Climate change has been a huge topic of concern for scientists in the past few decades. We are seeing rising temperatures, massive storms, changing landscape, loss of species and humans being displaced from their homes. Something big has happened in the environmental world, and it is not for the better. We have officially reached our carbon tipping point. Scientists stated that if we stayed at around 350 ppm (parts per million), we would stay “safe.” However, as of a couple weeks ago we officially reach 400 ppm, and there is no going back anytime soon if ever. Scientists have been warning the government and general public that if our behaviors don’t change, we are in for some interesting times.
The last time we saw numbers like this were 4.5 million years ago, before people even existed. So this will be the first time human beings have experienced the planet in this condition. Now, you’re probably asking why can’t we simply reverse back to 350 ppm or less? Well the fact is that carbon takes an immense amount of time to leave our atmosphere, so if we ever were to get back to 350 ppm, it would take a significant change in our behavior as well as a significant amount of time.
So what could happen to our planet now? Well certainly nothing pleasant. To start off, we are going to see some serious wildlife endangerment and extinction. The Nature Conservancy predicts that one fourth of the Earth’s species could be on their way to extinction by 2050. Through species dying off, we will see some significant food chain disruption. With species dying where they shouldn’t, and thriving where they shouldn’t, we will see some serious changes in not only species' survival, but the physical appearance of the ecosystems.
Next up, rising sea levels. Now this is something we have heard about since the public became aware of climate change, but now we will see significant changes. By 2100, about 13 million people in the US are expected to lose their homes due to rising sea levels. Along with this we will begin to see ocean acidification and coral bleaching. The ocean is constantly absorbing all this excess CO2 which is causing the pH to rise , and this is wiping out huge portions of marine ecosystems. This also causes coral bleaching, which not only takes away the beauty of these coral reefs, but is an actual sign of the coral dying.
This leaves us with the question of this: what is to be done? Are we now left in a hopeless state? Are we in the final days of humanity? Not if we make a change and make a change now. Scientists around the globe are finding new ways to harvest food, create clean energy, inform the public on recycling and so on. The army has even developed a truck that is hydrogen powered and releases no emissions.
Change is possible, saving the planet is possible, but we all need to get involved. Bring a reusable bag to the grocery store, buy a reusable water bottle, buy local produce, cut down on meat consumption, find ways to support your local wildlife, join a climate march or an environmental group, call your government officials, do research! The possibilities are endless. It may not seem as though one person can make a difference, but haven’t most movements started with one and then turned into many? It is during times like these when I think back to a quote from my favorite childhood novel:
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better,
It’s not.”
-"The Lorax"
