Back to Basics: Climate Action 101

We’ve all heard of climate change and global warming before (I hope). It’s everywhere around us. And it has been so long that it’s almost become normal. 

Almost.

But here’s the thing: Climate change isn’t subtle enough to blend into ‘normal’ anymore. 

Because be for real, you can CLEARLY tell the difference between April 2024 and April 2025.

Yet, after all the complaining about how hot it is, people still don’t seem to understand that this situation can be fixed. And that

IT'S 👏 NOT 👏 THE 👏 END 👏 OF 👏 THE 👏 WORLD 💯

And that’s why we’re here (AGAIN).

 Because with all of this going on, it really does feel like we need to get back to the basics. To the one answer to all of this.

And that answer is climate action.

And I’ll tell you all about it, via some questions I’ve been asked before (despite how diabolical some of these are)

Ok bro, what even IS Climate Action?

(…You know what? Let’s approach this question with a fresh mind.) 

Climate action refers to doing anything to mitigate (reduce) climate change.

 Literally ‘bro’, anything.

Be it you deciding to carpool on a random Tuesday, to big industries deciding to switch to renewable energy. As long as it's helping us fight against climate change, it’s considered as climate action.

Actually, (🤓👆) climate action is the name of the 13th goal out of the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), set by the United Nations.

Lol why do we even need climate action?

(I beg your finest pardon 😇?)

We need climate action if we need the world to become a better place.

As the United Nations rightfully said, “Climate change is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities, and countries dearly today and even more so tomorrow”. (👏👏)

We need climate action because of the rise in global temperatures.

We need climate action because of the ocean life being tarnished for good.

We need climate action because there’s so many places on this planet where you can’t even step outside your home without a mask.

But most importantly

We need climate action to stop the looming problem climate change.

What is the biggest cause for climate change?

(Finally, a good question)

A long, long time ago, when we could survive without ACs in the summers, we had a pretty good balance of the concentration of greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4, and more).

But then the Industrial Revolution came, and for the next 150 years, we were basically building 

an oven for ourselves.

Why oven? Well, because of the greenhouse effect.

These GHGs (Greenhouse gases) are meant to trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere.

But when there’s too many, it's basically an oven.

What contributes to the greenhouse effect?

It's the burning of coal and petroleum from the already dwindling supply that we have.

It’s the cutting down of our trees which are the natural mediators for CO2.

And it's the production of chemicals like CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) into the atmosphere, which didn’t even exist naturally to begin with. 

Alr, But Be For Real: Can One Person Really Make A Difference?

I'm telling you, 👏 it's 👏 all 👏 in 👏 the 👏 MINDSET  💯

YES.

 Every. Single. Contribution. Counts.

When even hundreds of people contribute by tweaking their lifestyle a little bit for the benefit of the environment, it's climate action. And it makes A HUGEE DIFFERENCE. 

And I know you’re tired of hearing this kids, but even ✨switching the lights off ✨ can be tiny steps that will help both the environment, and your electricity bill ;)

And ofc, to go climate friendly, you have to go eco-friendly, and even for that kids, we have a solution in the blog post before mine.

But…How?

I’m sure you’ve heard of these so many times they’re probably ingrained in your head. But STILL:

1. ✨ switch off the lights ✨ when they’re not in use

2. Try to not use an AC as much as possible, pls use fans kids

3. Shorten your shower time

4. Switch to LED light bulbs

5. Fill up water in bottles instead of glasses, and drink through bottles instead

6. Do not even THINK about using plastic bags. ALWAYS go for cloth bags

7. Write down a new eco-goal every week and stick to it

8. Spread as much awareness as you can. Even bugging people who know about it already can bring a change

9. Help out NGOs (Like us lol) whenever donation, cleaning, or plantation drives are held

10. Go through our article, ‘Level Up Your Life (And the Planet!) Which gives even more eco-friendly climate action suggestions

Alright, I think you’ve gotten a fair recap on the basics of climate and how even you can be the literal emblem of climate action from merely ✨ switching the lights off when you don’t need em ✨. But I have a lil challenge for y'all.

From the list above, try following as many as you can for as long as possible. Because those are literally the best ways to earn climate action brownie points.

Well, that’s it for my productive yap. For now. 

And remember:

 The best time to act was yesterday. The second-best time to act is right now.

(If you’re an adult reading this, I am sorry for referring to you as ‘kids’) 

At first, I didn't notice,

the sky jut turned a little grey,

the leaves turned pale,

the winds blew sharper than ever.

Everything is losing it's colour now.

Now, the winds are sharper,

the summers stay a little longer,

winters don't feel like winters,

and the rains- they bring,

not relief but floods and destruction.

The question we have here is,

Will healing come too late,

too late to replenish any part

or will someone listen to what nature says.

~Ananya Pande

Regards,

Anoushka Arbhi,

Editorial and Research,

Maza Maharashtra Mission