Climate Change and the Gowanus Canal: What is Happening?

Climate change has been a growing problem in the world for 30 years. Many people have already been affected by climate change and faced big problems like being homeless. Many became homeless because of hurricanes, forest fires, and floods. The industrial revolution created a lot of carbon dioxide to this day. Trees store carbon dioxide but we cut them down to make room for shelter or as shelter. The Gowanus is a good example of how we view the environment as a resource. What happened to the gowanus and what are some solutions your community thought of? Read more to find out… 

In Brooklyn, one of the NYC boroughs lives in a neighborhood with a stench of polluted water. Empty buildings, rat traps, water looking like a swamp. Oil floats in the water while the smell of spoiled eggs fills the air. This place is the Gowanus. The Gowanus used to be an inlet of small creeks with clear freshwater. Fish swam freely, and the trees and bushes swayed in the slight breeze. It is a huge difference from the rotten smell of eggs and trash everywhere. This of course was before the industrial revolution. The Industrial revolution was looking for fossil fuel for cars and more items that we use today. They created many warehouses to store items with their later transport.Because Gowanus had items to transport they used the Gowanus canal to transport these goods.

The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY is a 1.8 mi long, an old industrial canal that was used in the 1800’s to bring in supplies and take made products to the Atlantic Ocean. Later on it started to slow down after the 1900 coal industries. The other cause was runoff water which would carry litter and oil in the Canal. This contaminated the water. The Gowanus was getting used less and less. Warehouses were abandoned and it was left there. 

This is a big problem in the world and factories are still creating more and more carbon dioxide for their benefit. So we asked 2 exploration teachers “What are your thoughts on the Gowanus, What are some solutions you have for climate change?". One of the questions is also “For poorer communities, do you have any ideas for solutions to help people get better materials and make it a cleaner environment?”.

Here are the questions and answers for Deanna D'Onofrio (A 6th grade Exploration teacher)

Q: “What are your thoughts on the Gowanus canal?”

A: “I would like to see the Gowanus canal as a clean body of water. Animals and living organisms in the Gowanus Canal”

Q: “What do you think are solutions to the major problem of climate change?”

A: “I would like the city to enforce stricter laws on pollution and trash. I would also like to remove abandoned buildings to trees and restore the land.”

Ms. D'Onofrio's solution is that the city would enforce stricter laws and to plant more trees to collect runoff water. This would help because it would help gather carbon dioxide. The next question and answer person was Joy Canning, an 8th grade Exploration teacher.

Q: "What are your thoughts on the Gowanus Canal?"

A: Companies are held responsible for Climate Change. Liking the change of the Gowanus Canal. Public access and the cleaning. 

Q: "Solutions to the major part of climate change?"

A: Companies cleaning up and cutting down on the portion of fossil fuel and citizens making renewable energy. Stop buying plastic and stop supporting companies that use plastic or fossil fuel. Different materials.

Q: "For poorer communities, do you have any ideas for solutions to help people get better materials and make it a cleaner environment?"

A: Shared resources/ Government helping poorer communities by giving resources.

All in all, there are many causes and effects to climate change. But, there are also a lot of solutions,as people have been working very hard to find solutions. Some things are clean energy which uses solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectric dams. There are other solutions like using electric cars, planting trees, and don't clear forests. There are also many organizations that are helping that you can join. For example, the Sierra Club is doing a lot of good work, reaching out to politicians, and doing many helpful things. Also NRDC has worked to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. Please help this very worthy cause.

You can help the Sierra Club and others. 

Help Sierra Club at [https://www.sierraclub.org/]

Help NRC at [https://www.nrdc.org/]