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“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛЮТИЙ 2016 WWW.UNWLA.ORG 13 cooperation in reducing emissions in order to lim- it the global temperature increase to 2°C above preindustrial era levels. However, the commit- ments by governments reached in 2012 at the Do- ha Climate Change Conference appear to have been inadequate to reach this goal. Unless coun- tries can achieve full cooperation, control of glob- al warming is not possible. According to the or- ganizing committee, the objective of the 2015 con- ference is to achieve, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, a binding and universal agreement on climate change from all the nations of the world. Such an agreement necessitates good will, compassion, and the understanding of humanity’s moral obligation—as articulated by Pope Francis. On December 12th of last year, the partic- ipants of the UN Conference on Climate Change agreed on a new global climate change pact, the Paris Agreement, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. This new agreement was supported by the delegations from 195 countries. One of its aims is to limit global warming to 1.5-2°C above the preindustrial era level. The Agreement also pledges technical and financial support to devel- oping nations to help them combat climate change. The new agreement will take effect in 2020. The Paris Agreement has given rise to great hope and expectations of positive change. However, as with all UN conventions, the issue becomes the commitment of governments to im- plement what they have agreed to. In order to achieve implementation, NGOs and civil societies as well as individual citizens must pressure their governments to take the agreed upon steps on local, regional, and national levels. This requires strong participation of civil societies. We all can and should participate in this process. Join an organization whose goal is advo- cacy for healthy environment. Support production of alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind energy. Oppose excavation of fossil fuels— oil, coal, and gas. Robert Redford, a longtime advocate of preservation of healthy environment, was inter- viewed at the UN News Center in New York on July 1, 2015 when he attended the General As- sembly Climate Change Meeting. He stated that the most important goal was to raise awareness about the need of all of us to get involved. He be- lieves that now that the effects of climate change are in our backyard we will finally begin to act. He pointed out the drought in California, the flooding in New York, the tornadoes, the wildfires, all of which are causing environmental crises. He is hopeful as he sees a much greater commitment of young people involved in efforts to reverse cli- mate change. He supports the stand that Pope Francis takes on climate change. In answer to one question he stated that “[t]he moral issue of cli- mate change should transcend politics. If it is re- duced to politics, we are going to have the same old yin-yang, the same old problems, the same old fighting, and the same old narrow-minded bicker- ing between ideologies. It is going to be a mess. Let’s get above it and take advantage of change and make it positive.” However, there is another level, the mi- cro-level, on which we can combat climate change by assuming responsibility for establishing indi- vidual behavior patterns that can add up to signif- icant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. You might be doing all that is listed below, and if so, congratulate yourself for having ethical values and for loving the Earth. If you have not had the opportunity to establish these habits, start immediately and rejoice in doing the right thing in preserving a healthy environment for fu- ture generations. • Turn down your thermostat by 2 degrees in the winter and your air conditioner up in the summer • Replace your light bulbs with energy-saving ones • Do not leave appliances on standby—turn them off when you are not using them • Stop using plastic bags • Buy locally – this will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced by transportation • Use your own mug instead of disposable cups • Take public transportation instead of driving an individual car—ride a bicycle or walk when- ever possible • Say yes to short showers • Plant something • Avoid using paper napkins and paper towels— use cloth and wash • Use cloth diapers with your children • Wash bed linens less frequently • Wash towels less frequently—when in a hotel, request not to have towels changed every day • Recycle, repair, and buy as few new replace- ments as possible You can find the details on many of the above suggestions in the book The Live Earth: Global Warming Survival Handbook by David De Rothschild. The book can be found online or purchased from Amazon.com.
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