What is the climate balance? What disasters are linked to global warming in 2020? And what solutions are available to us?

Faced with the urgency of global warming, it is high time to implement sufficient means to save our planet. With the average temperature still high everywhere on earth, natural disasters are intensifying, in parallel with the negative consequences of human activity on the environment.

A disconcerting climate report that seems to increasingly arouse collective consciousness and eco-responsible initiatives in favor of the protection of the environment and populations. In 2020, it has become essential to raise awareness among young (and older) generations on the issue of the climate, and to encourage ever more the birth of responsible projects.

What climate balance sheet in 2020?
Disasters on the rise
Raise awareness among future generations to preserve our planet
Act for the environment, fauna and flora
Financing of eco-responsible projects

WHAT CLIMATE ASSESSMENT IN 2020?

Average temperatures keep rising all over the globe, and each year seems to be breaking the heat record of the previous year. From now on, it is the race for the thermometer all over the world, the main consequence of the climate change that our planet is undergoing.

With more than 20 ° C recorded this year in Antarctica, and a first quarter of 2020 among the hottest ever seen on earth, global warming has only just begun, leading with it to numerous climatic catastrophes.

This year will arguably be the hottest in over 140 years, and by 2024, the Earth will see an increase in its average temperature of 1.5 ° C.

Nathalie Mayer - Journaliste chez Futura Planète

A sad observation which reminds us of the urgency of reducing our carbon footprint, both individually and collectively.

An increase that seems derisory but amply sufficient to see the immediate consequences. Climate change can be seen on a daily basis: warmer winters and scorching summers, but also storms, floods and fires. Consequences having in particular a very negative and flagrant impact on agriculture and fishing, key sectors of the human world diet.

All scientists and relevant environmental organizations are clear on the outcome of this global warming: if nothing is done to mitigate it, climate disasters will only increase every year.

In addition, polluting industries continue to worsen their carbon footprint everywhere on the planet, a footprint responsible for 66% of greenhouse gases from human activity, in addition to energy consumption and the use of ever more important non-renewable fossil fuels.

This global warming, driven by the increase in greenhouse gases emitted by human activities, is also accompanied by increasingly devastating pollution for the ecosystem: illegal open dumps all over the world, plastic discharges in the oceans … Harmful consequences of the presence of man that the confinement of 2020 will not have been enough to eradicate.

The oceans and marine life seem to be the first victims of our current manufacturing and consumption patterns. Every year, 8 million tons of plastic waste ends up going adrift. This plastic contamination of the oceans is devastating both for the environment and for animals.

Indeed, in the first line of sight, marine mammals, fish and birds are increasingly suffering from this pollution. Whales, turtles and seabirds are now endangered species, victims of the pieces of plastic in the oceans that they mistake for potential prey.

Beyond animal suffering, it is populations of entire countries who, every day, evolve in an environment polluted by waste from global plastic consumption. Unauthorized dumping can occur without too much difficulty in most underprivileged countries, polluting the soils and the living environment of living beings around.

To mitigate this most alarming climate record, the Paris Climate Agreement, adopted in 2015 by 195 countries, clarifies the commitments made to limit global warming. Strong and immediate measures must therefore be taken to reduce CO2 emissions and the environmental impact in all regions of the world.

CONSTANTLY INCREASING DISASTERS

While there have always been risks associated with natural weather phenomena on earth, they tend to increase dramatically due to global warming. The increase in the average temperature of the planet is causing more and more natural disasters and the consequences that they entail.

Tornadoes, cyclones and storms are certainly natural, they are nonetheless devastating for the populations who suffer them, and their scale continues to worsen with the climate change observed since the 1980s. Sometimes costing the lives of millions of people. people, responsible for the extinction of affected animal species, and destroying entire cities, these are the main red flags that something is wrong.

That said, this alarming toll does lighten from time to time with some rare good news. In response to the various measures to reduce CO2 emissions taken since the 2000s, we see that the holes in the ozone layer are tending to decrease significantly. This layer of the atmosphere which protects all living organisms from the sun’s rays had, in fact, largely weakened over the Arctic and Antarctic following the industrial era, but continues to decrease in some areas of the world where 5 minutes in the sun is enough to get a dangerous sunburn.

HEATWAVE AND FOREST FIRES

The year 2020 will be marked by the major fires and forest fires observed in Australia and South America where deforestation continues to wreak havoc. These are hectares of biodiversity that are therefore going up in smoke due to dry seasons with increasingly high temperatures.

And to see the impact of the heatwave, you don’t have to travel to the other side of the world as Europe continues to heat up, hitting records every summer. We can see that these consecutive heat waves are partly due to the disruption of the Gulf Stream, the main sea current of the Atlantic Ocean, which gives our European coasts their temperate climate.

