Climate change is a serious problem. Not only does climate change affect you, it affects millions of people around the world. Extreme weather, pollution, and rising sea levels damage our Earth. We must take action and start solving now. Future generations are in danger if we keep living this way. I want people to know this is a huge problem that might lead to our extinction if we don’t act now.
But how does climate change happen? Every day, people drive cars, fly airplanes, use electricity, and run factories that burn fossil fuels. These fuels release greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. This traps heat that would escape into space. As more heat gets trapped, the Earth’s temperature rises. This causes ice sheets to melt, weather to become hotter, and animals losing their habits. We are already seeing changes all over the world.
Every year we see stronger hurricanes, longer droughts, wildfires, and higher temperatures all around the world. According to NASA, the Earth’s temperature has increased by 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 1800s. By the end of the century, temperatures are expected to rise much more at a high of 2 degrees Fahrenheit to 9.7 degrees Fahrenheit. This is due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gases. This may not seem a lot but in the future scientists say this can cause serious wildfires and droughts hurting millions of people. If we don’t do something now we are letting future generations deal with more serious consequences.
Another example is sea levels rising. Due to the melting of ice, sea levels are rising, which means people who live on the coast are at risk of their homes and lives being flooded. Research at NASA shows global sea levels have risen about 3.6 inches since 1993. This caused major hurricanes and storms to go further inland damaging cities. These statistics remind us that climate change is a real threat that could affect our daily lives.
Not being able to walk in the park because of extreme heat or seeing your neighborhood being damaged by stronger storms will happen if climate change worses. These problems affect us and our future. That’s why everyone should pay attention to climate change before it’s too late
How can this be solved? This can be solved by us the people. We can start with little steps like reducing your carbon footprint. This means minimizing your food waste, travel, and reducing, reusing, and recycling. You can carpool with somebody, install solar panels, or simply plant a tree. Vote for leaders that are committed to reducing emission, who want to make the world a better place for future generations. You can join various organizations like Carbon180, Clean Airtask force, and 350.org that can fight climate change through advocating, planting trees, and research. Just by joining these organizations, you are making a difference and fighting to protect the environment. This will take years, even centuries, to completely stop the carbon dioxide. The sooner we start, the better chance we have of creating a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations.
Climate change is not a problem to be ignored. The future generations depend on the decisions we make today. I do not want the future to wonder why people knew about climate change but did nothing to change. Together, we can create a cleaner, safer, and healthier Earth for the future.
Liliana Stetler – St. Ignatius College Prep – DMSF Class of 2030
Photo Credit: Karl Egger – Pixabay