The year 2020 seems like the start of a dystopian novel, and yet, we are framing it as the “new normal”. We frantically try to gain control over a downward-spiraling reality by pushing it into a box and labeling it as a freak year. But the truth is, the disasters that plague us this year — the typhoons that only get stronger, the raging wildfires, and the record-breaking heat waves — did not occur in a vacuum. They have been years in the making; extreme weather events have been affecting vulnerable countries since a decade ago, but it’s only in the past year that mainstream media has started talking about climate change with enough urgency. Perhaps the difference that spurred this change is that there now is no region safe from nature’s wrath; we are all experiencing our planet’s slow collapse.

This line of thinking may sound alarmist and apocalyptic — the kind that most people block out in favor of optimism for the future. However, we should recognize the passive optimism that things will turn out better in 2021 as what it is: wishful thinking. The clock striking 12 A.M. on January 1 will not magically erase all the damage that we have done to this planet. It is high time that we normalize the urgency of climate change.

We are experiencing the increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters that climate scientists have predicted, and they forecast the year 2030 as the tipping point when we can no longer stop climate change. Hearing this ominous prediction should be enough to spur us into action; however, turning off our lights for one hour or taking the stairs instead of the elevator seem too miniscule in the face of an enormous global problem. On the other hand, radical lifestyle changes such as veganism or zero-waste living are too difficult to sustain for most people. Thus, we naturally leave the responsibility to the unrepentant corporations that produce two-thirds of the world’s global emissions. This is where the conversation about climate change fails — we, as individuals, are stuck with apocalyptic prophecies without knowing what can be done to stop them.

The challenge lies in the enormity of the problem. Climate change is realistically too big for any one action to topple. An increasing number of people think that small, everyday acts are futile since companies that contribute the most to the problem are not inclined to change. To some extent, this is true — there’s only so far that one less plastic straw can go. However, we should not discount individual action, because societal change does not begin unless one person starts.  

Maybe one way that we can improve the narrative surrounding climate change is to endeavor to push it into the mainstream. The Extinction Rebellion has been a good start to concrete action against climate change; civil disobedience is a practical action that all of us can take part in. Boycotting brands that contribute a lot to global emissions is a small action that can lead to changes in companies’ attitudes. The past year has also seen the rise of the youth leading climate change activism; what we need now are more followers. More people need to be actively involved in talking about climate change and what we can do to mitigate it. We should also put an increased pressure on our elected officials to enact policies that can significantly reduce carbon emissions.  

The natural disasters that wreak havoc and destruction on our already fragile societies are not inevitable. However, optimism and wishing away all these problems are not viable options anymore; instead, we must recognize the urgency of the situation and start a more productive conversation regarding climate change. More importantly, we must remember that change starts with one person.