It’s an undeniable fact that when people unite under a common goal and implement actionable steps to achieve the progress they wish to see, change is possible. Right now, the most significant worldwide issue we’re facing is dealing with global warming and the accelerated climate change it’s triggering.
This is why I jumped at the chance to join the Climate Change Collective; a group of environmentally-minded bloggers who want to share climate action news that motivates and informs — keeping the subject at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Created by Michelle from Eco Boomer Crusader and Jamie of Jamie Ad Stories; each month a different member of the collective will take turns to write a lead/focus post that shares key details, concerns and/or unique perspectives about climate change. Once the post is published, the rest of the group will link to it in a response-style blog on their own sites; discussing any thoughts and ideas they have about the information/issues raised.
The collective is currently open to any other bloggers who want to join; if you’re interested, get in touch.
Financial Impacts of Climate Change
To kickstart the Climate Change Collective; Michelle shared the first lead/focus post at the end of August — mine is next, coming later this month — where she examines how climate change impacts both physical and financial health. Within this informative work was a striking point that I think many of us overlook; the effects of global warming on our retirement.
Useful Article | How Will Climate Change Impact Your Retirement? – Forbes Advisor
I will admit that while I’m a keen environmentalist who lives day-to-day as responsibly and sustainably as I can; I hadn’t properly considered how climate change will influence my future financial security. It stands to reason that as the planet experiences more extreme disruptions to its ecological systems that our general health will suffer — which as we get older makes us increasingly vulnerable. Both hot and cold heat-related health concerns, for example, tend to effect those more severely who are over 65 years of age. Not to mention how weather events (wildfire, flood, drought) and air/water pollution, etc. all directly link to an increase in injuries, disease spread, and loss of housing. The stability we’re meant to build on, no matter our age, is literally crumbling around us and becoming more expensive to maintain.
Retirement may be many years away for you or just around the corner. No matter where you are in your life, there’s growing evidence that climate change will impact your health and wealth in your later years. | Welcome to the Climate Change Collective – Boomer Eco Crusader
Ignoring Climate Change Isn’t An Option
Another notable point that Michelle establishes is there’s still a significant number of people who won’t take climate change seriously; primarily because of a belief that they aren’t experiencing any of its impacts. They must have missed the memo about how we’re now living in a world where rainwater is so toxic it’s no longer safe to drink.
Useful Article | Key Facts About Americans’ Views of Climate Change – Pew Research Center
Not taking action until something affects us personally is a very common response; we all do it to varying degrees because lived experience frequently provides precious insight and empathy — but this goes beyond that. And I want to clarify a fundamental distinction here; I’m not referring to those of us who don’t always have the means/accessibility to make eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle changes. This is focused on those who continue to categorize global warming as something they can ignore.
It doesn’t matter, for example, whether we can afford to change to an environmentally responsible vehicle or not; what counts is that we achieve what we can because it’s for the good of everyone and everything around us — including following the science. We’re an interconnected part of the world’s ecosystems as much as the rainforests, the waterways, the mountains, the animals and the insects. What happens to one of us happens to all of us — I hope this mindset shift becomes fully realized; especially by those who think that climate change is what happens to other people.
Useful Article | Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – IPPC Sixth Assessment Report
Taking Effective Climate Action
At the end of her post, Michelle provides some excellent suggestions, including: changing our consumption habits; supporting businesses which make an effort to reduce their environmental footprint; and using our vote to hold politicians accountable — objectives that many of us can undertake in one way or another.
We also need to remain vigilant and informed about who is facing a concerted effort to hinder them from exercising these same eco-friendly choices; voter suppression, for example, is a well documented tactic within U.S. democracy that targets certain communities — often those at the forefront of experiencing the consequences of climate change.
The heart of this strategy is aimed specifically at suppressing the voting rights of Black, Brown and Indigenous communities, citizens residing in low-income communities, students, and progressive sectors of the White working class. Not coincidentally, these are the people and communities on the front lines battling the climate crisis and who are disproportionately at risk for environmental harms like air pollution exposure, water contamination and radiation, resulting in higher vulnerabilities and health effects. | Climate Xchange – The Disproportionate Impacts of Voter Suppression and the Climate Crisis
Alongside the compelling calls to action from Boomer Eco Crusader, here are some suggestions about how we can create a collaborative drive towards climate justice:
- read and share reputable sources of information about climate change that fact-check/counteract disinformation
- join grassroots, community-based climate groups that improve sustainability in our area
- where possible, divest from 60 of the world’s largest banks that fund fossil fuel projects (to the tune of trillions of dollars) and instead choose sustainable and/or ethical banking
- fund/promote/support high-profile, dynamic and well organized climate advocacy groups such as; Clean Air Task Force, Carbon180, Evergreen Collaborative
- donate money and/or time to the campaigns of representatives who have a proven track record of environmentalism — for U.S. candidate info, click here
- support voter participation (especially among groups disproportionately impacted by disenfranchisement); find organizations that help with registration, access to mail-in or early voting and that provide transportation to polling stations — for help with U.S. enrollment, click here
Climate action represents an issue that we can all get involved with; there’s no perfect way to generate beneficial change — we just have to start somewhere. As long as we’re willing to learn from each other; and be a part of the solution, we have a real chance of creating a global collective that can’t be ignored.
