The United Nations ActNow campaign invites individuals to take immediate action to address climate change. It works in partnership with cities and communities to promote individual behavior change. This network includes experts and thought leaders from both national and local climate and sustainability.
ActNow brings together mayors all over the world. They work together to identify best practice projects. Their goals include promoting community safety, transforming abandoned minelands into sustainable assets, and expanding technology businesses. They also support People's Commissions. These are community groups that represent ordinary residents.
ACT NOW gives communities the tools and resources they need to make their region safer, healthier, and more welcoming. ActNow encourages individual behavior change by highlighting sustainability in everyday decisions. ActNow has developed a chatbot which can help people save energy. It advises that you travel sustainably and eat plant-based food.
ActNow has a Youth Version, geared towards children called Climate Action Superheroes. During this event, kids and parents participated in activities designed to educate them about environmental issues. One highlight was the online seminar about wildlife conservation. This event was attended by hundreds from all over the world. Some of the guests included Paavani, the 14-year-old Youth Secretary for the World Sustainable Security Coalition (WSSC); Devika Vaid, Miss Earth India; and Naja Saade, a Lebanese fashion designer who uses unused textiles to create zero waste fashion.
Another ActNow project is an initiative that helps small businesses get low-cost capital. With an initial grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Alliance for Economic Development of Southern West Virginia will help train a green building workforce. The HBIZ Technology Center will renovate three historic buildings and turn them into tech-reuse spaces.
Appalachian Climate Technologies Coalition (ACT) is a regional effort that focuses on creating green collar jobs in the southern West Virginia region. It will make the region more inclusive and help it transition to a sustainable and prosperous future. ACT Now is expected to raise more than $250,000,000 in private investment in climate technologies. The coalition will eventually generate 5,000 full-time jobs directly and 15,000 indirectly.
The ACT NOW program is designed to work with local leaders, non-profits and cities. It helps to build a network that includes experts and leaders capable of making positive, real changes. It also selects promising projects. ACT NOW helps local politicians make their communities more sustainable. ACT NOW's leadership programme is made up of a network youth and civil society experts.
ACT NOW offers real-world learning opportunities to help communities and individuals tackle today's challenges. They also offer caregiving seminars and virtual dementia tours. ActNow is now reaching millions of people from all parts of the world through these initiatives.
ActNow is an essential part of UN's coordinated effort on climate change. As such, it has been embraced by companies, leading chefs, and influencers dedicated to helping people live sustainably.
FAQ
How are extreme weather events related to climate change?
Global warming is directly connected to extreme weather events such a heat wave, floods or droughts, cyclones storms, hurricanes, and cyclones. Atmospheric temperatures have increased due to global warming which has affected different weather phenomena on a global scale.
According to climate scientists the average frequency for extreme weather-related events has increased more than twofold since 1980. As the ocean temperature rises, so does the frequency of extreme weather-related disasters. This affects the normal distribution of storms and hurricanes in different geographical regions across the planet.
2015 El Nino brought warm water towards South America. This led to increasing temperatures at an alarming pace and heavy rains that caused floods and displacement in Peru, Bolivia and other countries. Several places including Antarctica have recorded their highest-ever temperatures indicating a definite relation between global warming trends and the occurrence or frequency of extreme weather events around the world.
Another example is Hurricane Irma, which struck in 2017, causing $50 billion in economic damage not only to Florida, but also to other states like Puerto Rico, Cuba, and others. This proves once again that climate change has been responsible for an increase in major storms.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that human activities are increasing the severity of current climate change which naturally leads to more frequent, severe, and intense natural disasters globally hence bringing forth strong evidence regarding humans' relation to extreme weather events occurring at frequent intervals around us all.
How does climate change impact marine life and oceans around the globe?
What is the effect of climate change upon the world's oceans?
Since its inception, climate change has had a significant impact on the oceans and marine life of the world. Constant oceanic heat from the depletion in the ozone layer causes major disruptions in marine ecosystems. This leads to coral bleaching, and decreases in species.
Unpredictable weather conditions and stronger storms are also linked to climate change, leading to extreme surges in sea levels that can prove deadly for coastal areas. Temperature changes can also cause water levels to drop, causing "dead zones", areas where there is less marine life.
Ocean acidification is also a result of excess carbon dioxide that has built up in the oceans. This is due to climate change. Ocean acidification raises the pH balance which disrupts essential functions of animals unable to adapt such as oysters, clams, and crabs as their shells become weakened.
Higher temperatures can also cause changes in natural habitats. They may shrink or change their geographical location, making it unhabitable for species that depend on them. The increase in ocean stresses accelerates the already high rates of extinction worldwide. This can lead to a severe imbalance among predators and prey, which could ultimately lead to complete extinction.
