#A2–10AM
I live in a part of the world where climate change is almost an abstract idea because it is not a discomfiting reality, but rather one that is conveyed through images, reports, and stories delivered through a variety of media. This changed with my trip to Fiji. Along with my classmates and teachers, I was in the jungles of Fiji to witness firsthand the effects of climate change on weather patterns and the devastation of cyclones in the region. On this trip, I spoke with the villagers who were having to relocate their agricultural fields because of rising sea levels. To me, helping them replant mangrove trees to prevent further flooding was a powerful reminder of the idea that more people need to become not just aware, but emphatic to the real consequences suffered by those in different parts of the world.
This is why I identify myself as a global citizen; the consequences of the decisions and actions we take transcend national boundaries. Having such a mindset allows us to evaluate our decisions more carefully, and opening our eyes up to different perspectives and cultures gives us motivation to integrate ourselves more into the global community. But more importantly, we learn to develop an approach to a problem that can be applied across borders. An example of a global strategy to mitigate climate change could be “adopting renewable energy sources and helping cities develop more sustainable transport such as bus rapid transit, electric vehicles, and biofuels”(Climate Change Mitigation).
However, this then raises a question, “should we always strive toward a cosmopolitan, global political order? Are there social problems best addressed nationally?”(Dochterman). It is true that whether we identify ourselves globally or locally, we first have to access the local political and social system to push our ideas through. Moreover, there are always more imminent issues locally to be dealt with, such as the welfare of the local residents. In this sense, being a devoting activist for those who live on the opposite side of the world does sound a little senseless.
However, being a global citizen does not mean to neglect the pursuit of the national interests, but to recognize our shared responsibility for conditions in other countries. Coming back to climate change, I believe being a part of a global community means to understand the disparities in exposure to climate change risk and vulnerability and using that knowledge to arrive at an agreement where climate change can be dealt both locally and globally.
Works Cited
“Climate Change Mitigation.” Global Environment Facility, 26 Nov. 2019,
www.thegef.org/topics/climate-change-mitigation. Accessed 26 Aug. 2020.
Dochterman, Zen. “What Questions Can We Ask About Globalization?” Medium, 17 Aug. 2020,
medium.com/writ-150-at-usc-fall-2020/what-questions-can-we-ask-about-globalization-13474475fd89. Accessed 26 Aug. 2020.
