try to do something.

It’s easy to put all the blame on one factor, but this problem is too complex to do that. Research shows that the current situation is a combination of many factors, built up over time and coming together in a “perfect storm.” While the use of carbon-based fuels is a major factor, it’s not the only one. If you add improper land management, the use of petroleum-based fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, extensive pavement, and our throwaway society, you have what we see today. Just as there is no one cause, there is no one solution. One thing is certain: we all need to do something if we are going to start adapting to climate change, and education is the key.

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