Discussions of Michael Méndez in Climate Change from the Streets

Climate Change from the Streets
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October 5, 2022
Understanding the importance of grassroots efforts against climate change is essential for everyone. It allows them to appreciate better the different dynamics necessary for achieving the various goals for a sustainable future. Accordingly, in the book by Mendez entitled Climate Change from the Streets, he noted the importance of localized coordinated efforts and individual contributions in the fight against Climate Change. In this article, the discussions made by the author will be discussed in greater detail. 
Carbon Reductionism and Change from the Streets
           Carbon reductionism has been one of the most utilized efforts in the fight against climate change. Carbon reductionism aims to reduce humankind's overall carbon (CO2) footprint using related efforts like consumer reduction, recycling, and other sustainable sources. One of the examples noted by Mendez is carbon reduction efforts through AB 32 or the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (p.4). This bill introduced proven large-scale protocols like established carbon caps and limits to delay the onset of global warming and CO2 change. Aside from this, intergovernmental and international panels for sustainable protocols were then established to improve the application and the results of these efforts. However, as Mendez said, Carbon Reductionism, although effective at some point, is "mostly myopic in its vision" (p. 20). For one, this is because Climate Reductionism is still based on the framework of current economic models, which only measure greenhouse emissions based on a year-to-year approach.
           New approaches such as Climate Change from the Streets were used to address the gaps in this approach. As compared to highly technical approaches that still underpin the current economic model, Climate Change from the Streets is based on the idea of "equity and justice… or one that promotes the idea of participatory, embodied, and experimental TWO methods in the development of climate policy" (p.20). This includes evaluating and prioritizing local communities near the polluting sources, which helps those at most significant risk, rather than focusing on a highly technical approach, which places the marginalized at risk. Accordingly, this offers a break from the traditional modes wherein climate change and our capacity to address it is merely based on objectiv...