On a recent episode of “Weekend Update,” Michael Che and Colin Jost discussed reports that, by 2030, we could be facing catastrophic climate change. They, of course, joked about it. Che notably remarked, “Why don’t I care about this?” and then continued to explain that, while he fully believes in climate change, it was difficult to care about an issue so large. He joked that if the issue were smaller, or framed as a smaller issue, it would be easier to care about and easier to digest as a concept. In under two minutes of jokes, both Jost and Che highlighted and elaborated on an incredibly complex issue, one that merits further contemplation.
I will admit that I am definitely more environmentally focused than the average citizen. In fact, as students at a liberal arts institution, I would argue that most of us think about the environment as a social and political concept a great deal more than the average American. It was interesting to me that, while I didn’t agree with Che’s statement regarding caring about catastrophic climate change, I did understand where he was coming from. The issue and magnitude of the ecological and environmental problem that we face as a planet is overwhelming to the point of hopelessness. The problem can seem too enormous to tackle, especially when we’re trying to do everything at once. When everything is at stake, it is hard to pinpoint what to begin to concern ourselves with.
A few weeks ago, a viewpoint was written regarding the role that Greenhouse plays not only in environmental awareness on campus, but environmental action and activism. Greenhouse is a great place to start. It is crucial that, in order to make any progress regarding the climate crisis, we look to see what we can do in our immediate community. In fact, just allowing yourself to think about your actions related to anything from energy to waste to conservation opens your mind to what can be done to combat the crisis we face.
Yes, thinking about the problem may make it seem more daunting, especially when discovering all the facets of what human impact does to ecological systems, and yes, it is entirely possible that giving time and thought to the climate crisis may result in an overwhelming sense of helplessness and guilt. It is important to realize, however, that the more educated you are, the more equipped you are to be active in working to offset climate change. It is entirely possible for guilt and helplessness to be transformed into productive conversation and problem solving.
Michael Che might not be right in not caring about the greater issue, but he is right in being bothered by the fact that he doesn’t care. Moreover, he is right in thinking that the best way to tackle the problem is to break it down into smaller pieces. Start by making little changes like decreasing your single-use plastic consumption, taking shorter showers, buying things locally instead of from Amazon or replacing a drive with a walk. I think you’ll find that working toward a greater good is easier and more enjoyable than you think and that tackling an issue small piece by small piece adds up to a whole lot of change.
Claire Smrekar, a Contributing Writer for the Voice, can be reached for comment at CSmrekar19@wooster.edu.