"The 2015 Paris Climate Conference has come and gone. It left many hopeful that an agreement was finally reached to keep temperatures below 1.5°C but since the treaty does not take effect until 2020 and governments do not have to assess their progress until 2023, others are not feeling quite hopeful at all. With an eight year difference between the signed agreement and assessment, there seems to be a lack of urgency to get global warming down and climate change under control. So what now?"
"I personally struggle most days with thoughts of absolute doom and fearfulness for my children in respect to climate change. I often worry about how the world is going to be to be for my children in the next 30 years and maybe even sooner than then. Will the effects of climate change be so severe that we will have to fight for our lives? I certainly hope not. This however is a reality for some, more so in poor populated areas affected by extreme weather events intensified by global warming. With all this in mind, I am very fortunate to live in an area that experiences little to no extreme weather events as well as having the luxuries of clean drinkable water, food and shelter – this realization helps to distract my thoughts for a short period of time before thinking about a possible gloomy future."
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"To help alleviate some of my fears, I firmly try to see each moment with my family as a blessing. With a demanding job and two young energetic kids, this sometimes can be a challenge but nonetheless it’s an important aspect that all should try to get in the habit of doing. Making a conscious effort to reducing my carbon footprint as well as my family’s, is another was I cope. I am by no means perfect but I do try as much as possible to make the best choices around the house that would reduce wastes – whether it be purchasing less products or products with less packaging, especially plastic; reducing the energy needed to heat or cool my home; and eating less meat, especially beef, just to name a few. I completely struggle with last one as it is the one that has the largest impact on global warming. I know in my heart it is the right thing to do but with two young picky eaters at home and a busy home and work schedule, it’s extremely difficult to find a balance. Like I mentioned before, I am far from perfect!"
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