Reasons to care about climate change, how to take action in 2026

Are you concerned about sea level rise in our island city? Bay Area sea level rise is projected to be at least two feet in the coming decades, according to a San Francisco Baykeeper report.

Or is it your love of birds that has you concerned about increasing temperatures? A recent National Audubon report indicated, ”Two-thirds of North American birds are at increasing risk of extinction from global temperature rise.”

Maybe it’s about biodiversity in general. The National Park Service reported, “Some biologists estimate that 35% of animals and plants could become extinct in the wild by 2050 due to global climate change.”

Perhaps it’s a concern about the health impacts of climate change. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that climate change affects our health in many ways—air pollution, allergens and pollen, food security, food and water-borne disease, mental health and stress-related disorders, temperature extremes, precipitation extremes, wildfires, and vectors.

Are you concerned about the effect of climate change on national security? Time magazine reports, “On the federal level, climate change was first acknowledged as a national security threat by President George W. Bush in August 1991, and the U.S. national security community first listed the issue as a threat in 2008.”

How about the economic impact of climate change? The Congressional Budget Office report relayed, “In CBO’s estimation, there is a 5% chance that GDP will be at least 17% lower in 2100 than it would have been if temperatures remained stable after 2024 and an equal chance that GDP will be at least 7% higher.”

Maybe you know someone impacted by the many intense wildfires or hurricanes our country has been experiencing. There are lots of reasons to care about climate change, and we are not powerless to stop it and all of these negative impacts.

What can we do to help fight climate change?

First, we can change our personal habits and complete energy-saving projects at home. For a list of 70 things you can do to protect the climate and resources to help you do so, visit the Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA) website. Print the checklist, post it in a prominent spot in your home, and check off items as you complete projects and change habits. It includes things like washing your clothes in cold water, and replacing paper towels and paper napkins with dishcloths and cloth napkins to eliminate those single use items. You will not only reduce your own carbon footprint, but you will save a lot of money over time, and lead by example for others. For example, many people install solar panels because their neighbors did so.

Talk about climate change with others. Tell friends and neighbors why climate change matters to you and what you are doing about it. Dr. Katherine Hayhoe, a leading climate scientist, indicates that talking about climate change with others is the most important thing we can do as individuals.

Get involved with organizations that do climate protection work, such as CASA, which supports the City of Alameda in achieving its climate protection goals; REAP Climate Center, which provides learning, experiences, and job training around climate change; Rotary Club of Alameda, which does tree plantings in Alameda parks multiple times a year plus an annual fruit tree giveaway at Spring Shindig; or 100K Trees for Humanity, which is reforesting our urban environment in Alameda and beyond.

Let your City Councilmembers know you care about climate change and expect them to take action with urgency to meet or exceed our climate protection goals. You can reach our Alameda City Councilmembers here. You can reach our State and Federal representatives through a free app called Climate Action Now, which has canned emails you can send related to climate change. The app also includes climate protection-related emails you can send to corporations in the United States, as well as educational materials.

It is going to take all of us working together to solve the climate protection crisis and prevent the worst impacts on our society and the environment. Why not make these actions—completing the CASA checklist of 70 climate protection items, talking about climate change, emailing our City Council, downloading the Climate Action Now app, and/or getting involved in a climate organization—your New Year’s resolution for 2026?

Constructive action is the best cure for climate change anxiety. Let’s lead the protection of the climate in Alameda!