By Amelia Jewett ‘27
To no one’s total surprise, climate change has been moving fast, and its true effects have become increasingly visible throughout the last decade specifically. And now that Trump has taken office–a figure notorious for his lack of care about environmental protections– many wonder what our future holds and if we have finally reached a tipping point from which we can’t return.
The truth is, things will continue to get worse. And although we may not be able to change the past, we must put our effort into maintaining the planet’s future.
One main issue in climate change is that the majority of people brush it aside as a “lesser” issue and act as if they aren’t a part of the problem. The harmful changes occurring on our planet are happening faster than we think. Sea levels are rising, glaciers shrinking, and wildfires are becoming more and more frequent. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published a report in 2021 that found human emissions of heat-trapping gases have already warmed the climate by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit since around the 1900s.
Even with many fighting to make a change, the burning of fossil fuels at such an extreme level is what will break our planet. In order to turn global warming around, we need actions on a worldwide level. Trump has taken us out of the Paris Climate Agreement and has stated he plans to increase fossil fuel use through oil drilling. Our planet isn’t something we can simply ignore. We need to spread awareness of the cause to prevent ignorance. While a large portion of negative carbon admissions are the fault of huge world-wide companies, everybody has an impact and it can start with the small things. We can reduce our consumption waste, volunteer for organizations, shop sustainably, use electricity wisely, and advocate for change. The more and more people who take part in these actions, the greater chance we will have a positive impact for the future of our planet. The reality of government policies at the time means individuals have to work even harder to do their part and promote the advancement of environmental sustainability. We only have one earth, so let’s make sure we take care of it!
Image credit: The Union
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