Climate Change; How do we stop it?

By: Ellenore Younger

People have always said that climate change was a distant threat- but it’s happening now, and the consequences of ignorance could be devastating. Climate change is the long-term shift within the temperature and weather patterns. It is caused by toxic chemicals emitted into the air, deforestation, livestock farming, pollution, and waste. All of these problems can affect global temperatures, rising sea levels, habitat destruction, and people’s health. There are a few things you can do from home. Some of those things are; cutting down on plastic waste to slow pollution, taking a break from cars when possible, and limiting food intake. 

We also need to regulate these habits from a government and national standpoint. We could implement bans on certain items and practices that affect the climate. We could invest in renewable energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels, etc. We could also assist these efforts through the technological world, progress on clean energy, carbon storage and capture, and sustainable transportation projects. In addition, companies could do better in this subject. Some ways they could help are reducing their carbon footprints, using sustainable production methods, and becoming eco-friendly.

We are already seeing some change within these areas. Denmark, for example, relies on wind energy. We are also seeing some setbacks. Agriculture in the Midwest is heavily affected by climate change. Rising temperatures can stress plants out, lead to dryer soil, and reduce yields. During the Midwest floods in 2019, we lost billions of dollars due to lost crops and damages. We have unpredictable weather here in the Midwest, and this can lead to unusual development within plants. 

Climate change is here and it affects us now. It’s already reshaping our world in so many ways. From extreme weather to food shortages, it’s clear something needs to be fixed. We have solutions to stop it, but not a lot of people are doing anything about it. The fight starts with activists who stand up against it, and you can be one of those activists.