THAWING AND MELTING SEA ICE

There is a constant rise in water levels, encouraged in particular by the melting of mountain glaciers and ice caps. This rise in water levels causes coastal erosion more and more rapid and important. By 2100, 400 million people will experience regular coastal flooding around the world.

Another visible consequence: the thawing of permafrost,

the temperature of which is normally below 0 ° C continuously. Particularly present in Alaska and Russia, the rise in global temperatures is causing its partial and particularly threatening thaw. Indeed, this earth layer containing billions of tons of methane, a greenhouse gas, could considerably intensify global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer

DROUGHTS AND FLOODS

Global warming leads each year to an ever greater intensity of droughts, floods and rainfall observed on earth. Abnormally long episodes of drought or humidity can be observed in regions of the world severely weakened by the severe consequences of these meteorological phenomena.

In addition, more occasional natural disasters such as hurricanes, strong thunderstorms and violent storms are observed with increasing frequency. Tsunamis being particularly deadly and responsible for significant flooding, they are mainly caused by earthquakes and earthquakes, which have increased in number in recent years with the intensity of seismic activity.

In addition to these many climatic events, there are serious man-made disasters. Note for example the immense area of waste called the 6th plastic continent. A waste reception center made of bottles and plastic packaging equivalent to 3 times the size of France, drifting off the Pacific coast and increasingly attacking marine biodiversity. All of this alarming data shows that it is time to act to save the planet, and the people and wildlife that inhabit it.

RAISE AWARENESS AMONG FUTURE GENERATIONS TO PRESERVE OUR PLANET

In view of the climate balance sheet growing year after year, we notice that more and more eco-responsible initiatives are emerging all over the planet. To rectify the situation, it seems that more and more companies, associations and politicians are standing up against old practices and calling for a shift towards a more environmentally friendly way of life and consumption.

And for good reason, by always worsening the carbon footprint of human activity and therefore global warming, it is future generations who will pay the price. Feeling more and more concerned with the environmental cause, the younger generations continue to be more aware of environmental problems, although there is still a long way to go.

This nascent eco-responsible approach is partly rooted in the advent of sustainable development initiated in the 1970s, in response to environmental issues, already problematic at that time. It tends to profoundly change our production and

consumption patterns in favor of a more ethical and eco-friendly approach, with the aim of preserving the environment and populations. Sustainable development is then based on 3 main pillars: the environment, the social and the economy.

With the desire to limit the impact of industries and human activity on the environment, sustainable development encourages ecological approaches. Concretely, it is reflected in new eco-responsible companies which seem to multiply, with which the younger generations feel more aligned.

Beyond the environmental aspect, sustainable development also provides a framework for social and economic practices that are more respectful of individuals, guaranteeing equitable access to natural resources, but also to services such as education, health and food. It tends to reduce poverty throughout the world by paying workers more fairly through fair trade. This is evidenced by the growing number of companies and brands certified with an ecological label or linked to fair trade.

Sustainable development is therefore a first step towards behavior more oriented towards ecology and respect for the planet. To continue in this direction, it is important to continue to make future generations as aware as possible of environmental issues, and to inspire them to develop their eco-responsibility more and more at their own level.

FOR RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION

Changing society to mitigate environmental damage is also done at the individual level, because each ecological gesture contributes to a set of actions that will ultimately have a positive impact. To do this, we can encourage the consumption of eco-responsible products, manufactured and sold by eco-friendly brands that fight for the well-being of the environment. We can hope that in the long term, this ecological approach by companies will become a regulatory and mandatory framework applied to all sectors of activity.

FOR EVERYDAY ECOLOGICAL ACTIONS

Being eco-responsible in your lifestyle translates into simple, non-restrictive actions, with the aim of increasingly preserving the environment. This may involve improving waste management through selective sorting or reducing waste, in particular by using alternatives to plastic and by promoting reusable products. Or by further encouraging ecological transport (public transport, carpooling, electric vehicles, cycling, etc.) as well as eco-driving, smoother driving to reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

TO RESPECT BIODIVERSITY RIGHT DOWN TO THE PLATE

Preserving the environment also means encouraging eco-responsible food by favoring organic foods from local agriculture. This eco-responsible production aims to reduce its impact on the local environment and the degradation of natural resources. Fewer chemicals, respect for animal welfare, reduction of soil contamination and reduction of greenhouse gases, these are the objectives of these producers who are part of the eco responsible food approach.

TO SAVE ENERGY SOURCES

Even in your home, it is increasingly easy and accessible to adopt eco-responsible behavior on a daily basis. For example, saving on heating by improving the insulation of homes, favoring ecological installations or reducing energy consumption is a good start. Saving energy is now a real way of life thanks to new ecological homes which aim to further reduce their carbon footprint.

