By Laura Jean Null
Staff Writer

There are a lot of topics we can disagree on as humans, but we can no longer deny the facts of climate change.

I’m calling out politicians, such as the leader of the United States, President Donald Trump.

According to the Newsweek in 2015, during one of his campaign rallies he said,

“Obama’s talking about all of this with the global warming and…a lot of it’s a hoax.

It’s a hoax.

I mean, it’s a money-making industry, OK?

It’s a hoax, a lot of it.”

It’s not a hoax.

The climate is changing, and we have proof.

On NASA’s website, “Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet,” they reported that the current levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide have gone up dramatically since the 1950s.

When describing the outcome of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere, NASA reports that, “There is no question that increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause the Earth to warm in response.”

For those who are unaware what global warming can affect, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) focuses on three major areas global warming already is and/or will continue to affect.

The first issue is, “More heat melts ice, worsens weather and expands oceans.”

With this, the EDF describes an issue that we our currently facing, “weather is getting more extreme.”

Look at the current world.

The Washington Post has reported that September has been the most active month for hurricanes in history.

Record-breaking storms from Hurricane Lee, Irma, Jose, Katia and Harvey.

Some of the damages done by hurricanes will take billions to pay and years to rebuild, but that does not even compare to the damages of families separate and lives taken.

In their second issue, EDF‘s target was, “Human life and prosperity suffer as climate shifts.”

This focuses on climate change ruining agriculture, the food we eat and live off.

Also, warmer air that is polluted affects human health by heat making it significantly easier for bacteria to grow.

Thirdly, the EDF describes, “natural habitats become hostile to planets and animals.”

They are making a point that it’s not just humans being affected, it’s all life.

The ice caps are melting, ruining Arctic life.

Ocean temperatures changes are killing marine life and forests habitats are decreasing as well.

This is just a small-simplified version of what is happening to our environment.

Also how it is already affecting life itself.

We cannot reverse the damages done, but we can adapt and strive towards a cleaner, eco-friendly future.

According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal.

We cannot deny climate change anymore, it is time to admit there is a problem and fix it.

In the U.S. we need to follow our pledge to reduce carbon pollution from power plants.

We need to be a part of the Paris Agreement and work with other nations to figure out solutions.

We need to be efficient and smart. Reuse, reduce, recycle.

We need to not waste or throw our garbage on the streets, or run the sink water too long, or leave the lights on when we aren’t using them.

We need to tackle these ideas of intelligence instead of focusing on ignorant allegations that global warming isn’t happening.

We need to stop the “Anti-Climate Change” conversation and start preparing for tomorrow’s future.

Email Laura at:
lnull@live.esu.edu