Editor,
As many people in the world are realizing, global warming and climate change are increasingly serious threats to the health and future well-being of human civilization. As an environmental science major, I sometimes wonder, how should the responsibility of caring for our environment fall upon the individual? Are we as humans really doing what is necessary to make the world a better place?
Changes to help prevent this danger are being made on international, national, state and local levels. Last month, the International Climate Change Board met, where 1,200 scientists from around the world came to the unanimous consensus that global warming is happening as a result of human activity. Many nations have complied with the policies of the Kyoto Protocol. This protocol acknowledges that "change in the Earth's climate and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind," and the nations involved would be "determined to protect the climate system for present and future generations."
The U.S. has not complied with this bill, giving the reason that we are too large a nation to suddenly comply with the economic and
social changes required.
Despite our inability to make the changes required by international agreements, some positive actions have been made on the national level. Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, has proposed a bill called the Safe Climate Act of 2006, which "sets targets and requires the actions that will be necessary to avoid dangerous, irreversible warming of our planet ... along with measures to advance technology and reduce emissions through renewable energy, energy efficiency and cleaner cars."
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On a statewide level, Gov. Bill Richardson has pushed through legislation regarding clean cars, the use of wind, solar and biofuels as well as research into future alternative sources.
Organizations such as PIRG are working with students to reduce global warming on college campuses across the country. PIRG is dedicating time and energy each day, endeavoring to make a positive change in the world and offering students meaningful opportunities for civic participation. Chapters from more than 300 united educational institutions nationwide are running the Campus Climate Challenge Campaign, lobbying in support of bills proposed by environmentally active political advocates, pressing universities to adopt clean and sustainable energy plans and educating the public about viable solutions to
environmental degradation.
This semester, PIRG has been pressuring Richardson to enact a clean energy executive order, requiring all state buildings, including UNM, to purchase 30 percent of their power from clean, renewable sources. PIRG is working with students, faculty and administrators to ask UNM to adopt clean energy policies with on-sight solar power sources, green power purchasing and installing energy-efficient motion detector light switches in the campus buildings. PIRG has educated more than 1,000 students at UNM by organizing panel discussions, films, class presentations and engaging students one-on-one to talk about what they can do to stop global warming.
In order to reverse the effects of global warming, we must all unite under a common understanding. New Mexico is a perfect candidate to take the active role in establishing clean-energy alternatives. For this to happen, however, many more must take up the opportunity to cause a change, by being conscientious energy consumers, aiding activist groups in the fight and actively advocating solutions. If you think of all the people in the world like a family under one roof, it's time we agree on some
cleaning chores.
Emanual Storey
UNM student and PIRG member
