Real Climate Change Requires Legislative Work, Not the Individuals
The month of September has been one to remember with almost 4 million people hitting the streets in the largest climate change demonstration in history. Often images associated with the environmental movement are melting glaciers, the extinction of animal species and the face of young climate activist, Greta Thunberg. However, as we have seen many times in history, the effects and needs of low-income people continue to be ignored and thrown under the bus. To reap a collective good that benefits everyone globally we will need to see legislative action taken from the people in charge rather than efforts from an individual.
According to an article from ActiveSustainability.com, there are six ways individuals can slow down the global warming process. One of these ways is for individuals to make smarter consumption choices by reducing their meat intake and eating food that is local and in season. This is a crass request considering that in 2017 29.9% of U.S. families lived close to the poverty line, with incomes less than twice that of their poverty threshold. The poverty threshold for a four-person household is $25,701 which can be broken down to roughly $500 a week. When considering other monthly expenses, adults are focused on using the most cost-effective and convenient way of feeding their family on a low budget. In urban communities, fast food is the most reliable source since it is seen as filling, relatively affordable and abundant in the area than meatless options.
Since the 20th century, low-income communities have been victims of environmental discrimination facing the effects of the environmental waste way before the effects of climate change were noticed. Scott M. Sernau talks about this in his book “Social Inequality in a Global Age.” Many of the world’s poor find themselves being the unwanted recipient of the waste from affluent neighbors locally and around the world. Sernau says, “The poor, however, have to deal with the world as it is; They must labor in the polluted air, carry the contaminated waters into their homes, and live amid toxic landscapes. The notion that there is a trade-off between protecting the environment and promoting economic development is a false one.” Seranu’s statement best explains how low-income communities’ needs are constantly being thrown under the bus during social movements. How can we possibly push reducing emissions at the forefront of the movement when poor people are inhaling these toxic fumes right in their backyard.
Being environmentally conscious is a luxury that the environmental movement seems to ignore. Only one-third of the U.S population has the knowledge and privilege to be economically conscious. Large corporations being able to burn tons of fossil fuels without any regulations, the lack of renewable energy and incorrect waste removal should be at the forefront of the movement. Real change happens by making demands from the government.
