The big fix: For Earth Month, eco-experts share how everyone can help the planet

April is Earth Month, a time to celebrate the natural world and to ponder the effects that human beings have on it.

April 22 is Earth Day, which has been celebrated annually since 1970, when the environmental movement came of age.

As we mark these events in 2022, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

According to most scientists who study the issue, climate change — environmental disruptions caused by carbon emissions into the earth’s atmosphere — is a huge, growing problem that affects the whole world, including Birmingham and Alabama.

It can be depressing to see things getting worse with what seems like little hope of improvement.

Even worse, it’s disempowering to feel you can do so little to help.

Iron City Ink turned to some local eco-experts for a snapshot of climate change and its effects on our state.

But perhaps more important, we asked them to suggest some positive steps the average person can take to get involved and aid the environment.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS SERIOUS

The problem of climate change is “bad, and probably worse than even most of the concerned people realize,” said Michael Hansen, executive director of Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution.

Forty percent of the world’s population is already vulnerable to climate change impacts, Hansen said, citing the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at the United Nations.

Scot Duncan, a professor in the Biology Department at Birmingham-Southern College, an award-winning author and an expert on species and ecosystem conservation and climate change, delivered a stern warning on the issue.

“If we continue polluting the atmosphere with carbon at the current rate, then we will force the climate into a state where it can no longer provide safe conditions for humanity,” Duncan said.

A failure to act “will trigger changes in earth’s natural systems that we cannot reverse.” he said, citing droughts, extreme heat waves, violent storms, “punishing” droughts and rapid sea level rise.

To avoid the worst effects of climate change, humanity must prevent warming beyond 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, Duncan said.

“To accomplish this, we must bring global carbon emissions down rapidly this decade by switching to clean energy — for example, wind and solar — for our energy sources.”

LOCAL EFFECTS

Alabama is not immune to the effects of climate change, experts say.

The state has seen a 3-degree Fahrenheit increase in average annual temperature since 1960, said Duncan, citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“We are getting more heat waves that last longer and occur throughout more of the year,” Duncan said. “When droughts occur, they are more intense than they used to be.”

In addition, the traditional “Tornado Alley” in the Midwest has expanded eastward and now covers northern Alabama, he said.

Roald Hazelhoff, director of BSC’s Southern Environmental Center — the largest environmental educational facility of its kind in Alabama — cites data from NOAA predicting that Alabama could see a 70% increase in extreme weather in the next 50 years.

“The longer we delay, the worse climate change will get here in Alabama and elsewhere, and we will see continued degradation of our infrastructure, agriculture and economy,” Duncan said.

REASONS FOR OPTIMISM

Despite the gloom, there are reasons for hope.

“I’m actually very optimistic,” Hansen said. “My hopes are buoyed by young people across the globe who not only have a better understanding of the climate science than people twice or three times their age, but who will not take ‘no’ for an answer when it comes to climate change.”

Hansen is also optimistic because “many of the solutions already exist,” he said. “They just have to be scaled.”

One of those solutions is solar energy, an area in which Alabama, unfortunately, “is a laggard,” he said.

James McClintock, a professor of polar and marine biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said the impacts of climate change have “significantly intensified” since he began working in the Antarctic in 1982.

“I have witnessed this in the rate of increase of glacial retreat, the warming of air temperatures and the loss of sea ice,” he said.

However, he said he remains optimistic that humans will slow “the onset and impacts” of climate change.

“I see some promising elements, including the onset of a rapid transition to electric vehicles, the emergence of corporate and institution-grade solar energy projects and, critically, the rapidly rising levels of concern,” McClintock said. “More and more people are asking what we can do to help.”

Among the reasons for optimism about climate change, Duncan said, is that “our science is strong,” meaning we know what’s happening to the environment and why.

Wind and solar energy are proven technologies. “And they are cheap,” Duncan said,

“The world’s major financial institutions are embracing the inevitable,” he said, referring to a transition toward a “new clean energy economy.”

In addition, the Paris Agreement — an international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015 —  is encouraging cooperation to keep global warming below dangerous thresholds, Duncan said.

“The thing most holding us back right now are the people that understand that climate change is a threat, but have not yet committed to making climate action a priority for our government, or in our local communities and personal lives,” he said.

“I’m an optimist, but the gravity of the situation means that I have to temper my optimism,” Hazelhoff said. “It is not going in the right direction, let’s put it that way.”