What sustainable changes have you been able to make?
Further Info:
Severe Heat and Droughts Are Wreaking Havoc Across the Globe – Vox
transatlantic | notes 
I find retirement a difficult topic because for years I’ve just assumed I’ll never be able to. Not only will health related issues be a problem, but the world is becoming too expensive to think about saving for it. I love that you highlight actions like voting because we need our governments to be taking climate change seriously and for them to be taking action. Thanks for the insightful post!
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Retirement is something I figured I’d never be able to do too; now with all this too, it seems like it is only going to get worse (for all of us). I hope that real change comes soon but with the concerted effort to either deny climate change, ignore it or let fossil fuel industries influence governments it’s clearly an uphill battle. But … I think many people are waking up to the urgency of action so I remain committed (and hopeful). Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
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TERRIFIC. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you!
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Thanks Molly for being part of our Climate Change Collective and for sharing your insights on my post regarding the health and financial impacts of climate change. There’s so much to think about and you’ve provided some excellent suggestions on things we can do. There really is no excuse. We can’t do everything but, I truly believe we all have the power to at least do SOMETHING—even if it’s something simple. Mighty oak trees start out as tiny acorns!
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Exactly! We can all find a way to make individual changes while demanding more from those in power; we can definitely make a difference. All it takes is collaboration, which is why it’s so great to be a part of this collective (thanks to you and Jamie for coming up with it)!
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It is great to have you as part of our group. These suggestions are clever and very helpful. We definitely need to cancel out a lot of the disinformation that is being spread by oil companies and dodgy politicians.
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100% agree; it’s incredible the amount of disinformation that has found it’s way into the mainstream!
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What stands out for me with this post is the point that people need to stop thinking that climate change only happens to others.
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Right?! I hadn’t realized just how common this perception was; that somehow we’re not all connected and will feel the impacts. It’s mind boggling that there is this separation of understanding.
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Yes it is a sad truth. Thanks for reading.
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Thank you so much for sharing! You’re right, climate change can’t be ignored any longer.
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We’re definitely passed the point where it can be ignored; I hope more and more people come to see this and take action. Thanks for reading!
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Thank you so much for working towards a worthy cause. Climate change is one of those things everyone ought to be taking seriously and I’m glad you’re spreading awareness.
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I hope more and more people become informed about how they can take impactful action; thank you so much for reading!
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This was a really informative blog post. The planet is so important and it is great you are using your platform to spread awareness about what is happening. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren x
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I am so glad this was informative; thanks for reading!
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That’s a very sobering thought, that climate change will have an impact on my retirement. Not something I’d considered before to be honest, I was focussing on my daughter’s lifetime. An interesting read, thank you, Molly.
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It’s not something I had thought about either; another stark reminder of how climate change impacts us all.
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This is such a wonderful collaboration between you and other environmentally-minded bloggers to bring awareness to climate change and promote effective climate action. I haven’t really thought about the financial impacts of climate change either, so thank you and Michelle for highlighting that.
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It is lovely to be a part of this as we all want to get key information out; thanks so much for reading!
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We love the picture that says there is no planet B. Climate change should be on everyone’s mind, but sadly the US has so many people who refuse to “believe” it exists. It’s sad how many people don’t know the difference between climate and weather.
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It is truly sad how many people are climate science deniers (and that there are so many of them); hopefully the weight of what we’re all experiencing will eventually get everyone to listen. Thanks for reading!
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This was a very interesting read and opened my eyes in more ways than one on how to act on a personal level, like defunding banks that still invest in fossil fuel. It’s terry=ifying how people still deny that climate change exists!
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It is truly worrying how easily some are led to believe that climate change is not real or that the decades and decades of scientific study, data and findings are somehow false. I hope this changes soon but I think there will always be people who cannot/refuse to see what is right in front of them.
The good thing is that there is much we can do to make a difference — thank you so much for reading this!
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Climate change is such a huge issue that I think most people feel intimidated by what is needed to make a difference. But, something we forget is that you don’t have to try to heal the world alone. Taking even the tiniest action can help. Small, collective, continually actions lead to big results. Bringing awareness to the small actions that people can do such as voting for environmentally friendly politicians, spreading facts, or switching to more sustainable brands is crucial. I’m also guilty of thinking that it’s not my problem because I don’t know where to start. But reading posts like these remind me that climate change affects everyone now. So if you can’t take action to help your present self, think about the future older you or your children or grandkids. Sharing posts like this and supporting environmentally conscious content creators can make a difference too. Spreading awareness is as important as taking action since you need awareness in order to take action. Thanks for sharing this post, Molly and Michelle and Jamie for creating this Climate Change Collective.
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I agree with you — it’s amazing what small, collective action can do. We can really make a difference, particularly if we make sure we are putting people in power how will act on our behalf. We can no longer wait to see “if” the climate change at this rate will effect us — it already is; it’s on us to do something about it.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts here!
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