So how does global warming affect us? Well, I believe we should put it this way: how does global warming not affect us? If we allow global warming to happen, horrific changes will take place. The earth as we know it will no longer be recognisable. Already we are seeing massive changes. Hurricanes at category 4 and 5 have almost doubled in the last 30 years. In Greenland, the flow of ice from glaciers has more than doubled in the past decade. Malaria has spread to higher altitudes where mosquitoes would not go before because it was too cold. Now, because of the increasing temperatures, the mosquitoes are moving higher up in altitude. At least 279 species of plants and animals are already suffering the ravages of global warming, moving closer to the poles to survive.
What will happen if we do not act now on this destructive, overwhelming crisis? Well first, as heat waves will be more frequent and intense, deaths will double in just a quarter of a century, up to a staggering 300 000 people a year. Droughts and wildfires will be widespread. World sea levels will rise by more than 20 feet, devastating coastal areas internationally. More than a million species worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050. The Arctic could be ice free by the summer of 2050! All this devastation because of us!
So what can we do about it? Well we can start at home. Simple things like having shorter showers and turning off lights and appliances when not in use can work wonders. Replacing all house light bulbs with energy efficient and eco-friendly bulbs is also a huge step to saving the planet. They use 60% less energy than a normal bulb. This simple switch will save approximately a colossal 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. You can also use a clothesline instead of a tumble-dryer to save energy. When you buy new appliances look for the Energy Star logo. This tells you that the appliance is energy efficient. Make sure that you only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full, to save energy and water. Reduce, reuse, recycle! Recycling is a huge step in the war on global warming and is a stride down the track to success. You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates. Reuse items whenever possible, especially paper and plastics. Try and buy recycled items wherever you can and urge others to do the same. It takes 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it contributes towards the preventive loss of forests worldwide.
But what can we do on a larger scale? Start by promoting awareness of global warming. Write to your leaders urging them to take responsible action against global warming. Switch to ‘green’ power and encourage others to do the same. By individuals investing in ‘green’ power, you will also offset your carbon dioxide emissions. Buying a hybrid car will drastically cut down on the amount of your CO2 emissions.
What are the consequences of our taking action? What do we stand to achieve? By using energy more efficiently at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30%! Implementing the actions to decrease your production of carbon dioxide just outlined, can radically decrease the levels of carbon dioxide and we’ll be on the road to solving this problem.
Step back a moment and imagine a world where everyone is suffering. Children are dying from thirst and there is not enough space for everyone to live. Countries are flooding daily. Death and destruction is everywhere. Millions of people are being killed due to intense heat waves and increased temperatures. Imagine nobody being aware of what is happening in other countries because newspapers and TVs have been banned due to lack of resources. Typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis. Everything is uncertain, confused and temporary. Imagine day after day, week after week, your home is destroyed and you have to rebuild again and again…
Global warming can be ignored no longer; it has become a moral issue. We, as a society, as a united community, can make a difference. We can address this problem together, and together we can overcome it. We can do this! We CAN!