The ripple effect of climate change affects entire ecosystems. It can directly or indirectly impact multiple species through evaporation, lower water volumes, and sharp temperature shifts. Global climate change continues to wipe out entire species of life on Earth, transforming our future lives not only on the land but also deep below the oceans' surface.
What are the most effective solutions for climate change?
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our times, requiring urgent attention from governments, businesses, and citizens alike. Climate disruption is obvious by rising temperatures, melting polar ice, extreme weather, higher sea levels and increasing sea levels. Many solutions have been offered to this problem, ranging from technological and behavioral solutions to geoengineering.
Technological Solutions. A variety of technological solutions have emerged to combat climate change. These include renewable energy sources like solar power and wind power that provide reliable sources for clean energy while causing minimal harm to the environment. By replacing petrol cars, electric cars that are powered by renewable energy can significantly reduce the amount of air pollution in cities. Another technological solution is reforestation projects, which aim to increase carbon sequestration and soil.
Behavior Changes: Making small changes to your routines can make an enormous difference in reducing carbon emissions and limiting the likelihood of future climate disruption. By purchasing local goods, you can lower emissions related to transport costs and reduce transportation costs. The use of public or active transportation, as well as reducing cost and air polluting simultaneously, is a good option. In the same way, better insulation in your home can help reduce dependence on gas boilers that heat your homes.
Geo-engineering is large-scale intervention in natural systems that are deemed too risky by potential unforeseen consequences. This includes widespread crop failures or depletion of fish populations. However, it is worth investigating because it could be more effective than human behavior at balancing current CO2 levels.
The effectiveness of these solutions depends on how committed producers are to investing in green alternatives. At the moment, electric Cars can be more expensive than petrol-powered versions. However, market forces that cannot guarantee their utility over the long term try to increase consumer awareness about their efficiency. This is why mandated alternative solutions via policy measures is one way forward. However regulatory bodies need to be willing to engage further players. While nontechnological solutions may work at one level, solving global warming must be tackled by all parties.
How can developing countries and communities cope with the effects of climate changes?
Due to limited access, technology, and healthcare systems, developing countries, communities, are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Temperature, precipitation, sea levels, and rainfall changes put additional pressure on already scarce resources. Additionally, floods and droughts cause havoc in already fragile ecosystems. Rising temperatures can cause a drop in crop yields which will adversely impact the poorer communities that are struggling to feed their families. Moreover, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and hurricanes can result in the destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people, further perpetuating economic inequality.
The long-term impacts of climate change include resource scarcity, poverty, increased health risks, and an increase of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. There will also be an increased risk of flooding from rising sea levels, combined with extreme weather events. This puts lives at risk in coastal locations where many people lack the necessary infrastructure and emergency services to evacuate. These risks can be mitigated by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, other measures may be required such as better management of freshwater resources or easier access to healthcare facilities that aid in the prevention of diseases like malaria.
Statistics
- This source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland, including rivers and rain. (climate.nasa.gov)
- The 10 countries with the largest emissions contribute 68 percent. (un.org)
- According to the 2014 report on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (page 8) from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, governments at various levels are also getting better at adaptation. (climate.nasa.gov)
- This source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland, including rivers and rain. (climate.nasa.gov)
- Indigenous peoples and local communities receive less than 1% of all climate funding despite scoring wins for people and nature Africa's broken food markets must be fixed to tackle hunger (climatechangenews.com)
External Links
How To
How to Support Climate-Friendly Businesses and Policies
There are many ways that individuals can support climate-friendly companies and policies. This can include speaking out against non-climate-friendly businesses or politicians, voting for pro-environment candidates, writing letters or emails of encouragement to those who are already taking positive action towards the environment, and signing petitions in favor of policies that encourage and support climate-friendliness. Individuals can also take immediate steps to make a difference by switching to providers with a better record in the environment or choosing sustainable products instead of those with higher carbon omissions.
Supporting climate-friendly policies and companies is one of the most important steps in reducing one’s carbon footprint. It can be as simple as changing your daily habits like unplugging appliances and turning off lights when they are not needed. You can also use eco-friendly household products such biodegradable cleaners and composting kitchen scraps to reduce carbon emissions.
Investors who wish to support climate-friendly policies need to research companies with lower carbon emission before they invest. Investors should also examine their portfolios regularly to make sure they are meeting the sustainability standards that they have established. Green bond investors will want to ensure their investments do not fund any activity that releases more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than it takes away. Lastly, investors should pay attention to any opportunities where funds could be transitioned towards green business activities such as renewable energy alternatives as well as other initiatives promoting sustainability such as community-building projects focused on green technologies.