The impacts of climate change are relentless and span the entire globe. Between 1971 and 2010, the oceans absorbed more than 90% of the extra accumulated heat energy resulting from higher greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC). Warming seas and melting ice sheets are causing the sea level to rise, which threatens coastal communities and habitats around the world. Projections show global sea level rise could range from 0.2 to 2.5 meters by 2100 (NOAA). This will majorly disrupt the lives of the 2.4 billion people (a third of the world’s population) who live within 100 kilometers of the coast (NASA). Warming and acidification of the world’s oceans are destroying coral reefs and inhibiting some species from forming an exoskeleton, leading to catastrophic changes at all levels of the food web. The world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef, lost an estimated 30% during the heatwave of 2016 (The Guardian). It has become abundantly clear that climate change is a serious issue, and that humans are contributing to it.
As an organization focused on global solutions to environmental issues, climate change is a predominant topic for NSE Global. It is our company’s responsibility to be on the leading-edge of climate change information, and to use this information to create awareness and advocacy for solutions. In pursuit of this, last month two of our team members participated in the first-ever Virtual Climate Reality Leadership Corps Global Training with Climate Reality Project (a third team member will be attending soon – see climaterealityproject.org/training for information). Climate Reality Project was founded by former Vice President Al Gore in 2006 with the mission to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every sector of society. One of their key methods is to train Climate Reality Leaders around the world (over 21,000 and counting) to push for practical clean energy policies. Climate Reality leaders are everyday people who are empowered to become activists, and are equipped with the tools, training, and network to fight for solutions.
The lessons learned by our team during the Global Training were vast and profound. We were deeply inspired by Al Gore’s methods and approach, which centered around creating a grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. The movement is being driven in large part by the incredible youth activists who refuse to accept a broken system of destructive environmental practices and irresponsible fossil fuel use. We were struck by the passion and leadership of these young people.
The Global Training underscored the importance of forming a unified network to combat climate change. According to Andrew Smith, Climate Reality Mentor based in Santa Clarita, California, “The Climate Reality Project is so valuable because it is made up of thousands of talented, authentic, driven human beings. The ‘ripples’ being created and inspired by this group will be felt for generations to come. For me too it made me look at my unexamined assumptions and made me realize I had so much more to do. It also provided me with the connections to help me do that.”
Another powerful element of the Global Training was the intersectionality of climate change and social justice issues. Poor communities are more adversely affected by climate change impacts, as well as communities of color, which brings an even greater sense of urgency to this fight.
The Climate Reality Project has a global presence, with international offices based in China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and other countries. In the words of Elizabeth Torres, Climate Reality Mentor based in Monterrey, Mexico, “Nature knows no border or politics. Fighting the climate crisis requires working together as humankind to find solutions to this global situation. Global initiatives like the Climate Reality Project allow us to work side by side with professionals, students and activists from all backgrounds all over the world.”
Our team left the training with a renewed sense of hope about the possible solutions to climate change, such as renewable energy and regenerative agriculture. We also left with the determination to act now. It is critical that we utilize this time during the COVID-19 pandemic to create broad, structural changes to society to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. With our entire executive team trained as Climate Reality Leaders, NSE Global is prepared to apply what we’ve learned to lead the fight against climate change.
“The reality we now face implores us to act.” – Al Gore
