In our sixth episode, we are coping with climate change. As we all know, the data display a grim picture of the extent of the emergency. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts that sea levels could be 1 to 2 meters higher by the end of the century. According to the same panel, we need to cut global emissions by 2030. However, governments seem to take little action in response to the current global crisis. A study says that 1% of companies is responsible for 71% of greenhouse emissions since 1988.

Grassroots, small-scale and local solutions like the one created by Peter van Wingerden, might prove to be the solution. Peter is Dutch and he got concerned about the sea level rise that will impact his country. After he traveled to New York to see the impact of hurricane Sandy that hit the city in 2012, he got frightened by the food shortage he witnessed. That’s why he came up with the idea of the Floating farm, the first farm in the world built on the water, in the harbour of Rotterdam. The farm offers space for 40 cows and is a great example of a sustainable and circular economy. 

To help us cope with climate change, Peter gave us 5 pieces of advice to help us cope with climate change:

Don’t wait in making a change You can start small (Eg. collect rainwater and give rainwater to the plants) 

Ask your parliament to have weekly discussions on climate change, involving youngsters and the entire society

Take small steps at your city or at your country level, at your broadcasting station: tell a story, create awareness that we need to change, and act right now 

Write a letter to your city, to your country, write a letter to the parliament 

Start with yourself; you need to be motivated and strongly believe that we need to do something not for today, but for the next generation