The current climate crisis is an urgent issue, prompting various entities to take action to mitigate global warming, deforestation, and other harmful phenomena affecting the planet.
October 24 is recognized as the International Day of Climate Action. According to ECOlogical Calendar, in 2009, the movement called 350 initiated the first International Day of Climate Action on this date.
The goal was to influence delegates attending the December 2009 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) and advocate for a world powered by just and accessible renewable energy.
The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) began on October 21, 2024.
Leading experts in biodiversity, marine ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, and traditional knowledge are gathering to discuss ways to sustain life on Earth and explore how the Convention on Biological Diversity can support both nature and human well-being.
COP16 will continue until November 1 in Cali, Colombia. Colombian leaders emphasize that this event aims to convey Latin America’s commitment to climate action and the importance of protecting life.
In the most recent “Environmental Impact and Climate Change” issue of Hispanic Engineer magazine, experts were interviewed, including Alejandro Moreno, the associate principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Previously, he served as the deputy assistant secretary for renewable energy and as the director of the Water Power Technologies Office. Moreno has also worked in the energy divisions of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, where he designed and led regulatory reform programs to encourage investment in clean energy and rural electrification.
During his graduate studies, Moreno worked as a scuba diving instructor, providing him with firsthand exposure to the degradation of coral reefs.
“I was interested in reducing the overall environmental harm caused by energy generation, including climate issues,” Moreno stated. “It’s essential to understand how we, as a society, can meet our economic and social needs while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the environment. This way, we can enjoy it with our children and grandchildren.”
Moreno did most of his scuba diving in California, where he described the degradation of kelp forests as “devastatingly sad.”
He explained, “The way the light comes through the kelp and the level of nutrient-rich habitat they provide support a diverse range of aquatic species. This creates incredibly rich marine ecosystems throughout California and the West Coast. As those kelp forests shrink, essential habitats for natural diversity are lost.”
According to the Sierra Club Pennsylvania, Northern California’s kelp forests are declining due to unusual and drastic ocean warming and sea star wasting disease, which is killing the sunflower sea star, the main predator of sea urchins.
With this predator dying out, the sea urchin population is growing unchecked. Sea urchins feed on kelp, leading to a further decrease in kelp forests. While sea otters also feed on sea urchins, their population is declining due to overhunting.
President Joe Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement and set a course for the U.S. to address the climate crisis both at home and abroad, aiming for a net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is leading the federal government’s efforts to decarbonize the power sector by conducting research and advancing renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar power.
According to the Pew Research Center, about 42 percent of adults believe that tackling climate change should be a top priority for Biden and Congress.
The consensus among many scientists is that the climate crisis is driven by human activities, causing the displacement of entire communities worldwide. Moreno noted that it may even lead to the displacement of entire countries, such as small island nations in the Pacific.
“For me personally, I am deeply motivated by the impact of climate change on people, particularly the prospect of communities and even entire countries being displaced. Individuals risk losing the physical touchpoints in their communities that matter to them, as well as access to clean water, arable land, and affordable food,” Moreno said.
National Geographic states that the climate crisis is caused by several human activities, including overpopulation, pollution, the burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation.
“These are things we have taken for granted—foundations of a prosperous and peaceful society,” Moreno commented. “The thought of losing access to them because of climate change is, frankly, terrifying.”
Moreno emphasizes that there are many ways for people to help the planet heal. He encourages young people to pursue careers in engineering, science, and other fields that allow them to contribute to combating climate change.
“For students, studying engineering, science, or social sciences—including behavioral science—can lead to technological development and the informed decisions we need to achieve a future powered by clean, renewable energy,” he said.
Moreno also encourages people to get involved in local and state government politics to make their voices heard on issues impacting everyone and the planet.
Participating in the political process allows individuals to influence policies and practices aimed at reducing emissions and creating sustainable energy infrastructure.
“I would also recommend getting involved in your local community,” Moreno said. “Many decisions regarding energy and energy generation occur at the local level.”
Read the full interview in Hispanic Engineer magazine.
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