ESSAY 3

Bradley Virden

Dr. Curtis-Cummins

First Year Comp.

16 November, 2018

Our world as we know it isn't the same earth as it was 10 years ago. We have put so many pollutants in our water sources, we have raised our surface temperature by giving off emissions, and we are constantly changing the landscape of the earth, harming wildlife and ecosystems. Where does it end? What do we need to do to save our earth? Society as a whole needs to start making drastic changes if we want to make our only Earth sustain. Man Made Climate change is continuing to harm the Earth from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the ozone layer.

I became particularly conscious of the importance of our environment when I spent 95 days backpacking a part of the Pacific Crest Trail in Bend, Oregon. I Find it very important to take care of the planet we live on and not take it for granted. Being out in the woods allowed me to connect to nature on a different level. It made me realize that we only have one earth and one life. However, our daily lives actually wreck the planet that has given us the ability to live in the first place- ironic, isn’t it? I try my best to keep my carbon footprint at its lowest; I turn off lights when they are unneeded, I make sure the tv is off before I leave, I take showers under ten minutes, and I make sure to recycle as much as I can. I chose the topic of climate change because it is a very controversial topic, and the outcomes of it could be catastrophic if we do not put our heads down and fix this problem. It isn’t going to take just scientists to fix this. It will take everyone’s efforts to make a difference.

Many people argue that climate change is “fake”, or that it doesn’t really have an impact on our lives. However, scientists are becoming exasperated by this ignorance that so many people have on the environment.there is extensive research that proves that global warming is indeed a real thing that deserves immediate attention. For example, since the 19th century, the temperature has raised 1.62 degrees fahrenheit. This may not seem like a lot, but to put this into perspective, heat waves are lasting longer, rain storms are becoming more intense, sea levels are heightening, coral reefs are depleting, and crops are dying. Also, according to Nasa, since the 70’s, 2,300 feet of the oceans depth has warmed by .4 degrees fahrenheit as the sea levels have risen by approximately 16 inches over the past two decades. Ice and glaciers continue to melt, putting animals such as polar bears at serious risk for survival, also this could result in coastal flooding, which could ruin the habitats for various species of animals. From 1993 to 2016, Antarctica has lost 199 billion tons of ice per year, and this number has tripled in the past decade. So why is all of this happening? In short, it is mainly caused by increase of carbon dioxide in the air and other emissions made by humans that are constantly polluting the atmosphere.

Recently, I conducted a survey in which I asked two questions about global warming/climate change. The first question I asked was “Do you Believe in Global Warming?” As I analyzed the results of the survey, I noticed that everyone believes in man-made global warming. An interviewee made an amazing point that “as we have industrialized this earth at exponential levels, we have put more pollutants into the air, which studies have shown that doing so, speeds up the rate of global warming.” I agree with what he says. For as long as I have been alive, the temperatures in each of the seasons are setting records pretty much every year. I believe that it is due cars, buildings, and deforestation. All of which, humans are the primary cause of. The second question that I asked was, “What could you do to help stop man made global warming?” The most prominent suggestions amongst the interviewees included: reusing water bottles, recycling, eating less beef, driving electric cars, and reducing waste by using compostable and biodegradable materials. Doing All of these follows the common Reduce, Reuse, Recycle slogan.

This Earth cannot save ourselves. Us as humans, being the most dominant species in the ecosystem, we have a duty to take care of the earth and be conscious of the harm we do to the world. We have the science and knowledge on it, so why not implement and spread awareness of this serious, dire topic? I hope that in the future, we are able to find new ways to produce and use material in ways that are eco-friendly. I hope that in the future, we are able to have widespread awareness where reusing plastics, composting, and recycling becomes norms for the majority of society. I hope that in the future, humankind is able to give our sacred earth the justice and respect it deserves.

Works cited:

1. “Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?” NASA, NASA, 21 Sept. 2018, climate.nasa.gov/evidence/.

2. Denchak, Melissa. “How You Can Stop Global Warming.” NRDC, 30 Oct. 2018, www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming.

3. “Global Warming Solutions.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 18 Jan. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-solutions/.

4. “Why a Half-Degree Temperature Rise Is a Big Deal – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.” NASA, NASA, 1 July 2016, climate.nasa.gov/news/2458/why-a-half-degree-temperature-rise-is-a-big-deal/.