Alabama does not rate high in terms of public awareness of the importance of climate change and other environmental issues and has “a lot of troublesome indicators,” Hazelhoff said.

For example, Alabama is one of the least energy-efficient states in the country, he said,

Hansen admits that optimism is perhaps psychologically vital.

“Because I understand the stakes, my optimism sustains me,” he said. “Otherwise I would be in a state of despair, considering our local and state politics.”

WHAT INDIVIDUALS CAN DO

There are many steps average people can take to help address climate change and other environmental issues, the experts said.

People should be “very concerned” about climate change, but they should also be “optimistic and busy,” Duncan said.

When people finally take action, they feel the benefit, he said.

“You will feel empowered because you are acting to protect the people and places you care about most,” Duncan said. “You will inspire others to do the same thing.  And, finally, you will reshape your self-identity as someone who is a force for good.”

“Everyone can be part of the solution,” he said.

Duncan refers to the work necessary to solve the climate and environmental problem as “the Big Fix.”

People should learn more about the available climate change solutions, he said.

They should also begin talking about the issue.

“Share your concerns, ideas, hopes and values related to climate change with the people in your life,” Duncan said.

“We must shatter the cultural norm of silence about the climate crisis,” he said. “Speak up like your future depends on it, because it does.”

People should work with others in their community to foster “systemic change,” Duncan said.

Finally, “as you are able, adopt climate- and nature-friendly habits in your lifestyle: choices of food, travel, transportation, energy usage and all other forms of consumerism,” Duncan said.

Like Duncan, McClintock urges people to talk to their friends and family about climate change and what we can do to address it.

He suggests that people concerned with climate change be politically aware.

“Vote, and choose to support a candidate who wants to address climate change,” he said.

People can also put their money to work.

“If you have investments, consider reinvesting in portfolios that are environmentally friendly,” McClintock said.

There are many other simple steps people can take on a daily basis to help.

“Insulate your doors and windows, drive a hybrid or electric car, drive less and walk and bike more, consider solar energy, plant trees,” McClintock said.

Hansen said he is “hesitant to suggest individual actions because climate change — and almost all environmental issues — are systemic, society-wide problems.”

However, like Duncan and McClintock, he urges people to talk about climate change to their friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers and “anyone else who will listen.”

He said concerned individuals should “link up with local groups doing

the big-picture work to address the systemic issues.”

For example, he said GASP is working to create a “Green New Deal” for Birmingham and is “constantly seeking” volunteers.

“We need more residents to get involved to ensure our proposals are comprehensive, inclusive and bold,” Hansen said.

Hazelhoff and the SEC, which works closely with the BSC Urban Environmental Studies program, are dedicated to showing people how they can protect and improve their local environments.

Hazelhoff said we need to develop “a better system for fighting the extremes” brought on by climate change.

For example, the SEC has built infrastructure to collect rainwater on the BSC campus and at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve it co-manages in Pinson.

The SEC maintains a small lake on the campus made up of rainwater. It allows for the storage of water for use during droughts and also reduces stormwater runoff and flooding.

“We need to start thinking about … having a system where at home, we start using more rain barrels and other collection systems,” Hazelhoff said.

We also need to “get really serious about planting more trees,” he said. “It is not a cure-all, but it does cool cities down. It helps with air quality and it helps other species.”

OUR ‘BLUE PLANET’

McClintock puts the environmental issue in perspective by asking us to look at the small, fragile planet we call home.

“On this Earth Day, take a minute to stop and think about how important the health of our planet is to the health of you and your family,” he said. “Imagine that you are an astronaut circling the Earth and peering down on our blue planet with its thin delicate skin of life — the biosphere. Now imagine the planet without the biosphere. Then consider the fact that we have in hand all the necessary technology to save and care for the biosphere and its amazing biodiversity. Whether you are a person of religious faith or not, this wondrous creation is worthy of your loving care.”

CELEBRATING EARTH MONTH

The Southern Environmental Center will host the ninth annual Darter Fest at Avondale Brewing Co. on Sunday, April 10, from noon-5 p.m. The event will feature live music, food, drinks and kids’ activities and raises money for the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. For tickets, go to eventbrite.com and search for “Darter Festival 2022.”

Rock band Earthbound will host its annual outdoor concert, Earthbound’s Earthfest, at Avondale Brewing Co. on Saturday, April 16, from 2-8 p.m. The event benefits Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a nonprofit clean water advocacy organization in Birmingham. For details, go to blackwarriorriver.org/earthbounds-earthfest-2022.