Earbuds locked in place, backpack tightly secured, and uppity walk fully equipped, I've happily strolled on campus the past days soaking in the sunshine, embellished with the widest grin. As I journey from class to class the seemingly ubiquitous light in Seattle has shifted the normalities of students and has evoked a noticeably positive response in the general atmosphere. If I were to quantify the comments on the sun, I would surely reach a high maximum quota, as everywhere I look radiance glistens off of brick buildings and tree-lined paths. I know personally what good the sunshine can do on the mental health of students, many of whom have come to accept monotone skies of grey and clouds eager to drench. The inner environmentalist in me, however, is also noticing that the high temperatures and reduced rainfall clearly indicate a certain pressing phenomenon--one that is too quickly dismissed and forgotten.
Climate Change. With these two words transcribed I recognize the diverse connotative effect they pose on an audience comprised of those that believe in its proven existence, those that still disregard the facts, and those that accept its prevalence, yet also conveniently neglect that all this luminosity has disguised rising global temperatures.
Seattle surface temperatures, though increasing at a rate slower than its neighbor states, have been growing incrementally in this current decade. According to an article in The Seattle Times, the record highs have noticeably transpired within these last years, evident that climate change is rapidly impacting society.
The tremendous enormity of data clearly indicates, not merely suggests, that the mediums through which climate change seaps within our natural systems are legitimate concerns. With even elementary knowledge of how environmental processes operate, one could understand why exactly the issue of climate change could compromise the life humanity has been socialized to know.
When children learn about the Arctic they typically visualize a kingdom of ice caps, fortified and resilient. The cyclical nature of melting ice, however, as zeroing ice coverage reduces the albedo that causes warmer surface temperatures to melt more ice, would completely alter the means through which future posterity learns about biomes.
In this way, narrowing back to my blissful, rainless march along the same sidewalks that commonly would be wet this time of year, I could examine a personal relation between the Earth and myself. I acknowledge that temperature differences of minute quantity are not felt so intensely, but even taking notice that changing atmospheres do impact you in some way or another can aid a movement toward actively taking initiative about climate change.
What continuously boggles me is the fact that of our country has an unmitigated surge in carbon emissions, yet can resume to expel resources and money into processes that further deteriorate the conditions of our planet—combusting fossil fuels and drilling natural gas that in isolation are not even financially feasible. In a November 2018 press release by Carbon Tracker the data specifically indicates the economic inferiority of running coal power plants, as 96% of these sites will cost significantly more than forming new reusables by 2030. Integrating solar energy in homes is also proven to be cheaper over time, as corporate electrical companies overcharge and monopolize energy sources.
Governor Jay Inslee and a panelist of former military leaders came to UW today to discuss climate change and answer questions directly related. Inslee powerfully stated that if the wildfires in California had been an act of terrorism, rather than precipitated by drier winds and a lack of humidity, the nation would have reacted with absolute immediacy. With the current presidential administration's irrational governance of climate change, hope currently remains only within the efforts of the general populace, which is why we cannot forget.
By promoting sustainable living styles in our communities, seeking to reduce waste and adopt mindful habits, while supporting local initiatives for cleaner energy, small scale acts can elicit potency. It is our duty, therefore, to truly take advantage of every extra sunny day to have the discussion about climate change, and continue to readjust our efforts in inhibiting the silent killer.
