(Please note the difference between “weather” and “climate.” Weather refers to the temperatures and conditions over a short period of time, like a few weeks. Climate refers to long-term trends that affect the planet.)

While some may be happier about having warmer winters with less snow, there are severe impacts of climate change that will only get worse as time goes on.

• Intense Heat: Heat waves can cause severe health problems for the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and those who work outside. It also causes bodies of water to dry up, crops to die in the field, and more frequent and intense wildfires.

• Rising Prices: When crops are negatively impacted by heat and drought, it drives food prices higher. Have you noticed how expensive olive oil has gotten? That is largely because extreme heat in Europe has killed much of the crop and made olives scarce. The same thing is happening with chocolate and many other foods we know and love. Your electric bill will also continually increase as air conditioning becomes necessary for longer periods.

• Extreme Weather Events: Climate change causes volatility that leads to more frequent and severe hurricanes, landslides, flooding, and wildfires. In New Jersey, we often see flooded basements, power outages, roof damage, rising insurance costs, and overall economic stability as a result. 

• Water Scarcity: Probably one of the most severe and least talked about impacts of climate change is its impact on our water supply. As surface water sources dry up due to lack of rainfall, underground water sources are overused and cannot be replenished fast enough. In coastal areas like the Jersey Shore, rising sea levels and overuse of groundwater can lead to saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers, making the water unsuitable for drinking or irrigation. (New Jersey just received $72 Million in federal funds to protect its shorelines against climate change.)

• Lifestyle Changes: You might be spending less time outside in the summer these days in New Jersey because of the heat. Your kids or grandkids probably haven’t been able to make a snowman over the past several winters. You might find it harder to grow flowers or other plants in the scorching sun. These are all seemingly minor things to us, but they all have major ramifications for the natural environment and wildlife.

What can you do about climate change?

The corporations causing climate change by drilling for oil, overusing resources, destroying forests and water sources, and polluting our environment have framed it as a personal responsibility, telling regular people they have to recycle, bike to work, use less paper, etc. While these are all worthwhile things to do to reduce your own personal impact on the climate, the reality is that it will not be enough.

These same corporations also donate millions to politicians to deny climate change and frame it as a political issue, causing unnecessary divisions in the population that stop us from fighting the real culprits. (They also pay the media to run advertising and other misleading content.)

The most impactful thing you can do to fight climate change is to educate yourself and others, and become active in speaking out against corporate exploitation of our environment. There are many activism groups you can join, and you can also become vocal in your local community to advocate for things like community solar projects, community gardens, and tree planting.

Here are some local activism groups in New Jersey you can check out:

• https://sustainablemontclair.org/
• https://www.montclairclimateaction.org/
• https://www.greenerbloomfield.org/
• https://neearth.org/our-programs/
• https://citizensclimatelobby.org/chapters/NJ_Montclair/
• https://www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey/gateway
• https://www.njenvironment.org/
• https://www.earthsharenj.org/local-partners/
• https://www.sustainablejersey.com/
• https://njeja.org/
• https://empowernewjersey.com/our-members/
• https://njedl.rutgers.edu/environmental_organizations