Collective Responsibility for Climate Justice

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Global warming poses a major threat to humanity, and no one is immune to its effects. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) posits that global warming occurs worldwide; consequently, it requires the broadest possible cooperation from all nations (Piazza, 2021). Climate change affects lives in various ways, with extraordinarily high and low temperatures, unprecedented rainfall, and rising sea levels impacting homes, communities, and government resources. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the earth has been successively warmer in the last three decades. Furthermore, the World Meteorological Organization report indicates that the earth’s temperatures rose to the highest degrees between 2015 to 2019 (Piazza, 2021). The increase in global temperatures is primarily a result of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases derived from an increase in industrial activities, high population growth, and unsustainable land-use patterns. Consequently, the IPCC report recommends an international collaborative approach to effectively minimize the devastating effects of climate change.

Climate change results from aggregate pollution from many untraceable sources. Consequently, the mitigation of its effects requires a concerted effort to protect the natural ecosystem through institutional regulations, infrastructure, technological innovations, and user practices. Institutional policies play a fundamental role in mitigating the impact of climate change. For instance, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has a climate adaptation plan to protect buildings and other critical infrastructure from storms. I participate in the initiative at my workplace by advising and approving developments that adhere to the contingency plans. The adaptation plan sets seven goals; First, NYCHA aims to build resilience into its capital work. The city housing authority strives to stabilize the housing quality by integrating the most current innovations and technologies about future climate conditions.

Consequently, the structures that come up in the city need to withstand the predicted adverse climatic conditions. Secondly, NYCHA has taken the collective responsibility to ensure that it fosters its urban forest’s health. The city has 1000 acres of tree canopy that provide numerous benefits, and the trees provide the desired relief as they are the city’s lungs (New York City Housing Authority, 2021). Consequently, NYCHA strives to protect the forest as it helps cool the urban heat island effect generated by the concrete jungle.

Thirdly, the organization’s climate adaptation plan seeks to expand access to reliable and efficient methods of cooling apartments. As a result of the apparent rise in temperatures, many apartments have air conditioners that only contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the plan stipulates that upcoming building structures need improved insulation. The tree canopy from the urban forest has a cooling effect; therefore, NYCHA targets to mitigate resident fatalities from heat (New York City Housing Authority, 2021). Fourthly, the adaptation plan seeks to prepare structures to survive heavier and more frequent storms by encouraging developers to decrease impervious surfaces and integrate stormwater management and groundwater retention.

Being part of the team that contributed to the formulation of the climate adaptability plan, the policy also outlines the strategies for the protection of critical infrastructure. The NYHCA also has a report on the lessons learned from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, which documents the challenges and benefits of the interventions to protect the city’s buildings from coastal flooding. The report provides comprehensive detail of the design and installation of resilient critical infrastructure. Furthermore, the development authority prepares for additional impacts by closely monitoring the rising groundwater, cold snaps, and extreme winds. The NYCHA also invests in social resilience through stakeholder engagement processes, and the staff collaborates with the residents and other key stakeholders. Public participation in the preparation of the plans ensures accountability, transparency, trust, and inclusivity.

The community is the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Consequently, it plays a critical role in mitigation and adaptability. I can participate in the community mainly through outreach, mass education, and awareness programs the knowledge acquired. High atmospheric temperatures occur due to poor air quality, aggravating lung diseases such as asthma; neighborhoods need clean air. One of the interventions for clean air adaptation is the reduction of greenhouse gases. Working at NYCHA, I would advise developers to reduce vehicle emissions by promoting livable spaces where the residents can live, work, and play. Also, I would encourage people to use environmentally friendly transport means such as bicycles by recommending that the transport planners and engineers incorporate safe corridors for non-motorized transport.

I can also create awareness of the effects of global warming by attending and participating in public lectures, social media posts, plays, and movies that educate residents on the potential effects of anthropogenic activities, consequently prompting the public to initiate behavioral change. Mitigating greenhouse gases in a community setup involves shifting from carbon-intensive fuels to sustainable solar energy and wind power options. Furthermore, it is critical to educate the public on conserving fragile ecosystems such as wetlands and forests and the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices. With the knowledge of the effects of climate change, communities or residential associations can develop masterplans that encourage green infrastructure and establish buffers along streams and rivers, thereby directing development away from ecologically fragile areas. For instance, the flooding in the Iowa riverfront in 2008 resulted in the development of a master plan that reshaped the riverfront (The United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2021). Consequently, the master plan reduced the risk of future floods in the city.

I can also participate in collective environmental justice by encouraging the community to use sustainable waste disposal methods. For instance, a residential neighborhood can resort to contracting environmentally cautious garbage collectors. Sustainable waste disposal method includes recycling and separation of decomposable from non-decomposable waste. In addition, communities could further the environmental justice agenda by using solar water heating panels instead of electricity during summer to avoid water wastage.

The solution to mitigating the effects of global warming is primarily cooperation and sharing knowledge. The awareness of climate change assists individuals, communities, and businesses in making informed choices, and through unity and cooperation, individuals and communities can lessen the risks for future generations. Climate change mitigation is the most preferred approach, as adaptation efforts are complex, costly, and not feasible in other instances. Consequently, human activities must be sustainable to avoid loss of life and resources. Preparing adequately for global warming involves the local governments planning the city in anticipation of adverse climatic events. When designing a city’s master plan, planners and engineers need to assess the risk of rising temperatures and develop emergency plans informed by the ever-dynamic climate variations. Regional and federal governments must also form close coordination relationships to plan and protect cross-jurisdictional infrastructure. Therefore, climate change is a collective problem and deserves joint responsibility and accountability.

References

New York City Housing Authority. (2021). Climate change at NYCHA; A plan to adapt. Web.

New York City Housing Authority. (2021). Memorializing lessons learned through the hurricane Sandy disaster recovery program. New York City Housing Authority.

Piazza, A. (2021). Collective responsibility in the cooperative governance of climate change.Sustainability, 13, 1-18.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Smart growth along the riverfront helps manage stormwater in Iowa city.

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