A Call to Action to Brands for Climate, Ethics and Sustainability in the Face of the 1.5-Degree Temperature Limit.
Climate Justice Now!
We need Climate Justice as soon as possible. Read more below.
Understanding the 1.5-Degree Temperature Limit
Recognising the need for action, in 2015 the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) created an agreement known as the ‘Paris Agreement’- giving the world the limit of 1.5 degrees to follow. The limit is there as a guideline to prevent us from hitting dangerous temperatures, which could have a disastrous impact on our climate and our world as we know it. This will include much more severe and frequent heat waves, droughts and rainfall.
The agreement came after research discovered the significant difference in impact between a 1.5 degree and 2 degree warmer world.
Consequences of Approaching The Temperature Threshold
According to the BBC, If things don’t change soon, the likelihood of us exceeding the above stated temperature limit (1.5) is upon us, and the consequences could be deadly. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and intense rainfall will sweep the globe and have catastrophic consequences on civilisations all across the world - causing worldwide destruction, displacement of populations and even loss of life.
As the global temperatures continue to rise, the glaciers and the ice sheets will melt which in turn will cause our sea levels to rise. Exceeding the temperature limit will accelerate this process which will in turn lead to increased coastal flooding and erosion. This poses a serious threat to those of us who reside in coastal regions.
It’s fairly common knowledge that most ecosystems are highly sensitive to changes in temperature. A good example of this is our coral reefs. Already suffering due to environmental impact, more than 75% of coral reefs on the planet are currently severely under threat. Beyond 1.5 degrees, the reefs will suffer more frequent and severe bleaching events which will lead to degradation and loss.
Perhaps one of the most worrying disruptions to human civilisation is the threat to agriculture and food security. Extreme weather events have the capacity to impact our agricultural productivity. Crop yields could decline due to the temperature rise, which would lead to food scarcity, increased food prices and potentially even global conflicts over resources.
Human health is also something that could be majorly impacted by climate change and exceeding the temperature limit. High temperatures are known to have adverse effects on humans and their health. Heat related illnesses such as heatstroke and dehydration may become more prevalent. The changing climate is also likely to cause an increase in the spread of vector borne diseases including maria. This will almost definitely have catastrophic consequences on human health and the human population as a whole.
Despite these worrying statistics and estimates about the impact of climate change on the world, it is still important to remember that these consequences are not set in stone - and in fact the severity of these discussed impacts can actually be managed and influenced by the actions we as humans take to conquer climate change. It is important to remember that every little action can make a big difference.
So What Can We Do About This?
If these predictions worry you, you are not alone, and you are also not powerless. There are many things you can do to help tackle climate change. These include:
saving energy at home
walking, biking or taking public transport
consider a plant based diet and
considering your travel choices.
Reduce, re-use, repair and recycle
What Can I Do As a Brand/Business?
Sustainable branding materials: Choose eco-friendly options for business cards, packaging, and promotional items. Opt for recycled or FSC-certified paper, vegetable-based inks, and minimalistic designs to minimize waste.
Embrace digital marketing: Focus on digital strategies like email campaigns, social media, and online ads to reduce reliance on physical promotional materials, minimizing waste.
Optimize website energy efficiency: Ensure your website is energy-efficient by optimizing code, compressing images, and using caching techniques. Consider hosting on renewable energy-powered servers.
Choose green web hosting: Select hosting providers that prioritize sustainability and use renewable energy sources, potentially even offering carbon offsets.
Enable website caching: Implement caching techniques to reduce server requests and energy consumption. Store static website elements on users' devices.
Optimize images and multimedia: Compress and optimize files to reduce data transfer and loading time, leading to energy savings.
Minimize unnecessary functionalities: Streamline your website by removing unnecessary features, improving resource efficiency, and enhancing user experience.
Promote sustainability through branding: Use branding to communicate your commitment to sustainability and encourage eco-conscious practices, attracting environmentally aware customers.
Monitor and offset carbon emissions: Track your website's energy-related carbon emissions using online calculators. Consider investing in carbon offset projects to compensate for emissions.
Educate and engage stakeholders:
Raise awareness among employees, customers, and stakeholders about sustainability.
Encourage participation in eco-friendly practices and involve them in sustainability initiatives.
If you would like to learn more about what you can do to make a difference, check out the sites listed below:
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/10-ways-you-can-help-fight-climate-crisis
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181102-what-can-i-do-about-climate-change
