Rising sea levels, increased frequency of flooding, dangerous storms, landslides, heat waves, droughts, coral bleaching, and ocean acidification — these are the consequences of global climate change that I’d been taught about in school since primary level. However, I never learned that we, humans, are actually the ones who are inflicting this harm onto Mother Earth and to the other human beings we share this planet with.

Despite the seemingly deafening calls from people around the world for more ambitious and equitable climate action, the international community can’t seem to find consensus on how to fully address climate change.

Realizing the urgency of the climate and environmental issues that the world is facing, it is very important for us to walk the talk, and to take every single action we can before it is too late.

Since I started with Tzu Chi, I learned about the environmental problems caused by stock raised for meat. I became an advocate with people I know and meet to becoming a vegetarian.

We’ve heard it all before. Annual wildfires in California. Extreme snowstorms on the East Coast. Tropical storms after tropical storms devastating coastal regions. Flooding and droughts worldwide.