Can anyone actually believe it? Leonardo DiCaprio finally got to take home an Oscar at the 88th annual Academy Awards this year. While love for Leo has been evident throughout the world with many supporting his much-deserved achievement, HC wants to turn your attention to an issue of concern that we share with Leo: climate change.
Upon receiving his award, DiCaprio used his speech to discuss the urgent matter and claimed his time spent filming ‘The Revenant’ allowed him to see the direct results that climate change is having on the natural world. He stated, “Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It’s the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”
The climate of the earth has consistently changed throughout history, however, the current warming trend is of concern because it is unprecedented in the last 1,300 years and is most likely a result of human activity. The warming of the earth results in the melting of the polar ice caps, which in turn causes sea levels to rise. In the last century the global sea level rose by roughly 17cm, however, in the last decade global sea level has risen by almost double that of the last century. This is very worrying to scientists.
December 2015 was the warmest since records began, according to the Met Office. Mean temperatures were about 4 degrees Celsius above the average, and this meant an increase in the amount of rain we received This caused an abnormal amount of flooding and stormy weather that had a huge impact on the lives of many.
These life changing, natural events are on the rise and can be attributed to global warming and climate change. Scientists predicted the effects of climate change that we are seeing today, and current scientists predict that temperatures will continue to rise. NASA identifies that global warming means we will see stronger hurricanes, rising sea levels, more droughts and heat waves, as well as changes in precipitation. These consequences of global warming can have far reaching effects, and may require us to adapt our lifestyles to the changing world.
It is not only humans that are affected by global warming. Animals and plant life are suffering as a result of our mistreatment of the planet. Declines in the number of Arctic animals have been shown by researchers to be a result of the melting ice. Some woodland animals have relocated to cooler areas, however those species that cannot move may become extinct. Ecosystems will change which means not all species will survive. It is therefore imperative that humans take action to prevent further global warming for the survival of species.
The main cause of global warming is the ‘greenhouse effect’. Certain gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping, thus creating a sort of greenhouse around the earth which causes temperatures to rise. The industrial activities that we consider essential for modern civilisation have raised carbon dioxide levels dramatically in the last 150 years. Although the warming of the planet cannot be attributed to one distinct country, city, or individual, it is important that everyone makes a collective effort to reduce his or her carbon footprint.
In the UK it is compulsory for local authorities to provide households with recycling bins, although it is not compulsory for individuals to use these bins. By making full use of your recycling bins you can help reduce the amount of harmful waste contributing to greenhouse gases. Scotland has also introduced a charge for all carrier bags as an incentive for individuals to re-use their carrier bags from home. These small steps have made a difference. In 2015 the UK’s rate of recycling for household waste reached 44.9%, almost satisfying the EU’s target of 50%.
However more can be done to help reduce climate change. Reducing the use of cars by using public transport, walking or cycling can help the environment as less carbon emissions will be released into the atmosphere. Similarly, being energy efficient by switching off appliances at the wall, washing clothes at a lower temperature, or even switching to renewable power can help reduce the harm caused to the environment by your household.
Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing our planet and it is our responsibility to do everything we can to stop it.