The coursework during the last leg of this trip has been primarily focused around climate change as we move away from ecotourism. More particularly, we explored both the severity of the issue and potential solutions. The 6 degrees activity we did as a class, in which we each read a chapter of 6 Degrees by Mark Lynas, was most revealing of the potential severity of climate change. The readings showed drastic changes in climate that had ramifications for public health, access to resources, agriculture, natural disasters, and more. As the warming increases, the issues will become more severe and less survivable, leading eventually to a post-apocalyptic scenario. Even with an increase of just 2 degrees, major problems begin to arise as a result of that warming. Despite this, there are many barriers that stand in the way of overcoming this problem.
As we discuss this global problem, what I find most frustrating is that humankind has the resources to combat climate change, but not the motivation. If every country in the world were to work collaboratively toward global climate change solutions, significant progress could be made into sectors such as conservation, green energy, sustainable infrastructure, and more. However, the story is a bit more complex, which prevents progress toward sustainable development.
The heart of every global issue is economics. This is why we are ineffective in combating climate change. This was discussed during classroom discussions, particularly as we tried to come up with global climate change solutions in our UN debate. My partner for the debate and I were concerned that our resolution would be nonbinding, and tried to make up a clause that held other countries responsible for their contributions to the agreement. However, the complexity of global economic situations made this a near-impossible task, and many countries made their votes not by what resolution was best for the planet, but rather which was best for their economy. It is important to note, however, that a thriving economy and thriving climate are not mutually exclusive. In fact, many climate-friendly policies and industries can actually bring economic prosperity in the long run. For example, countries such as Denmark rely heavily on wind-generated electricity, and can sell their surplus green wind energy to neighboring countries in the windy months.
Using Costa Rica as a case study for how the rest of the world can build a more sustainable future, it isn’t just their conservation efforts that stand out to me. Here, caring for the environment is central to the culture. In my home stay, my host lived and spoke sustainability in her every action and word. My hosts lived on a small farm with goats, pigs, chickens, and even peacocks, as well as a small vegetable garden. Much of their food came from their own backyard, and most of their leftovers were composted right back into their garden. My favorite food from the stay was probably the goat cheese and yogurt we ate one day for breakfast. Additionally, during one conversation with my host mom, she repeated “Planta un árbol”, or plant a tree.
¿Aire con contaminación? Planta un árbol.
Polluted air? Plant a tree.
¿Usted está caliente? Planta un árbol.
You’re hot? Plant a tree.
¿Quiere leer un libro? Planta un árbol.
Want to read a book? Plant a tree.
¿Tiene hambre? Planta un árbol.
Hungry? Plant a tree.
This conversation really stuck with me, because it captures the national attitude of conservation and love for the environment unlike any I’ve ever experienced before. Costa Ricans in general have a sense of reverence for nature that is clear through individual actions as well as policies such as payment for ecosystem services and their extensive national park system.
After seeing Costa Rica for myself, I believe there is space for climate optimism amidst the economic struggles that pad the global debate. Costa Rica has taught me that changing my lifestyle to benefit the planet doesn’t have to be a loss. In fact, I can gain things: fresher food from a home garden, cleaner air from walking places, and an overall more meaningful life through a closer connection with nature. Spending 3 weeks in this country has shown me endless ways I can change my lifestyle to benefit the planet. For example, I now realize how often I could actually turn off my AC and still be comfortable throughout the day. Also, it has inspired me to grow more of my own food in my own backyard, and to search for more environmentally friendly ways to consume such as organic produce and locally grown food. While these changes will take time and/ or effort to implement into my life, it will enrich my life in more ways than what it will cost. In addition to personal changes, I believe that it is also important to change the way I interact with those around me to foster a stronger sense of responsibility for our Earth. While not everyone believes in the severity of climate change or that it must be addressed, everyone may be able to see the benefits of more sustainable living. For example, as I discussed with my professors in Monteverde, an initiative to plant trees and start rooftop gardens in the flat town of Martinsville is not only a good idea because of the cooling effect it can have on the climate in large quantities, but also because it may prevent flooding commonly experienced with rains. Even citizens indifferent to the climate benefits of such a change would still see the merit in reducing flooding damage, which would reduce annual expenses for the town and overall increase quality of life. With more such solutions, people could be united towards goals of sustainability regardless of their personal views. If there’s one thing this trip taught me, it’s that effort and intention can turn strangers into the best of friends, so it’s also possible to overcome barriers to action against climate change with bonds between humans.
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