Those in the global north are the biggest drivers behind climate change, from high amounts of air travel to the burning of fossil fuels and waste production. Yet, those in the global south bear the biggest burden of climate change, expereincing extreme weather events and increased natural disasters, with their infrastructure unable to cope with such experiences. This is known as the inequity of burden, where those creating the issue do not experience the consequences, that is, until now. The recent and ongoing fires in Los Angeles have destroyed over 2,000 houses, many of which were owned by celebrities.
Natural disasters have been recorded for decades, and we have recently been seeing significantly more due to the acceleration of climate change. It was only a matter of time before it hit those in a place of influence. Whilst it is harrowing to lose your home and belongings, these celebrities have the economic stability to rebuild what was lost and make sure it’s built to withstand further extreme events.
Extreme events like wild fires are the Earth’s way of telling us it cannot cope any longer, the average carbon footprint for a UK citizen is approximately 12 tons of CO2 annually, compared to that of a celebrity, which is 3,376 tons of CO2 annually. Celebrities are in a position to use their platform for the greater good, with millions of followers who are influenced by their actions. A handful of stars have previously shown their concern for the planet and adapted their practices to reduce their environmental and social impacts, such as Billie Eilish and Chris Martin, but that alone is not enough to save our world. Collective, transformative action is needed, and it’s needed now.
One celebrity described the fires as something out of a movie. These types of events are awful to experience and are only going to increase in frequency and severity. The United States is among those most equipped to deal with climate change, imagine living in an area least able to fight these challenges. What is being experienced in LA is a regular occurrence for many people, except they don’t get the same media coverage, they don’t receive the same support, and they don’t have anywhere to flee. Yet, they’re left to deal with the consequences of our actions time after time. Climate change isn’t selective, we are.
I praise those risking their life to save others and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones
Not My Monkey 