Climate Change: Why so serious?
By Samuel, Science and Environment Staff Writer,
Climate change is a serious problem in today’s society. It controls our weather, our climate, and even our news, portraying climate change this and climate change that. The recent change in surface temperatures around the globe has skyrocketed, from an average of around 15.7•C to about 17.4•C in recent years, truly highlighting the extent of the problem we face.
That number might not seem like a lot, but when you put it into perspective, that’s a big enough difference to cause a whole iceberg -maybe even a glacier- to melt! If you look at the polar caps from about ten years ago and compare it to now, you can see how big of a problem it has become. Global warming is the long-term rise in the average temperature (as well as the lowering predictability of Earth’s weather patterns) of the Earth’s climate system. It is a major aspect of climate change, and has been demonstrated by direct temperature measurements and by evaluating the various effects of climate change.
Judging by this table of results, that we can conclude that we are not the only species that is being damaged by global warming. Animals are being affected too. Despite climate change not being the main problem, we can see that pollution and agriculture are also main factors of it.
Pollution is one of the biggest killers connecting to climate change.
Major things can happen to help stop this climate catastrophe, simple things like use less gas and more electric. Don’t use a fossil fuel depending car. Use an electronic car. Have a cold shower instead of a warm one. These are just some of the amazing things that you can do to help.
In recent months, people have been taking to the streets in peaceful protests in a group known as the “Extinction Rebellion” all around the world from London to Australia! In these protests, hundreds and even thousands of people gather and block off many everyday transport centres such as train stations and airports that use fossil fuels and petrol. Therefore, this disrupts commuters and city life, potentially leading to more people thinking and acting about climate change, leading to praise for the group in certain circles. In return, they did what they set out to do. Get noticed. It might not sound like a lot, but in terms of news and media coverage, it’s more than what you would think.
It wasn’t until recently that scientists discovered that, when we thought that we had over 18 years left to save the planet, that number was downsized dramatically when they revealed that the reality was months! This set off hundreds of protests around the world all at once, causing a wave of destruction in terms of global and local transport. Despite this, no world leaders seem to be doing anything about the matter. However, just because the world’s governments are not doing anything, doesn’t mean that individuals are not. As of 17th February 2020, billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos (owner of Amazon and the world’s richest man) pledged to donate 10 billion dollars (USD) to climate change charities and non-profit organisations to help the cause.
Closer to home, DGS’s Chemistry teacher Mr Grazebrook states “Climate Change is a big problem in today’s society, and only the younger generations can do something about it.”
In conclusion, climate change is a serious problem and our time to save the planet is tumbling rapidly, hopefully through the potential success of individual efforts by entrepreneurs and world leaders like Jeff Bezos governments will begin to invest in and take climate change aversion seriously. It appears however that the people may have to lead the change. Every one of us can make a small but significant difference to, together, stop climate change.
WE need to help.