Ever wondered what’s really causing climate change? It’s like a debate with different players – some blame fossil fuels, others point fingers at waste mismanagement, and then there’s the whole fashion waste drama. Here, I’m going to unravel the climate change mystery by diving into two main categories (based on my personal observation): personal (that’s you and me) and institutional (the big guys – companies and governments). Buckle up, it’s a wild ride!

The Personal Rollercoaster:
So, let’s talk about us, the individuals shaping the world with our everyday choices. Picture this: we wanted to move from one point to another faster, could bring more people and convenience, from having horses, then cars were invented. We needed to bring multiple items with only two hands, easy, simple, fast production, and cheap, then plastic bags were invented. The need for quick fixes and convenience led us to embrace fossil fuels like a long-lost friend. Our love for easy solutions birthed a booming industry, but here’s the catch – more production means more waste and more carbon in the air.

As our world modernizes and we all crave a bit of that Instagram-worthy lifestyle, our genuine needs sometimes get overshadowed. The quest to stay trendy puts pressure on companies to pump out new stuff constantly. And guess what? More production, more waste – you see the pattern, right?

Even reusable bottles, reusable straws, to reusable bags that become a boom with the hope of people not using single-use plastic adds another problem now, which is… it’s already too many and not providing the right purpose anymore. This happens for people to look like ‘they care’ as their wedding gift, for restaurants to pretend as if ‘they are being responsible’, this happens as part of ‘CSR’ for various companies.

The Big Players – Institutions:
Now, hold up! It’s not just us, the little guys, causing all the ruckus. Big corporations and governments play a massive role too. The chase for profits often tramples over Mother Nature, with companies exploiting resources left and right. Governments, with their policies (or lack thereof), can either give a green light to eco-friendly practices or turn a blind eye to the environmental havoc. From big corporations to give solutions for us, to them keep feeding us for retention, for consistent consumption, and all of these actions that make more productions, more energy consumption. For every production, it also produces waste at the end of the funnel, whether it’s waste from personal usage or waste from factories’ productions.

Imagine a chicken and egg having a serious debate. Well, that’s our personal and institutional relationship. Our choices influence what companies make, and what companies make shapes our choices. It’s a wild loop, and it’s hard to pinpoint where it all started – the chicken or the egg?

Breaking the Cycle:
Okay, here’s the reality check. Climate change is basically a result of our human-sized egos. We thought our actions didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Surprise! They do. Fixing this mess needs all hands on deck – you, me, companies, and governments. We’re in this together!

So, what can we do? You and I, we need to rethink our choices – be minimalist, choose what we really need, and adopt eco-friendly habits. On the flip side, big players need to change their game too. It’s time for them to prioritize the planet over profits and make the shift to sustainable practices. Also, our choices and habits can help drive where the companies and government should go. If we all say tomorrow we all completely will bring our own bag and reject all the plastic bags, not even one company can go producing it, because we, as the consumers, don’t want to use it.

In this gigantic jigsaw puzzle of climate change, personal and institutional factors are like puzzle pieces that fit together. The way we live and the way big companies operate are intertwined. It’s high time we acknowledge this connection and join forces to make a change.

You, me, companies, and governments – we all need to step up. Let’s commit to a future where our choices, big or small, lead to a healthier planet. The time to act is now, and the power to change is in our hands. Let’s do this, Earth warriors! 🌍✊