Let’s Talk About…Climate Change

As we edge past the corner of 2021, climate changes are rapidly chipping away at the integrity of the planet we call home. Evidence to support the existence of climate change is unequivocal; from global temperature rise to sinking ice sheets, scientists are making note of it all, as well as how living things on Earth are being affected by it. Though many argue that the urgency surrounding climate control is foolish because it is caused by natural processes, they are incorrect. Climate change happens due to a combination of both anthropogenic and natural factors, but research shows that human activity starting in the mid-21st century has significantly increased the rate at which these natural changes are occurring. 

The greenhouse effect is the natural warming of Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor are reradiated skyward, and because they are excellent absorbers of radiation, provide Earth with enough warmth to sustain human life. Human activities that produce things like fossil fuel emissions have drastically increased the pace at which carbon dioxide rises into the air. In accordance with climate models, scientists predict that temperatures are likely to increase by 5 degrees Celsius by the 2100. If this is not addressed and regulations are not put into place, the Arctic could become ice-free, sea levels have the potential to rise 1-8 feet, more droughts and heatwaves will occur, and hurricanes will become much stronger.

It would be easy to convince ourselves that there is no point in combating climate change, that we are already too far gone to undo the damages, but the only thing that decides if we’re too far gone is the actions we take today. As a country, the United States needs to enact a plan that will set us on the path to decreasing our greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. In 2018, we produced the second largest amount of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases: 5.4 billion metric tons. The first change our country needs to make would be to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, which we formally left in November of 2020. Globally, all countries need to work to cut emissions in order to avoid the worst consequences. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, we would need to stop deforestation, find a means of using a newer, more efficient transportation system, and drastically alter the way we use and produce electricity.

We cannot stop climate change, but we can slow it. We can give our planet and future generations of life a chance of survival, but only if all countries take part. Taking action in the United States would help significantly in the reduction of carbon emissions; however, it is the combined efforts from many–if not all–that will give us a fighting chance at saving our world from the destruction we have brought upon it. 

 

Resources:

https://climate.nasa.gov/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_the_United_States 

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/03/930312701/u-s-officially-leaving-paris-climate-agreement 

https://www.ucsusa.org/climate/solutions

Author: Sydney Knotts

“A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it.” — Roald Dahl

One thought on “Let’s Talk About…Climate Change”

  1. Omg yes this is such a message that needs to be spread more, thank you for taking the time to write an educated piece on the topic

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