According to the Global Carbon Project, 23 wealthy developed nations are responsible for half of all historical CO2 emissions. These include the United States, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Japan, and more. Over the past 170 years, the Earth has warmed 1.1° Celsius. We are already seeing detrimental effects: increased droughts, wildfires, heatwaves, and more.
Who’s to blame?
Greenpeace reports that “Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Neslté come in as the world’s trop plastic polluters for five years running.” 20 fossil fuel companies were responsible for one-third of the world’s carbon emissions in 2019, per The Guardian. Chevron, Exxon, BP and Shell are on the list. Other industries with unsustainable production methods contribute to climate change. Fast fashion creates nearly 10% of all carbon emissions and 20% of global wastewater, per Earth.org.
What can we do?
While individual lifestyle changes are important and necessary, we must hold governments accountable to place checks on industries and corporations that pollute and degrade our environment. Companies must move away from unsustainable materials, and produce eco-friendly systems and goods that are accessible to all.
Investment in renewable energy – like solar, wind, and hydropower – is necessary to increase availability.
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