The Civic Zone will be set up around the library, offering information and activities about current issues. Our goal is to help people think critically, build trust in the community, and find common ground on important topics. The next topic we are highlighting is climate change.
The climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Its effects are already being felt across the globe—from more frequent and intense wildfires to rising sea levels, stronger storms, and shifting ecosystems.
Climate change is a global problem with local effects, and no one is immune. It touches every aspect of our lives, from the food we eat to the air we breathe, the homes we live in, and the jobs we hold. It threatens our health, our economies, and our communities.
The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture, are driving the planet’s warming temperatures. Clean air and water, a healthy environment, economic stability, and safer communities are things that matter to all of us. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy can reduce the long-term costs associated with climate-related disasters. By mitigating the impacts of climate change today, we can save billions in emergency response, healthcare, and recovery expenses down the road. Protecting our environment is not just about saving the planet; it’s also about safeguarding our financial future.
What We Can Do: Call to Action
- Invest in Renewable Energy – Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are key to reducing our carbon footprint.
- Promote Energy Efficiency – Making our buildings, infrastructure, and transportation systems more energy-efficient can reduce emissions and save money.
- Conserve Natural Resources – Protect forests, wetlands, and oceans through sustainable land-use practices and reforestation efforts
- Invest in Innovation and Green Jobs – Support training programs that prepare workers for careers in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other green industries.
- Collaborate Across Borders – Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions.
The climate crisis is one of the most urgent issues of our time, but it is not beyond our ability to address. By focusing on shared goals—clean air, healthy communities, economic opportunity, and sustainability—we can begin to build common ground across political divides. The scale of the challenge is immense, but so is our capacity for innovation, collaboration, and change.
Resources
Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility – The University of Michigan Library is offering free access to a community read. Through Dec. 13, everyone in the state of Michigan is invited to read or listen to this book.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – A key resource for understanding the scientific consensus on climate change.
NASA: Global Climate Change – Access to data, visualizations, and explanations of how Earth’s climate is changing.
350.org – Provides resources for individuals to get involved in climate activism, campaigns, and events.
The World Resources Institute (WRI) – A nonprofit organization that focuses on climate change, energy, and sustainable development.
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) – A range of reports, blog posts, and action steps focused on sustainable energy, climate policy, and conservation efforts.
Climate Central – An independent organization of scientists and journalists that provides clear, accessible climate change data and news.
The World Bank: Climate Change – Research, reports, and data on the global economic impacts of climate change, along with policy recommendations for addressing climate issues worldwide.
United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) – Responsible for coordinating international efforts to address climate change. The site features reports, agreements like the Paris Agreement, and updates from global climate conferences.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Climate Change – Reports, interactive tools, and policy updates covering both scientific research and the EPA’s role in regulating greenhouse gasses and promoting sustainability.
Articles
Opposing Viewpoints: Global Warming and Climate change
Opposing Viewpoints: Carbon Offsets
Books for Adults
What if we get it right?: Visions of Climate Futures by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Treekeepers: Race for a Forested Future by Lauren Oakes
Category Five: Superstorms and the Warming Oceans that Feed Them by Porter Fox
The Weight of Nature: How a Changing Climate Changes our Brains by Clayton Page Aldern
Books for Teens
A Hot Mess: How the Climate Crisis is Changing Our World by Jeff Fleischer
Greta Thunberg: Climate Activist by Hal Marcovitz
Diet for a Changing Climate: Food For Thought by Christy Mihaly
Books for Children
In It to Win It: Sports and the Climate Crisis by Erin Silver
Change Is In the Air: Carbon, Climate, Earth, and Us by Debbie Levy