• Question: Climate change is my fault. True or False?

    Asked by anon-253415 to Jacque on 11 May 2020.
    • Photo: Jacque Cilliers

      Jacque Cilliers answered on 11 May 2020:

      False.

      You cannot personally be held responsible for climate change.

      is climate change is OUR fault?
      Maybe. There is a lot of evidence which shows that mankind is responsible for climate change. I say “maybe”, because there is also evidence that shows that the climate has changed before humans were even ON the planet. In fact, the climate on earth has always been changing.

      Should we do something to slow climate change?
      Absolutely!
      The thing is that if we CAN do something to slow the pace of climate change, then we should. Imagine if we did nothing? We could be responsible for turning earth into a desert which cannot support ANY life at all!

Comments

  • Photo: Keith

    Keith commented on :

    There is overwhelming evidence that man-made climate change is real, with the current average temperature of the earth around 1.5C degree above what it was before the industrial revolution. This number will continue to increase over the next 80 years to around 3-4C (or maybe even higher) is people do not do something on a large scale. No one person is at fault, certainly not a child/teenager who was born into the world and society that currently exists. The decisions of many, many people over the past 150 years has resulted in the climate crisis. But everyone can do something to help right now. While big scale changes must come from companies and governments changes that everyone can make, such as thinking carefully about how they travel around (use of car or plane or bus or bike), what they eat (does the food come from a source that causes a lot of bad greenhouse gas release) and informing others around them about what needs to be done. Greta Thunberg was once just another school kid that no-one knew about but look what she as achieved. Everyone can do something. All great people start out as kids in some school in some place.

  • Photo: Jon

    Jon commented on :

    To be at fault, you have to be responsible for something and have done something wrong. We are all responsible for ensuring that we live sustainably, and do not damage the planet for other people. This isn’t just you, but everyone on the planet.

    The question is, have you done something wrong? If you look to do the right things and take the right actions, then my opinion is that it is not your fault. Asking questions about how we can prevent climate change and taking positive actions like recycling and thinking about becoming a scientist to help the world become a better place are all excellent things to do to help the environment.

  • sophiesteward commented on :

    Short answer is no. It is not your fault personally, everything we do has an impact, we are all responsible to an extent. However, climate change in and of itself happens anyway, its a natural process, it why the earth has experienced ice ages, and global warming periods. The problem is with what we as a species has done, is we have influenced the cycle to proceed at an unprecedented rate, such as agriculture, with cows producing high level of methane, the meat industry increases the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, the use of transport, technology etc, all has an everlasting effect. But many of these factors have become an essential part of our lives, and in some cases are helping us with the fight at reducing the rate of climate change. You can continue to feel guilty about it, or you can work hard to try and reduce your own carbon footprint and encourage others to do the same. Research is essential, and there is a facebook group called sustainable steps, among many other where you can learn how to be more eco friendly, and learn how to decrease your own carbon footprint, every little thing you do makes a difference

  • Photo: Adam

    Adam commented on :

    Climate change is not your fault but it is our joint responsibility to solve. A great way to engage with this problem is to live as sustainably as possible and set an example to your family and friends.
    Some examples would be cycling or walking where possible, buying local rather than imported produce and avoiding Unnecessary packaging, particularly plastics.