To make future generations aware of these new ecological gestures which are within everyone’s reach, we are seeing the emergence of more and more eco-responsible projects, favoring alternative production and consumption methods. Associations, companies and brands that have fully understood the importance of adopting a behavior that is more respectful of the environment and living beings, and who do not hesitate to show it with an eco-responsible label or logo.

ACT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FAUNA AND FLORA

Faced with the climate emergency of recent years, it is up to each individual to act accordingly in favor of the environment. Saving the planet is not just a story of politics and industry, it is also the simplicity of applying small gestures that are more ecological and respectful of nature in their daily lives.

While companies and governments have a great deal of responsibility in limiting the negative impacts of humans on the climate and ecosystems, each citizen is also responsible for taking action for the environment at his level. Simple, light-hearted actions can be adopted on a daily basis to limit one’s own impact on the environment and inspire more and more people to do the same.

If you are wondering how to save the earth and its environment, at your own pace and on your scale, here are some good actions to protect our planet:

IMPROVE WASTE RECYCLING

Selective sorting is not that complicated, and it has even become compulsory in some municipalities. You just need to know a few simple rules and follow the instructions often written on the packaging. For many citizens, the selective sorting of waste has become an eco-responsible reflex that we don’t even think about anymore. Paper, cardboard, packaging and plastic bottles in the sorting bin, glass bottles and jars in the glass container, nothing could be simpler.

SAVE ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Without realizing it, we are sometimes responsible for overconsumption of energy in our homes. However, a few simple actions to save the planet are within reach: not overheating your home, limiting the use of air conditioning, turning off unused electrical appliances or even unplugging chargers that you are not using are just a few examples. Avoiding leaving a light bulb on for nothing, and even refusing to receive paper advertising in your mailbox are other good resolutions for adopting a more ecological and responsible behavior.

In addition, more radical solutions are possible to save ever more energy or to consume greener energy. For example: obtaining green electricity (wind, solar and photovoltaic energy), which uses much less fossil fuels and emits much less greenhouse gases.

CONSUME BETTER ON A DAILY BASIS

Overconsumption greatly contributes to degrading the state of the planet and damage to the environment. To protect the environment on your own scale, you can simply consume less, but better, by selecting eco-responsible products with less energy consumption, or by purchasing less electronic products, which are responsible for many greenhouse gases. Choose them according to their energy performance symbolized by a letter.

We can also favor eco-friendly brands that are increasingly present in all areas: clothing, hygiene, maintenance, etc. These marks are easy to spot and if you are in doubt, read the label! There are also more and more alternatives including the second-hand market with refurbished products, storage room applications or sales between individuals.

PROMOTE ORGANIC AND ECOLOGICAL FOOD

Not everyone can grow their own fruits and vegetables, but everyone can access organic and local foods to combat the environmental impact. For the survival of biodiversity and species, favor seasonal foods from organic farming, they can be found in particular thanks to eco-responsible labels.

These foods are produced with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and respecting the environment. In addition, to help save the planet, reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products, as well as the consumption of palm oil, which is present in many products and which is responsible for deforestation, are excellent steps towards eco-responsibility.

FINANCING OF ECO-RESPONSIBLE PROJECTS

Many environmental projects are born each year to improve the condition of the environment and fight against global warming. This environmental approach has many benefits: to be more responsible towards the planet and to attract more and more consumers sensitive to this cause.

In addition, when one wishes to embark on the realization of an environmental or ecological project, it is now possible to facilitate its procedures thanks to specific aids and financing which promote the birth of these responsible projects.

PARTICIPATIVE FOUNDING OR CROWDFUNDING

This eco-participatory mode of financing for ecological and eco-responsible projects is increasingly widespread and many promoters of environmental projects have access to the financial resources necessary to start their activity, with the contribution of individuals supporting the process. Whether in agriculture, recycling, social or renewable and alternative energies, crowdfunding platforms allow many ecological projects to emerge. Thus, if banks are sometimes cautious in supporting projects that are too innovative, a handful of convinced Internet users may be enough to launch their project or their business.

FOUNDATIONS AND CREATION ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS

To contribute to the development or launch of SME-SMI and startup projects with a strong ecological and eco-responsible dimension, there are specialized aid foundations. These foundations or organizations are sometimes public (regional and general councils, European agencies, etc.) or private, and mostly support sustainable development projects. The promoters of environmental projects can submit their application and receive financial aid, grants or donations to develop their activity.

MICRO-CREDITS

Microfinance is a new way to get financial help for people with low incomes. In a sustainable development approach, micro-credit organizations provide financial assistance that makes it possible to undertake or develop a responsible and autonomous activity. Supported by NGOs and international organizations, access to micro-credits is increasingly facilitated for people with an environmental or sustainable project.