Over the past few decades, climate change and its consequences have become a highly debated topic. While it may have seemed like a far-off issue decades ago, recent studies suggest that the effects will become pervasive in our individual lives, even here at Natick High School (NHS). For example, extending beyond the one million species at risk of extinction and “ghost forests” growing along US coasts, it could mean the loss of our favorite ice cream flavors and negative impacts on sports. 

To name a few, cocoa (chocolate), nuts, and coffee might not be around anymore. According to Ben & Jerry’s, “Western Africa supplies about 60% of the world’s cocoa—and researchers predict that 90% of the area currently used for cocoa cultivation in western Africa will no longer be suitable for the crop by 2050.” Additionally, “studies predict that throughout the next century, the earth will become less and less hospitable to nut trees” and “the regions that produce much of the world’s peanut supply (China, India, Nigeria, and the southern US) are predicted to see more drought in the future.” If you are a fan of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Half Baked, Peanut Butter Cup, Coffee, and more, it is time to take action.  

Ice cream is not the only thing we might lose; outdoor activities and sports are already suffering from the consequences of climate change. CBS News reports that in baseball, the average number of home runs per game has increased over the past 60 years, which is partly due to rising temperatures and lower air density. This, of course, is not the biggest issue climate change poses to the world, or even to athletes. However, rising temperatures may pose an increasing threat to athletes, fans, staff, or anyone spending time outdoors in the hottest regions. At NHS, most of our athletes spend time in direct sunlight, including the outdoor track, turf, fields, and tennis courts. 

Despite the consequences we are facing now, it is not time to be discouraged yet. Both NHS and people all over the world are taking various measures to ensure a future for generations to come. This includes chefs putting a spin on their creativity to create dishes from scraps and prevent food from becoming waste. According to CBS News, almost 40% of food in the US is sent to landfills, worsening the state of climate change and food insecurities. By “eating trash” (aka using food scraps as ingredients), each of us can help address food waste and world hunger while saving restaurants the billions of dollars they lose from more than a third of their dishes going uneaten.  

Furthermore, geoengineering technologies and methods, including cloud seeding, solar geoengineering, and carbon capture, as well as new protective measures for forests, are working to act against climate change. According to ABC News, cloud seeding “involves injecting microscopic particles of silver iodide into the atmosphere to encourage rain and snowfall” as these particles “act like magnets for water droplets and bind together until they are heavy enough to fall as rain or snow.” This is not meant to be a long-term solution, but it is an innovation that helps. At NHS, we have made our own efforts such as our use of solar panels, a compost program, tree planting, and the recent walk-to-school initiative. Addressing climate change is no easy task, but the innovative minds and will of the people today are paving a path to a more sustainable future.