Transcriber: Sarah M Reviewer: Anna Sobota
Our world is simply incredible.
We have gorgeous landscapes from beautiful green areas
full of biodiversity and wildlife,
to wonderful vast oceans,
full of amazing aquatic creatures and stunning underwater plants.
Our world has excellent terrain,
including soaring mountains and icy landscapes.
No other planet in our solar system is known to host life,
and the Earth’s extensive biodiversity is incredibly unique.
I’m so grateful to be able to experience such a wonderful planet.
Unfortunately, we have a climate crisis on our hands,
destroying our incredible world.
This global issue is affecting people all over the world.
Once green areas in Midwestern America,
Central Africa and even Asia are experiencing drier soil
and arid conditions,
desertification.
Due to human negligence,
vast islands of trash are building up in our oceans,
and chemical pollution is poisoning the very world we rely on to survive.
This crisis is affecting everyone here in India as well.
New Delhi has the worst air quality globally, often reaching over 200 AQI,
whereas other cities in the world rarely even reach 100.
The city generates 690 tons of plastic waste daily.
That’s the equivalent of 172 Indian elephants.
The rivers and oceans are so polluted with plastic
that people regularly get injured or sick,
contributing to the approximately 1 million annual deaths
from plastic worldwide.
Once complex, magnificent ecosystems collapse
due to the importation of over 200 invasive species,
not suited for harsh climates or specially involved insects.
Unfortunately, one of the most deadly roadblocks, environmentalists today face,
is global mindset.
We all know something is wrong
and that something must be done,
but the world tends to push problems they don’t want to deal with to the side.
Here’s the thing.
If we all decide not to do anything, nothing will change.
Robert Swan said,
“The biggest threat to our planet
is the belief
that someone else will save it.”
Well, we all need to save it.
When the topic of the climate crisis comes up,
our minds jump straight to large scale change and impact,
which can seem unachievable.
So, people turn to minor changes
to get a sense of fulfilment from their task.
However, these large scale impacts are what we need.
I took the initiative throughout the pandemic
to join a climate activism project with some of my peers from previous schools:
Hesham Kenan and Oscar Archibald.
Together, we became the co-founders of the “Fighting Failure” podcast,
discussing climate-related issues and solutions.
We had met in the fifth grade, and soon after,
we started a small climate action group called
“The Generation at our School.”
While our first group wasn't a success,
it gave us the skills and knowledge necessary to begin our podcast
at the beginning of the pandemic.
The three of us have always been incredibly passionate
about the environment,
and being able to start the “Fighting Failure” podcast
was an incredible step forward in climate activism for us.
If you want to know more about climate issues
or just want something interesting to listen to,
I highly recommend you give it a listen.
I acted as a host for the podcast throughout season one
and now I am working behind the scenes
to help spread climate awareness in our amazing eco-club.
Here’s where the solution comes in.
We need to change the world’s view on climate action
as the” Fighting Failure” podcast aims to do.
Turning off the tap and lights, carpooling,
sorting trash, and avoiding plastic wrappers,
these little things shouldn’t be our primary focus.
We need to start looking towards larger objectives.
We need to stop thinking of these little actions as doing our part.
In truth, no one’s part is ever done.
The little things we all seem to strive to complete are good,
but they won’t build up and solve the larger issues our world is facing.
Things like reusable water bottles
and reduction of waste can no longer be what we work towards.
They must become instinctive and put to the background,
so the bigger picture can take the stage.
However, just because we’re striving towards the bigger picture doesn’t mean
we can stop doing the little things.
While the little actions may not build up positively over time,
they will negatively if you neglect them.
The day these small solutions become not encouraged, but expected,
is the day we can all push forward to create a better tomorrow.
Let’s normalize the little things
and pave the way for larger impact solutions
to bring our beautiful world back.
Thank you.
(Applause)