Climate Change: Get Involved

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Climate Change: An Introduction

It is important to establish what climate change entails, from the affect it has on our planet and how we humans, are perpetuating it. Climate change is a term that has a lot of controversy in the modern, media driven, age. Many media and news outlets have conflicting opinions and information surrounding the greatest issue of our generation. Climate change is the term used to describe the rapid changing of Earth’s climate through a general warming pattern. These extremely rapid changes are almost unprecedented in human history, the only exception being 150,000 years ago during the last ice age. So, how does this happen?

Humans and their machines, everyday and every year, are releasing billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This gas is very effective at trapping heat in our atmosphere which allows sunlight to come in but not to leave, causing a general warming pattern worldwide. In addition to machines, cattle production has also contributed vast amounts of methane production which is many times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat in our atmosphere. These combine to cause the Earth to heat up, our oceans and atmosphere are alarmingly warmer on average than they have been in recorded history.

So why is this an issue? The warming pattern is not always represented in just having warmer temperatures. More heat in our oceans and atmosphere causes high pressure weather systems to occur more frequently. That means exponentially more frequent and stronger weather systems such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In addition to these life-taking storms, warmer oceans means melting ice caps. This causes sea levels to rise and millions of coastal dwellers will have to relocate or drown, causing massive problems for inland economies.

Another major issue is the impact of entire regions having their climate shifted in ways that life cannot adapt to. Evolution and adaptation takes millions of years but climate change is going to shift habitats completely in our lifetimes. That means millions of animals and thousands of species will die off as they cannot adapt in time to changing environment. This is evident already in the ocean where coral reefs are dying due to warmer ocean temperatures and the thousands of species that depend on them are dying.

So we know climate change is an issue. So what can we do about it! We can take action! We can vote, live sustainably, and educate ourselves in order to help stop the biggest problem of our life times. So, let’s get together and make a difference!

Education!

One of the most powerful tools that any modern society has is the ability to educate. The education of children and adults alike is empowering and progressive. Solving the issues of climate change will not be easy, but they will be much easier if people come together, if they are unified in their beliefs. Many people worldwide do not know or simply do not believe that climate change is real. There is enough of the population, politicians included (and perhaps the most influential of people) that are climate change deniers or are ignorant to the facts we face. That is why it is extremely important to educate ourselves about the facts. We must mandate education for kids across the globe so that they can grow up with the facts and will be more prepared against and cognizant of the issue of climate change.

Adults are also susceptible to being uneducated or misled. News media and social media are very effective at misguiding rational adults into believing false information. We must prioritize fact checking and factual information on news outlets and media outlets. Adults can still benefit from education and it is our responsibility to take care of the Earth, just as it was our parents and it will be for our children.

Vote!

One of the most effective ways you can contribute to stopping climate change is to use your right to vote. There are many politicians and policy makers that do not support the science behind climate change and thus are taking no action to prevent or slow its course. This is a grave mistake as our planet can and will deteriorate into an inhospitable graveyard. Without immediate action, irreparable damage will continue to happen and our climate will change past the point of no return. That is why you must vote!

Citizens of the United States of America have the unalienable right to vote and it is one of our most powerful tools. We can choose the policy makers and leaders that can shape our country’s response to climate change. We can also vote on legislation that will hold large corporations accountable for their carbon footprint, with laws such as the Carbon Tax. If we do not limit or completely stop the abhorrent pollution practices of government and private institutions alike, then there is no hope to stopping climate change. So get out and VOTE!

Sustainable Living

There are many ways that we can contribute to putting an end to climate change. One of the most notable ways that we as individuals can contribute is through leading sustainable life styles. Many of us today are not aware of our carbon footprints nor do we acknowledge all that we individually do to contribute to the issue of climate change. There are actions and steps that one can take in order to make a positive difference towards reducing our energy consumption and pollution levels. The ways that we contribute to climate change is through our over-use of energy. Some of the practices that we engage in that are harmful to the environment and our planet are eating red meat, wasting food, and driving billions of polluting vehicles.

Actions that one can take in order to reduce these harmful activities are simply eating less red meat, engaging in public transportation or carpooling whenever possible, and also buying only what you can eat and use. The cattle industry is responsible for massive amounts of methane emission which are many times more effective than carbon at trapping heat in our atmosphere. By limiting our consumption, the cattle industry will slow down and will not be as harmful. Additionally, using public transportation, carpooling, or simply walking or riding a bike to work will help reduce your carbon footprint and if adopted by many, will make a drastic impact on how much carbon our auto industry releases. Lastly, our general waste of resources like food and plastic contribute to killing marine species and also create more carbon emissions. If we reuse what we have instead of making more of it, then we can cut down on pollution and waste that can end up hurting our environment.