Why aren’t we doing something about the destruction of Earth? We see all the effects, yet we still decide to do nothing about it. It’s time for a change, and you can be a part of that change.
“Human influences are the number one cause of global warming, especially the carbon pollution we cause by burning fossil fuels and the pollution capture we prevent by destroying forests.” – NRDC. We constantly do this to meet our standards of life, not realizing what we are doing—every decade since the 1960s has averaged hotter than the previous decade. Climate experts believe the world we live in will be at least 5.7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than time in 1850-1900, by 2100. “This warming is altering the earth’s climate system, including its land, atmosphere, oceans, and ice, in far-reaching ways.” – NRDC.
More frequent, severe weather occurrences, such as droughts and storms, can directly cause harm to animals, and even people’s livelihood. Polar bears, for instance, rely on sea ice in their way of life. They are starting to starve because they use the sea ice to hunt, and without it, they are forced onto land where they are food deprived. Even their main source of prey, seals, suffer from the loss of ice because they need the ice to raise their young. “ Wildfires, a longstanding and frequent threat to California, are expected to increase in intensity and frequency due to climate change” – EPA. These wildfires produce a range of harmful air pollutants, like cancer-causing pollutants. They even cause other health problems like respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms.
You may think all of these problems are out of your expertise and that you can’t do anything, but really, the little things you do can make a difference. A simple way you can help is by carpooling, transportation, or even biking or walking. No matter what you decide to do, you are still helping by having fewer cars on the road. By using renewable energy, or clean energy, you can also make a difference. Solar power is a source of renewable, and not only does it help, but it is also one of the cheapest sources of energy, so you’re saving money! It’s a win-win for everyone!
If you can’t afford solar panels or are not willing to start driving your car less, there are still ways to help. You can turn off lights and appliances when you are not using them, you can buy a water-efficent shower head, and recycle more. You can even plant trees, and let nature run its course. If you still aren’t willing to do any of these, then I don’t know what to say. You are a part of the problem when you don’t have to be.
If you think climate change isn’t a serious problem, then you are wrong. Climate activists Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd, along with their team, designed and created a climate clock, which is now on display in New York City. “The Clock’s Deadline tells us that, at current rates of greenhouse gas emissions, we have less than eight years left in our global “carbon budget” that gives two-thirds chance of staying under the critical threshold of 1.5°C of global warming.” – climateclock.world. Even though 1.5°C of warming doesn’t seem like much, it actually produces a lot of thermal energy. This means evaporation will increase substantially, followed by precipitation and humidity. This can lead to more flooding, and the sea level will rise, putting more than 4 million people along the coastline of the U.S. at risk.
Hopefully, I was able to help you learn something new, and possibly even change your mind on climate change and its seriousness. This should not be taken lightly. Don’t be the person that ignores this, because change is needed.
Abeyod Dawit
Loyola Academy – DMSF Class of 2026
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay