Climate change is evident, and we are already experiencing its effects. While climate action from the Trump administration is woefully lacking, and Trump is arguably moving us backwards, many business leaders recognize how much the climate crisis will impact their bottom line — and are reshaping their companies’ strategies and operations to address our current climate emergency accordingly.
I work as a data analyst for an apparel company in Portland, Oregon. As Oregon sees warmer weather, more severe wildfires, and shifting seasons, we are re-prioritizing how we make our garments to align with the realities of our planet’s changing climate. This year, we’ve made it our goal to become more eco-friendly. We’re redesigning products and sourcing with sustainable materials to lessen our company’s carbon footprint — and our impact on the environment.
We cannot afford to wait to address the climate crisis. We need to cut greenhouse gas emissions now. From severe flooding to devastating wildfires, the effects of climate change are too enormous — and their costs too great — to ignore. In 2019 alone, there were 14 billion-dollar extreme weather and climate events, costing the United States $45 billion. I am proud that my employer is pursuing climate solutions, but we are just one business. We need our elected leaders to follow suit and join the fight as well.
While there is a dearth of leadership at the national level, I am pleased to see that efforts to protect our environment and communities from harm are evident across my home state of Oregon, such as the newly implemented ban on plastic bags. This initiative limits pollution from plastic production, prevents waste from sitting in landfills for hundreds of years, and protects Oregon’s riverways from accumulating litter.
Additionally, in 2018, Portland established a multi-million dollar fund to promote equitable action on climate through supporting clean energy projects, regenerative agriculture, and job training and apprenticeship programs.
These are steps in the right direction, but they are not nearly enough to solve our climate crisis. While states like Oregon are playing an important role in combating climate change, it is irresponsible for the Trump administration to refuse to heed the scientific community’s warnings. According to a recent report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we must take action now if we want to avoid the worst climate impacts that would come from a 2 degree rise in the average global temperature.
I am happy to play a small part in building a solution by working to make my employer more sustainable and by advocating for eco-friendly practices in the community — but we can do more. We have to. Our leaders must connect the dots and act — as my company, the Portland community, and the state of Oregon are doing. Despite national leaders’ inaction, science delivers a clear imperative: We must move to a 100% clean energy economy before it is too late.
Sharona Shnayder is currently a data analyst and undergraduate pursuing accounting at Portland State University. She is a community activist with involvement spanning from her college campus to the whole state of Oregon.