2020: A New Year

The new year is a time to reset priorities and agendas. It is time to step boldly into new goals and new enterprises.

Gone is 2019.

2020 offers a fresh start in many ways.

It has been said recently that 2019 was the year that climate change deniers were pushed back from the forefront and that awareness of the process the earth is going through in regards to climate change is more firmly established and accepted. This acceptance is one heck of a start.

But, if that is so, what now?

The next 10 to 20 years will be of worldwide importance in combating climate change. It is fairly well understood that this small window of time is essential in reducing mankind’s contribution to the process.

Although the changes taking place are not solely the result of human activity, human activity is a culprit in the dangers the world faces.

Rising sea levels, loss of natural habitat that help to regulate the weather, demise of species and a diminishing supply of food are just part of what the future may hold. Chilling predictions of whole populations becoming climate refugees and the submergence of much of the world’s coast cities are not clothed as unlikely scenarios. Extreme weather will become more and more common.

If it is true that climate deniers are now on the defensive and climate change is widely accepted, 2020 should be the year when concerted and dramatic efforts begin to combat the threat. So far, worldwide, cooperative campaigns are lacking. It may be because not all nations subscribe to the dangers of climate change. It may be because serious assaults on the problem promise economic costs and perhaps upheaval.

Some solutions will require governments and corporations. Technological innovations, rebuilding of infrastructure, reforestation and carbon taxes are some of the bigger steps that cannot be accomplished by individuals. Other efforts to mitigate the changes are purely personal and relatively simple. A number of organizations have listed the steps average citizens can take to lessen their contribution to the problem. These steps include such simple things as driving less and unplugging electrical devices when not in use.

The world has been fiddling with climate change for years. Finally, the consensus is that it is actually occurring, and the consequences are serious. We cannot be caught fiddling while the earth burns.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher