Global Warming: A Global Crisis

Day by day the conditions of our planet worsen. Scientists are now saying that the next eighteen months will be critical in how we deal with slowing down global warming. It is time we all realize that we need to save our planet because time is ticking, and we don’t have much time left before our effects on the Earth become irreversible. Our forests are burning, our ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising, yet not many people seem to care. How much time will we have left when everyone finally realizes that action is necessary.

Scientists have been tracking global temperature since about 1880, however, people are still skeptic about global warming. There is proof spanning the past hundreds of years showing that the Earth’s temperature has been consistently rising. People look at this data and say it must be a fluke, that it’s the Earth’s natural heating processes, but how can you say that when year by year the Earth keeps getting its hottest year ever recorded. George Marshall’s book “Don’t Even Think About It” aims to find out why people don’t pay attention to climate change. Marshall takes a psychological approach to this matter rather than a scientific one relating to all the facts. He essentially dissects the human mind to really target people’s reasoning for environmental ignorance. A repeated theme throughout the book is that providing scientific facts won’t automatically make someone believe something, he says “Scientific data, although undoubtedly vital for alerting our rational brain to the existence of a threat, does not galvanize our emotional brain into action.”. I agree with this statement because it is so true, and we see examples of this in our daily lives such as with our President who still does not believe in climate change even though there is so much research proving climate change. In his book instead of attacking the audience with more facts he just talks to them like a real person to try and reach their soul instead of their brain. I find this approach more effective because it essentially adds personality and characterizes Marshall’s words. In addition, I feel his choice to publish this in book form gives Marshall a sense of credibility especially since it was written in a time of social media. He could’ve just chosen to publish a scholarly article but the choice of using a book would be more powerful in delivering his message.

An important focus to look at in this battle against climate change is to truly understand the effects of climate change. Most people know about the greenhouse effect, the melting ice caps, and the endangerment of our fauna and plants but do we really know how the causes of climate change will affect us? Climate change has proven to produce more and more powerful hurricanes since we intensify the water cycle by using “dirty energy sources like oil, coal, and gas”. (Climate Reality). This means areas of the world that are hit hard by hurricanes are going to get it a lot worse and we have been seeing that become reality. The disruption of the natural water cycle however also means more droughts will occur meaning California and The Amazon Rainforest will burn even more than it has. Our planet will not only burn more but our agriculture and our health will suffer consequently, it will be harder to grow food during droughts and the “elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere can actually have a “junk food effect” on typically nutritious foods”. (Climate Reality). Furthermore, the rising temperatures will hinder our economic status, with researchers saying “that if warming continues at recent rates, it could shave 3 to 6 percentage points off of the country’s gross domestic product by century’s end — the warmer it gets, the bigger the hit to the economy.” (Climate Reality).

This article by The Climate Reality Project is powerful in identifying parts of climate change that are sure to hit the average individual and show it will change their lives. I see this as an important part to talk about if we want to see change, most people must believe that they won’t really be affected by climate change, but The Climate Reality Project shines light on this topic. Similarly, to Marshall, this article humanizes climate change in a way so that we can understand better what is happening, and both are effective in reaching an audience that is not as knowledgeable in climatic changes or an audience that doesn’t know how they will personally be affected. The Climate Reality Project has a stong online presence where they primarily spread their message. I have seen many advertisements on Instagram (which shows their audience is young people) them promoting their message and it has helped them get their message across to the masses.

I personally feel that all hope is lost. At times I think about my future and I’m afraid nothing more can be done to make sure the Earth will be habitable. I question why I am in college if I am going to die soon anyways and there isn’t anything I can do about it. These fears and questions are valid especially with how governments fail to see the reality of climate change. I always say I wish I was born in my parent’s time period, born in a time before widespread technology but still able to experience it all, I feel it would have been a nice time. I however am stuck in a time where the future is uncertain or if it is, my children’s future would be a living hell eventually. Climate change is real, and all the concerns, questions, and fear surrounded by it too.

How long do we have left to try and fix the Earth? According to the United Nations “Just over a decade is all that remains to stop irreversible damage from climate change”. A big point in this article is that “climate justice is intergenerational justice”, said by María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés. What Garcés means by this is that it is the job of our current leaders in government to assure life for the generations that come. A fear from many young people is that the older generation in government doesn’t care about climate change because they have lived their lives so whatever happens will happen but that isn’t a fair way to think about this grave problem. The United Nations is targeting older people with a power to influence change in environmental legislation and young people who will be the people most affected by climatic changes. The U.N. wrote this to shed light on the harsh reality that we have gotten ourselves into. This article was at first a meeting actually held by the U.N., but they saw it so important that they made it to an article so that the urgency is heard from everyone as it is very easy to share a link with millions nowadays. It is important to say the truth in this situation because that is what will enact change. The serious and blunt tone from the U.N. portrays the urgency; climate change is not a game and as Shedona Richardson said “Our future is in your hands, do not let the hope of the world be in vain.”.

Thankfully young people from all over the world see the bitter effects of climate change and its potential to end any future for us. The young and revolutionary people from the Global Climate Strike organization have been making serious efforts every Friday. Their purpose is to “sound the alarm and show our politicians that business as usual is no longer an option”. Millions of people throughout one hundred-fifty countries go on strike against big industries that contribute to climate change by using fossil fuels instead of renewable energy. They understand that these strikes won’t end climate change, but they hope the attention they bring to it will show our leaders that something must be done. The Climate Strike is primarily targeting young people to join them in this war against climate change, but their website also says that they are open to anyone joining. The Global Climate Strike is a website and that helps it to go viral since it is easily shared amongst people in the modern era further helping the spread of their message. The little hope I have left are in the revolutionaries of Global Climate Strike and I’m praying that their message is heard by every leader in the world. Their optimistic tone gives me comfort, if they are confident change will be made then I guess I should be too.

I tried finding an article or book making the point of why we shouldn’t care about the environment, but surprisingly I couldn’t. I guess the efforts of these organizations and authors writing about and spreading the message of climate change activism have been working. It is beautiful to see that there isn’t someone ignorant enough to write a whole article disregarding people’s attempts in saving the world. I myself agree with every author and organization’s argument that I have written about in this essay. I see the dangerous effects of climate change and I can see where we are headed if nothing is done to save us.

The Earth is essentially a ticking time bomb and it is up to us to stop it. We, as the human race need to take responsibility in assuring, we will have a safe future. There are many obstacles ahead of us such as the big corporations using fossil fuels and ignorant government leaders but from the darkness a vast army of people are rising preparing for war against climate change. All we can do is be optimistic even though there is little left to hang on and pray the change we demand becomes reality.

Works Cited
Marshall, George. Don’t Even Think about It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change. Bloomsbury, 2015.

“Only 11 Years Left to Prevent Irreversible Damage from Climate Change, Speakers Warn during General Assembly High-Level Meeting | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12131.doc.htm.

Strike, Climate. “Global Climate Strike → September 20-27: Happening Now.” Global Climate Strike → Sep. 20–27, 2019, globalclimatestrike.net/.

“Wait, Why Is Climate Change a Bad Thing?” Climate Reality, www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/wait-why-climate-change-bad-thing.