Since Earth Day is right around the corner, April 22, I’m just going to get right in and say it: the Earth is dying. In October 2018, the IPCC came out with a report that said that the Earth is heating up, reaching almost 1.5℃ due to global warming— and we basically have until 2030, only 11 years, until the damage we have done is irreversible. The sad part about this is that some people seem to not understand how serious this problem is.
The emission of fossil fuels by big factories is one of the main causes of Global Warming
What exactly is the difference between Climate Change and Global Warming?
Climate Change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time, and global warming is a part of it. The effects of climate change includes the melting of the glaciers, higher sea levels, species going extinct, and drastic weather effects such as heat waves, droughts and scarcity.
Global Warming is a long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth‘s climate. The cause of this is greenhouse gas emissions — and humans are the ones that emit the most. Greenhouse gases include fossil fuels that are released from cars and factories, carbon dioxide released by humans, methane that is released mainly from landfills and the agriculture industry, nitrous oxide released from fertilizers, and deforestation.
The icebergs in Antarctica melting
Why should we care about this crisis?
Probably because you want to have a planet to live on. If we don’t stop it, or at least try to reduce it, the severe and drastic weather changes I just mentioned will only get worse. Not only will certain animal species go extinct, as so many already have, but so will the human race. If we don’t take action now, the damage will be irreversible.
How can we help?
Luckily, we still have some time left. There are basically 3 essential things we need to do:
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Vote for politicians that believe in climate change and support legislation to address it
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Eat less meat and waste less food. As I said, the agriculture industry is one of the main industries that emit greenhouse gases and is also one of the causes of deforestation.
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Become more sustainable — be aware of your resource consumption and reducing unnecessary waste. Some ways you can do that is by reducing the amount of energy you use at home, recycling, and walking or using public transportation rather than using a car.
Here’s a chart that covers the main areas in which we can improve.
As I said, the Earth is dying and we’re the only ones that can stop it. So please, consider this article next time you leave the house if you want this planet to have a future.