Fight Climate Change Before More Lives Are Lost to Natural Disasters
379 signatures toward our 30,000 Goal
Sponsor: The Rainforest Site
Our planet is under siege from extreme weather. Act now to fight climate change and prevent the next devastating disaster.
Hurricane Helene was a stark reminder that no place is safe from the growing threat of climate change. This devastating storm, which hit North Carolina and parts of the Southeast, left a trail of destruction that no one expected. Communities once considered safe havens from climate threats were completely wiped out, leaving families stranded, homes submerged, and towns cut off from vital resources1. The toll has been catastrophic, and the cause is clear: our planet is warming, and extreme weather is becoming the new normal.
The Reality We Face
The rising temperatures caused by climate change are making hurricanes like Helene stronger and more destructive. Warmer oceans and hotter air are fueling these storms, enabling them to gain strength quickly and unleash catastrophic rainfall2. Helene brought over two feet of rain to parts of North Carolina, a region far from the coast and once thought to be shielded from such disasters3. The storm’s intensity and the subsequent flooding left hundreds missing, homes destroyed, and entire towns cut off from help.
Scientists have been sounding the alarm for years about the increasing risks of stronger storms, but action has been slow. Now, communities are paying the price. Even in the mountains of Appalachia, areas once considered safe from extreme weather are being battered by unprecedented floods and landslides4. Helene’s devastation has forced us to confront a painful truth: climate change is here, and it’s hitting harder than we anticipated.
Why We Must Act Now
Every year, the impact of climate change becomes more severe. Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and heatwaves are escalating, threatening lives and livelihoods across the globe. With each degree of warming, our atmosphere holds more moisture, making storms like Helene wetter and more destructive5. These changes aren’t happening in isolation—they are driven by human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene shows that no community is safe from climate change. Coastal cities, mountain towns, and rural areas alike are all vulnerable. We need immediate action to slow down global warming and reduce the likelihood of future disasters.
What You Can Do
We cannot wait for the next hurricane to strike. The time to act is now. By signing this pledge, you are committing to taking steps that will help mitigate the long-term effects of climate change. You are standing with communities that have been torn apart by extreme weather, and you are pushing for meaningful action to reduce the severity of future storms.
Every signature helps us build a movement that demands real change. By addressing the root causes of climate change, such as reducing fossil fuel use, promoting renewable energy, and supporting sustainable practices, we can slow the pace of global warming and protect communities from future harm.
Together, we can create a future where storms like Hurricane Helene are less frequent and less deadly. But it requires immediate, collective action.
Sign the Pledge
Don’t wait for the next disaster. Join us in taking a stand against climate change by signing the pledge now. Your voice matters, and with enough support, we can make the changes needed to protect our planet—and each other.
- Ray Sanchez, CNN (6 October 2024), "‘The power of water’: How Helene devastated western North Carolina and left communities in ruins."
- Denise Chow and Evan Bush, NBC News (1 October 2024), "The science behind how a Florida hurricane ravaged North Carolina."
- Melissa Hanson, Scientific American (4 October 2024), "Hurricane Helene Made Me a Climate Change Refugee."
- Jack Morphet and Alex Oliveira, New York Post (6 October 2024), "North Carolina mountain towns ‘forever changed’ by Hurricane Helene’s destruction,."
- Democracy Now (30 September 2024), "Fossil-Fueled Climate Change Left Out of Media Coverage of Hurricane Helene."
The Pledge:
I pledge to take actions that will help mitigate the long-term effects of climate change in order to reduce the intensity and frequency of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. As the world warms, extreme weather events are becoming more powerful and destructive, displacing communities, causing loss of life, and devastating our ecosystems. To safeguard our future and protect those most vulnerable, we must act now.
Why Action is Urgent
Climate change is not a distant threat; its impacts are already being felt globally. Rising temperatures, fueled by human activity, are intensifying storms, flooding, droughts, and heatwaves. Hurricanes like Helene are made stronger by warmer oceans and wetter air, causing unprecedented damage even in places once thought safe. Immediate action to reduce our carbon footprint, increase resilience, and promote sustainability can help lessen the severity of these disasters and prevent further global harm.
10 Actions to Mitigate Climate Change and Reduce Natural Disaster Intensity
- Reduce Fossil Fuel Consumption Choose renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. Transitioning away from fossil fuels can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, reducing global warming and the likelihood of extreme weather events.
- Support Reforestation Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Supporting reforestation efforts and planting trees helps reduce the overall concentration of greenhouse gases, combating global warming and its effects on storm intensity.
- Adopt Energy Efficiency Practices Use energy-efficient appliances and improve home insulation. Simple changes, like switching to LED bulbs and upgrading HVAC systems, reduce energy consumption and lower emissions.
- Transition to Sustainable Transportation Reduce your carbon footprint by using public transportation, biking, carpooling, or driving electric vehicles. The transportation sector is a major contributor to emissions; reducing reliance on gas-powered vehicles can help lower pollution.
- Reduce Water Usage Conserving water reduces the energy required for pumping, heating, and treating water, which in turn lowers emissions. Simple practices like fixing leaks, installing water-efficient fixtures, and using water mindfully can make a difference.
- Support Climate-Friendly Agriculture Choose locally-sourced, organic, and plant-based foods. Industrial agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and land degradation. Supporting sustainable farming practices can help cut emissions.
- Advocate for Stronger Environmental Policies Support legislation that limits carbon emissions, encourages renewable energy development, and protects ecosystems. Policy change is crucial for large-scale impact in reducing global warming.
- Minimize Waste Reduce, reuse, and recycle materials to lower the demand for energy-intensive production processes. Composting organic waste also helps to reduce methane emissions from landfills.
- Educate and Raise Awareness Spread awareness about climate change and its effects on extreme weather. Educating others can inspire collective action and lead to more people adopting sustainable habits.
- Invest in Climate Resilience Support infrastructure projects that enhance the resilience of communities against climate change. This includes flood defenses, sustainable urban planning, and disaster preparedness programs that can minimize the impact of future storms.
A Better Future for All
By committing to these actions, we can collectively slow down climate change and reduce the intensity of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. These efforts will protect lives, preserve ecosystems, and ensure a healthier, safer planet for future generations. Together, we can build a sustainable world where extreme weather no longer threatens our homes and livelihoods.
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