With all the green talk these days about environmental this, ecological that, and sustainable whatnots and so forth, people have begun to forget the human element of all of this climate change stuff. Yes, forests and glaciers are disappearing, natural disasters’ severity appears to have increased, and greenhouse gas emissions are negatively contributing to the problem, but where are the people in all of this?
People are both the barrier and solution to any climate change action. People are the concern when we talk about climate change effects. In my Human Impacts on the Environment course, Dr. Matthew Boyd asked the very shrewd and pointed question, “Who thinks that there will be winners and losers?” It’s a question most policy makers and activists shy away from. We, as humans, have a vested interest in addressing climate issues because we are aware of all we have to lose, and some people are more vulnerable than others.
Be The Change, a local group dedicated to fostering environmental and social sustainability through community action and education, raises awareness about the link between poverty and environmental degradation. The cultural practices that contribute to the degradation of the planet’s systems are often the very same practices that undermine the integrity of our societies. Neoliberal capitalism, large corporations’ relentless profits pursuit, and the privatization of public services by states are driven by an investment system that requires that corners are cut. When it comes down to it, the costs must be incurred by one of two resource segments: labour (people) or natural resources (the planet).
In many ways, the distinction between environmental action and social change is a manifestation of the false distinction that most avoid: humans vs. the rest of the planet. People are inextricably part of the Earth’s ecological systems. I suggest that environmental action, at least holistic action, necessarily involves social action that pursues equality among people of differing gender, class, ethnicity, geographical region and generation.
Overconsumption is clearly part of our global challenge. The amount of consumption we participate in causes thousands of tons of waste, air and water pollution, and soil degradation through improper agricultural practices. 12% of the world’s population living in North America and Europe consume around 60% of the planet’s available resources, whereas 33% - a staggering 2.8 billion people - living in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa consume only 3.2% of the planet’s available resources! It’s difficult to ignore the undeniable link between poverty and environmental degradation caused by intensive resource extraction designed to satisfy our consumption.
Moreover, check out what’s happening in our own backyard: an estimated 55% of all First Nations children in Canada live in poverty. In this beautiful city of Thunder Bay, 15% - that’s 16,750 people - were estimated to be living in poverty in 2006. Of that total, 44% of Thunder Bay’s First Nations population was living in poverty.
The poorer you are, the more difficult it is to take steps against climate change. The second leading cause of homelessness in Canada is the inability to pay utility costs, namely, heating. If you are poor, you are more likely to live in a home that is poorly insulated and has outdated heating appliances, so you end up consuming more and getting less. Same goes for food - cheap stuff like macaroni and cheese doesn’t give your body what it needs, so in the end you eat more, while being financially unable to support healthier local food sources that cost more.
So, when you take action remember these people. Believe that change can happen (because it already is). But  also remember that it’s the people that have to change the way we think, and change the way we act towards our neighbors. When you talk, act, vote, fight, or think, remember to do it with equality in mind and in heart- we’re all in this together.

Be The Change.

Alex Boulet