One of the most pressing global issues that we face today is climate change. And, although many of us are aware of this, we often wonder, “do I really have the power to mediate climate change?” This inquiry is rooted in agency—the ability to believe in and accomplish the goals that one sets for themselves. As such, the impacts of global warming can be resolved or fueled, depending on how each individual exercises their agency.
It is evident that human intervention has led to a dramatic increase in global temperatures, however, they can also reverse the effects of climate change by reducing the emission of greenhouse gasses. While the sand in the hourglass continues to run out, we can still avert the effects of climate change. Although contemporary society has given way to many technological advancements, our biggest obstacle is the lack of psychological agency or the belief in one’s ability. According to a study conducted by the British Medical Journal, the Lancet, within the ten countries that were surveyed, over half of the youth population feel afraid, anxious, helpless, and discouraged about mediating climate change.
As greenhouse gasses amass in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels, global temperatures rise, sea levels, heat waves, and storms continue to worsen. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlights some of the current consequences of global warming, and how they affect the global population and environment. However, just as we can drive polluting vehicles, we can also act in a way to improve upon the issue.
An important aspect of psychological agency is self efficacy, or believing in oneself. This is because those who exercise agency are more perseverant and resilient when tackling a challenge, and this is true with climate change. This is supported by various studies which suggest that climate change can be best mediated by volunteering, donating, conserving energy and water, and communication with elected officials. In order to exercise agency to conquer such a daunting issue, we can begin by educating ourselves on the subject. And, agency is brought about by three key aspects.
- Intentionality
In this phase, you first need to commit to the particular cause, and understand the significance of their goal and why you wish to accomplish it. This mindset is more valuable than merely believing that you are open-minded and simply need to find time to tackle the challenge. Although the biggest contributor to global warming is the burning of fossil fuels, you can still mediate the issue by conserving water and energy within your own households.
2. Action Plan
After understanding your goal, develop a strategic action plan that includes quantifiable goals, a precise schedule to follow, and a source of accountability. For instance, some goals can be achieved by adapting a different lifestyle: traveling less frequently, taking public transit on less active days, and setting timers on lights and sprinklers. Once you are comfortable with your short-term goals, you can establish long term goals to follow. These may include advocating for policies and regulations to monitor and control climate change, or organizing community-based activities to raise awareness about the issue.
3. Reflection:
After you accomplish your goals, reflection is the most important stage as it allows you to understand the impacts of your actions and how you can improve upon any future goals. While individual initiatives can help to avert the impacts of global warming to a certain extent, large-scale polluters also need to adopt environmentally-friendly practices to resolve the issue. As such, reflection and psychological agency can be valuable tools for organizing group efforts to better tackle climate change.
This ties in with another form of agency called collective agency. Collective agency refers to the ability of creating large-scale impacts by engaging in a group or assembly. These groups can persuade companies and officials to implement safe and effective policies to tackle climate change.
In conclusion, psychological agency and collective agency can improve our ability to tackle this issue, and it is at the discretion of the individual to resolve climate change.
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