11 There are Solutions

For such a profound problem, it is ironic that so much is know about how to reduce the greatest impacts. Many solutions already exist, are already cheaper than carbon-polluting alternatives, and are available. We know, for example, that healthy, growing trees are one of the most effective recarbonizers on the planet. We know that alternative farming practices that reduce the disturbance of soil can greatly reduce the negative impacts of agriculture and that plant-based diets can significantly reduce carbon-dioxide and methane release.

The challenges arise in support and implementation of these (and developing) technology and approaches. Despite, and because of, these challenges, it is important to provide students (and ourselves) with information on how we, as individuals and societies. can bring about change and how we can prevent the worse-case scenarios.

Although students have been told that individual actions are sufficient (ironically through marketing of this idea from the fossil-fuel industry), it is clear that society-wide changes and cooperation between governments will be necessary to implement current and future solutions. This reality provides educators with opportunities to have students critically evaluate what can be done at different levels.

I like to use the resources of the publication Drawdown…