By Lena Cao, lc206@uakron.edu
Climate change is one of the biggest issues that we are facing today. Climate change is far more complicated then just a rise in temperature. The increase in temperature affects just about everything, socially and physically. Over 97% of scientists agree that humans cause climate change. Humanity’s accelerated burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have led to rapid increases of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The rises in temperature and carbon dioxide levels in the past century are extreme and accelerating rapidly.
Impacts of Climate Change
Global temperatures have risen about 1.98 Fahrenheit from 1901 to 2020. We have been experiencing warmer temperatures in the current winter season. On New Year Day, at least 7 countries broke records of their warmest January weather. Temperatures are 18-36 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than normal in France and western Russia. In Akron Ohio we reached a temperature jump from the low 20-30s up to 50 degrees.
Sea level rise has accelerated from 1.7 mm/year to 3.2 mm/year since 1993. The area in the Arctic covered by sea ice has shrunk about 40% since 1979. Animals such as Polar Bears and Arctic Foxes and other animals that don’t adapt well to environment and population changes are in big risks. According to The World Wildlife Fund a study revealed an average decline of 69% since 1970. Up to 2.5% of mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, and plants have gone extinct.
Rising temperatures also affect weather patterns, causing more frequent and severe storms and forest fires across the world. These changes in weather and temperature patterns can put our lives at risk. As ocean temperatures rise, hurricanes are getting stronger and wetter, causing more deaths. Dry conditions and wildfires bring health risks too, including the spread of diseases, injuries, and chemical hazards. Human farm workers can suffer from these health issues which affect our supply of food and even water.
Solutions to Climate Change
There is no solution to stop climate change but there are some things that we can do to slow down climate change and avoid the worst impacts. As a society, we must transition away from using fossil fuels and turn to energy sources like wind and solar. We must reach a net-zero carbon emission no later than 2050.
To many, it seems that we especially being students cannot take action but that's wrong! You can help slow down climate change by reducing your carbon footprint. What is a carbon footprint? Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that are generated by our actions. In the United States, the average carbon footprint for a person is 16 tons. Our global average is only 4.79 tons per person. According to nature.org, we need to reduce the global average footprint to drop under 2 tons by 2050. What can you do to lower your carbon footprint? You can contribute to this change by making small changes in your day-to-day actions. Some examples include eating less meat, sticking to traditional drying of clothes whenever possible, turning off lights and unplugging appliances when not in use, saving water, recycling more, and minimizing food waste!
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