A case for saving the environment

Post date: Jan 6, 2017 7:25:37 PM

Jake Cameron

News Editor

Unlike the past several generations, we have a huge burden on our shoulders. A burden that, if left unaddressed, could lead to a natural disaster on a scale of which has never been seen before. That burden is the ever-present problem of climate change.

Many an ill-informed citizen may believe that climate change is over-exaggerated, or even a myth. They believe that, because snow is still falling, that nothing can possibly be wrong. This argument however, is as flawed as saying the world is flat because we can’t see any curves. The effects of climate change may not be evident on a personal basis, but when you look at the international data, such as that collected by NASA, you can clearly see the adverse changes. According to their data, climate trends show sea levels rising and glacial ice melting at an alarming rate, which was most likely caused by the last 1,300 years of human advancements such as coal burning furnaces and devices that give off greenhouse emissions.

One of the most damaging greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide, which, like most greenhouse gases, works to trap heat and radiation from escaping the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the most produced GHGs, at 38.2 billion tons produced per year globally. Most of this carbon dioxide comes from humans or man-made devices such as cars, power plants, and factories.

If you weren’t convinced that the harm we are causing ourselves is enough to take action, you need only look to the friendly nation to our north. In Canada, there exists several animals that are negatively affected by climate change. This vast list includes such iconic animals as Polar Bears, Arctic Foxes, and Beluga Whales. According to a study by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Arctic sea ice is melting at a rate of 9% per decade. If this rate doesn’t increase, which is highly unlikely, all Arctic sea ice could be melted by 2100, if not sooner. Not only would this cause multiple of the aforementioned endangered species to become extinct, but it would also drastically increase sea levels, putting traditionally low lying areas such as the Netherlands or Louisiana at a high risk of being permanently flooded.

After reading these points, you may be asking, “why would I care about those people seventy four years from now?” And, while a valid point, do you really want every future generation to despise ours for turning the world into one big smog cloud? That is up to you. But if you do want to make a difference, first trying doing it on a local scale, such as recycling what garbage you can, or creating a compost bin for biodegradable waste. And, if you’re feeling especially ambitious, write an open letter to the Forum, or talk to our government officials. Anything we can do today can make a positive impact on those tomorrow.