The Reality of Climate Change

Recently, talk of climate change has been in the mouths of environmentalists, teens, and even celebrities. Despite this increase of interest in climate change, when the topic is brought up there are those who get fired up and ready for a debate and those who could simply care less, claiming ignorance to the problem. Climate change to put it simply occurs when the Earths surface heats up and we get warmer climate due to the increase of heat entering Earth (Kaita).

A while back, two scientists by the name of Noah Diffenbaugh and Chris Field showed that climate change is now occurring ten times faster than at any other time in the past 65 million years. This can result in obvious consequences for our environment as well as some surprising ones for human activity (Kaita). Climate change may seem like a big, old myth that’s been passed on for generations, but despite it all there is always a way to better the earth and avoid anything that may result in harmful consequences.

pixabay.com

The Reality of Scientific Evidence

Ken Caldeira, a journalist for Scientific American, records his observations, “as predicted there has been more warming over land than over the oceans, more at the poles than the equator, more in winter than in summer and more at night than at day. Extreme downpours have become more common. In the Arctic, ice and snow cover less area, and methane-rich permafrost soils are beginning to melt. Weather is getting weirder, with storms fueled by the additional heat” (Caldeira 78).

This observation clearly points in the direction of climate change and how it seems to be taking place right now. The way climate works is, heat entering the Earth comes from the sun and then greenhouses gases allow the atmosphere to absorb this heat which is released by the Earth’s surface. All of these steps are what keeps our climate in check, however, for the past few decades, the amount of greenhouses in Earth’s atmosphere has been increasing due to the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, a gas which aids in heating up the Earth.

Dr. Tapio Schneider discusses how the Carbon Dioxide concentrations have risen from 315 parts per million to 385 ppm since 1950. It’s important to remember that the heating of the earth not only holds consequences on the environment, but also our health. Exposure to health hazards related to climate change affects different people and different communities to different degrees (Balbus, Crimmins, Gamble 25). Climate change has been obvious through the world and has already started taking effect on the environment as well as its people causing an increase in heat-related illness. Though there are those who can turn their heads at this significant change in the Earth and ignore it the fact is that there is a change.

With an unstoppable burning of fossil fuels and an increase in carbon dioxide, heat being let into the Earth is not halting. We as humans are a part of the cause and it is only us who are able to make it less threatening. Just recycling alone will not stop the abundance of heat making its way to Earth, but far more drastic measures need to be made such as putting a stop to pollution and carbon dioxide release.

The Opposition

Most opposition and ignorance on climate change comes from economists. From the economists’ perspective, climate change is simply not big or bad enough to do anything. They are not ignorant to the fact that the Earth is heating up, but ignorant to the fact that this is a serious problem occurring at an alarming rate. They are simply pushing the problem back as it continues to get worse. These economists believe they can jump on board to save the Earth when things have gotten to the worst of worse, however by then the condition of the atmosphere will probably be beyond repair. Economists can’t keep turning a blind eye to the ever-growing issue at hand, but instead, they can use their resources to further understand the problem and help before it is too late.

It’s Time To Protect Our Home

This rapid increase in heat can only be resolved with some help of the cause, humans. Humans aiding in the destruction of Earth are the only ones who can stop it. Economists pushing back their help only worsens the problem, whereas that extended amount of time can be used to create innovative ideas on how to solve the problem. Those in acceptance of climate change being a real problem needed to be dealt with right now have to advocate for a change which will lead to a better tomorrow.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, believers of climate change, provide multiple ways on how to prevent climate change and keep the Earth from suffering. No big changes need to be made if everyone brings the problem of climate change to the forefront of their minds and aids in saving the Earth before it becomes too late. After all this planet is our home, it has givens so much to us so it’s time we give back.