What with discussions on climate change, environmental policy, and economics running through our media, we’ve lost sight of the facts. Rarely do we see any scientists or professors coming to talk on ABC, Fox News, or other platforms. Instead, we see our president, Donald J. Trump, speaking about the environment as if he had studied it in depth. Truly, he has only a narrow view of the impacts of carbon emissions, sustainability, and climate change in general. He also does not seem to focus on anything other than economics and how the United States is “the best and most important.”
The reality of the matter is that our planet is dying.
We are killing the only thing in this universe that is guaranteed to ensure our survival. You can deny all you want, but the rising global temperatures, melting of the poles, and increase in natural disasters speak for themselves. At this point, our planet doesn’t care about debate or politics. Global warming isn’t going to wait for Donald Trump to decide whether or not it’s real. Science has given us overwhelming data that supports the conclusion that climate change is fact and that there are going to be consequences.
So now, how can science help us?
We have come up with ways to combat climate change, beginning with renewable energy. Energy is all around us! From wind to water to the sun, our planet gives us options to stop using fossil fuels and switch to a healthier alternative. Wind farms, ocean energy technology, and solar panels are inventions which have already been created and put into use. Homes all around the world are powered by solar, saving people a lot of money in the long term. Towns have set up wind turbines to harvest wind power, saving money and electricity greatly.
Also, we've begun to implement larger systems of recycling materials, beginning with household and reaching all the way to large corporations. This has many benefits, like lessening the manufacturing of brand new disposable products and creating household alternatives to the wasteful use of materials.
Everyone on Earth can do things to help alleviate some of the effects of consumption on our climate. We shouldn't focus only on the politics of the matter, but more on our planet. As humans, we haven't found another planet even close to us that we would be able to both get to and live sustainably on.
Our planet is just that, our one and only home in the universe.
We need to take better care of it and science gives us this opportunity. You can make this change.