Every summer I peer suspiciously at the sun, not only because looking directly at it would sear my retinas, but also because it feels like it is coming closer. Every year seems hotter than the one before, and now that I’ve been around for a few decades, I can say with some authority that this feeling is widely confirmed by the increasing amount of sunscreen I need every year.
The climate of our home planet is changing, and while it is getting less predictable, it is getting progressively warmer. As we dip our toes in the first waves of summer, this is becoming more relevant than ever before.
Lasciate Ogni Speranza o Voi Ch’entrate
A phrase uttered by the oft maligned and more often quoted Dante seems increasingly apropos with every passing year. It seems that despite all the meetings, conferences, and warnings, we keep sliding towards an increasingly warmer planet, with ever more erratic weather patterns. The outlook makes for an uneasy enjoyment of the summer rays, with a curious intrusive though making its way through the throng of beaches, umbrellas, drinks, and seafood; will it be safe to sit outside in the sun next year? What about the one after that? When will we reach the tipping point beyond which the ratio of sunscreen to human would make us all look like puddles of lotion on the beach?
Fortunately, humans are ingenious creatures, and while we tend seem to have an uncanny knack for creating problems and paint our collective selves into a corner, we have also evolved the ability to jump out of that corner when we absolutely have no other choice.
A Ray of Hope
Fortunately, and after years (decades?) of scientists berating everyone about the repercussions of climate change the progressive warming of the planet, some steps are being taken. There are still pockets of resistance to the idea of fighting climate change, but they are losing steam, mostly because it is becoming difficult to argue against climate change while you are slick with sweat in the middle of March as a dust tornado rips through the countryside, but also because it is becoming increasingly economically feasible to adopt climate friendly policies.
Beyond the politics and the associated global dynamics, it is comforting to remember that success in dealing with climate related globally reaching problems is not unprecedented. We have, collectively, taken measures before to restore the once rapidly expanding hole in the ozone. Through the 1987 Montreal protocol we phased out substances that damage the ozone which is now on track to become restored within the coming decade and a half. So, when push comes to shove, we’ve shown that we can make change happen.
Yes… And?
Well, what does this all mean for you as you prepare for the coming summer? Well, the next Climate Summit will be held in November, well after summer so even if you are involved in the preparation for that conference, you can enjoy the summer and what it has to offer. Just take a couple of precautions while you do so.
First of all, don’t underestimate the sun. it may seem like something that goes without saying, but it is a mistake we all make. We step outside, to the beach, for a walk, or just an afternoon coffee in an outdoor restaurant without protecting our skin. Its just an hour, we say, lets leave the screen for the longer exposure or for when we show off our summer bodies (that’s just our winter bodies in the summer, not that we actually used that gym subscription or anything). However, it’s just an hour today, and another hour tomorrow, and another couple of hours the day after, each exposure caressing your skin a little more than the one before.
Take the steps you need to make sure that when the rays of the sun meet your skin, they don’t leave unwanted marks. The sun is like the over enthusiastic friend who has a problem with boundaries, and the sunscreen you use is the boundary that you set for that relationship.
Water on the other hand is your friend. Hydrate. Hydrate well, hydrate constantly, especially if you will be exerting yourself, whether that activity is sports, adventure, or simple swimming in the salty sea. Always keep water on you or near you. A simple bottle by your side, from which you sip throughout the day can do wonders. Whether you’re on a leisurely walk or engaging in more vigorous exercise, the best place for your water is inside you.
Get Your Vitamin D
All that being said, this is no excuse to hide from the sun and spend the summer indoors staring at a screen; you do that enough the rest of the year. Take your precautions, and step out of the shade, don your stylish shades, your comfortable shorts, t-shirts and indulge the joys of the outdoors. Get the sand between your toes and keep the sun out of your eyes. Enjoy the summer but remember that the next one may be hotter. Keep a thought on the changing climate but don’t let it eclipse your joy. Explore what you can do on an individual level to make a difference, and you may be surprised at how much of an impact you and your community can have.
You can follow Mohammed El Soukkary’s culinary adventures at @Diplocook on Instagram. Photo by Jean-Philippe Delberghe on Unsplash.
