Guilt & Inspiration

Climate change really tests me. Every day I struggle with it. I love plants, animals, people, and I would hate to be the cause of their suffering. And yet almost every day I eat animal products, buy unnecessary consumer items, and further contribute to global emissions. I am a hypocrite to fight for the environment, while simultaneously and voluntarily engaging in activities to destroy it.

I don’t have it within me to withhold water from a thirsting individual. I could never destroy a family’s home and force them to migrate elsewhere. Nor could I ever start a forest fire, dry out a river, eradicate species from this earth, dismantle entire ecosystems. I would never impose extreme heat upon millions of people, or expose young children to poor air quality.

But I can eat dairy products with nearly every meal. I can fly from Phoenix to Chicago to vacation. I can buy an unnecessary amount of single-use plastic cups and t-shirts. I can use electrical appliances almost all day, knowing they’re powered by burning coal factories.

The only effective difference between withholding water from a drought-stricken city and jumping on an airplane, are a few intermediate steps, and some delay. My flight will burn fuel, emit greenhouse gases, contribute to climate change, and inevitably inflict drought upon millions of people.

But because the consequences are not so immediate, I can’t seem to fully comprehend them. It’s so very difficult for my brain to link everyday activities with the suffering of others. And yet they are so very connected.

I am choosing a lifestyle that will hurt others, and that is already hurting others. I can’t keep living with the contradiction. I must fight myself.

It is this realization, this guilt, that motivates me to take public transit, choose vegan options, mitigate my environmental footprint. Likewise, a constant contemplation of the climate crisis is what motivates me to stay politically active. We desperately need sweeping government action to combat climate change. And therefore any decision to not vote, to not call our representatives, to not protest, is a decision to be complicit in the suffering of others.

I think the number one hurdle in getting oneself to care about climate change is an inability to effectively comprehend the associated consequences. So I beg of everyone, live in constant awareness of the linkage between driving your car, and driving countless species to extinction. Between failing to participate in our democracy, and failing to prevent needless misery.

Internalize this the best you can. Allow this awareness to guide your actions. Allow this to anger you, impassion you, scare you, and allow this knowledge to vitalize you. Allow it to provide you a greater sense of purpose, to inspire you to become a part of something far bigger than yourself, a movement to envision a brighter future.