Climate change is an unquestionably urgent global crisis. According to the United Nations’ World Meteorological Order (WMO), it is predicted that the planet will warm by an estimated 4 to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
July 2023 has been the hottest month on record, and the effects of climate change could be irreversible by 2030.
Without actively working to combat climate change, some of the potential outcomes over the next few years are:
Millions of people are already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change, having to flee their homes to avoid the impact of droughts and extreme storms. A staggering 6.7 million people were displaced from their homes due to the effects of natural disasters in 2019.
“Up to 200 million people could be displaced by climate change by 2050”
One of the biggest contributors to climate change is carbon emissions. Sadly, around 50% of all carbon emissions are emitted by the richest 10% of the world’s population, global warming is turning the world’s poorest into climate change refugees.
Whilst many individuals are enthusiastic and vocal supporters of climate change initiatives, they remain surprisingly reluctant to do something very basic, recycle. Recycling is a simple and effective way to reduce environmental impact which should seemingly go hand in hand with the fight against climate change.
So what is it that causes us to act hypocritically with regards to taking personal responsibility and playing our part? The reasons behind this disconnect are multifaceted and rooted in societal as well as behavioural and psychological factors.
Convenience Trumps Conviction
Recycling requires both a little extra effort and time. Sorting through various waste materials and using the green/blue/brown and paper bins can seem unnecessarily painstaking when you just want to get rubbish out of the house. Add to that the extra time it takes to clean out multiple containers. Being conscientious about recycling is a slightly more tedious task than throwing everything together in one bin. In order to build good recycling habits we first have to battle the issue of convenience, alongside the issue of people innately being creatures of habit, often hesitant to change things up.
When it comes to supporting climate change initiatives however, this is something that can be easily done from the comfort of our homes. It is much easier to jump on the platform formerly known as Twitter, or sign a Change.org petition, (both of which require minimal effort) than to physically put the effort into the act of recycling.
The “Not My Problem” Mentality
Another barrier to recycling is the “not my problem” mentality. People fall into the trap of considering recycling to be a distant, detached issue for others to deal with – rather than an act of personal responsibility. It is thinking that in the grand scheme of things, your individual actions won’t make a significant difference.
Imagine putting one plastic bottle in the regular bin. What tends to go through your mind? Probably something along the lines of
“it’s just one bottle – not a big deal really.”
Now consider, a million people up and down the country having the same exact thought. Immediately that’s 1 million plastic bottles going straight into landfill, or out into the sea.
“Sea ice has decreased for 32 straight years and ice melt is accelerating. The UN has warned that marine life faces irreparable damage from the millions of tonnes of plastic waste that ends up in the oceans every year.”
“The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an alarming environmental phenomenon – primarily consisting of used plastics. Located in the North Pacific Ocean, the patch is larger than France, Germany and Spain combined. As the plastics break down into microplastics and enter the the food chain, the patch poses a grave threat to marine life as it causes huge ecological harm”
Just one item incorrectly disposed of, multiplied exponentially over the globe – adds up. It is down to each of us as individuals to ensure we do as much as we can. Do we really need to buy bottled water? If so, the least we can do is recycle it correctly. It is never, “just one bottle”.
Misplaced Priorities
Climate change discussions often revolve around broader, more abstract topics like policy changes and international agreements. We think of summit’s such as COP26 where world leaders take the lead and find ways to tackle these critical issues.
Whilst crucial at a Global level, these events can overshadow the significance of our individual actions and the simple act of recycling seems mundane and inconsequential. People fall into the trap of believing their theoretical support for climate change initiatives all but absolves them of their duty to recycle, leading to a misalignment between our beliefs and our actions.
Lack of Incentives
In many regions, recycling programs lack incentives to encourage participation. Some areas offer financial incentives or rewards for recycling, but generally speaking this is not the case. In fact for certain areas in the UK, you are more likely to be threatened with a fine for using the wrong bin, than rewarded for recycling. From a psychological perspective this does not always achieve buy-in and people end up less motivated to engage in recycling efforts. Additionally, if a recycling bin becomes damaged or stolen, some areas charge a significant amount for replacements which further discourages residents to try and recycle. All stick and no carrot does not work for every one and it is imperative that local initiatives are put into place to encourage residents to recycle – as well as deter them from not doing so.
Overwhelmed by Consumerism
There is no doubt we all receive a daily onslaught of exposure to advertisements promoting new products, clothes, and gadgetry. Just check the promotions tab in your inbox.
The seductive allure of always having “the latest”, results in falling prey to throwaway culture, a mindset that prioritises buying new, over reusing or recycling existing items.
The Quran warns us of the tests of the constant pursuit of attaining material possessions and being excessive in our consumption.
“The first calamity for this nation after the Prophet’s ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa salaam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) death is fullness of their stomachs; when their stomachs became full, they became obese and their hearts weakened and their desires became wild” [Bukhari]
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ
“O Children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer, eat and drink, but be not excessive – Indeed Allah likes not those who commit excess”
[Surah Al-A`raf – 7;31]
The concept of repairing and reusing is a Prophetic one, practised not only by the Prophet peace be upon him but many Prophets of the past. Use local charity shops, fix what you have and recycle when you are finished with it.
Climate Change And Poverty
Natural disasters regularly make global headlines. But it is poorer countries who continue to face the brunt of these changes on a daily basis as these communities are already struggling with political instability and widespread poverty. When a region’s population relies heavily on agriculture for work and provision, it is far more impacted by increasing temperatures and climate shocks, than countries that rely on other sectors. Figures show that when it comes to the climate crisis, Africa is really in the eye of the storm with a number of the top 10 countries affected by climate change, located on the African continent. Prone to extreme droughts, flooding and storms, it is the responsibility of wealthier nations to ensure significant steps are taken to reduce their emissions and combat the effects of climate change.
Our Work
The Freedom Development Foundation works closely with locals on the ground in Gambia. We empower rural populations to become self-sufficient, through teaching agricultural best practices and equipping locals with the amenities and knowledge to provide for themselves and their communities.
A period of extreme drought can throw our efforts into chaos as we see the direct effects of climate change in front of us. As a result we understand the urgency of each person taking responsibility to change. The effect of thinking recycling is unimportant, has far-reaching and devastating consequences for impoverished communities thousands of miles away.
We may have the luxury of not needing to be mindful, but the lack of personal responsibility affects millions of people who sadly do not have that privilege.
“None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
Al Bukhari
We would be devastated if faced with the prospect of becoming climate change refugees, or having our access to basic food staples impacted through the actions of people thousands of miles away. It would leave us feeling incredibly powerless and alone. If we truly want for our brother what we want for ourselves. We need to take responsibility for all of the small actions that can collectively achieve a better outcome for others.
Conclusion
Having examined the underlying causes for why people don’t take responsibility for recycling, it is essential we all begin to act on our convictions, ensuring that they supersede our pursuit for convenience.
There is also a responsibility for authorities to encourage recycling through the provision of incentives and improved accessibility, but first we desperately need to foster a sense of personal responsibility, in order to wipe out any hypocrisy and instead align our actions with the vocal support we have for climate change initiatives.
The Islamic concept of Ihsan is that of attaining perfection and excellence, which encompasses acting righteously on Earth and doing the best we can for others. That’s why it is incumbent upon all of us to address any barriers we may face, in order to do our part for our planet. With a collective effort we can make recycling, reducing and reusing an integral part of our daily lives – as we work towards creating a more sustainable future for our global family.
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