Climate change has impacted the lives of many and as time goes on, it only becomes more of a critical issue. The world witnessed Australia go up in flames back in July 2019, record breaking temperatures across the globe, coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef, and so many other environmental disasters. From a social standpoint, climate change affects farmers, poor rural and urban areas, and developing countries that don’t have enough capacity for adaptation. 

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased substantially across the globe because of the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oils. The excess carbon dioxide causes global warming which increases the temperatures in certain areas more than others. As Earth’s temperatures rise, more precipitation and evaporation will occur increasing the amount of floods and droughts. Not only does the increase of temperatures cause floods and droughts, it will also cause the oceans to warm and glaciers to melt. National Geographic emphasizes that “…even a small increase can have devastating effects on coastal habitats farther inland, it can cause destructive erosion, wetland flooding, aquifer and agricultural soil contamination with salt, and lost habitat for fish, birds, and plants.” The rise of sea levels also causes natural disasters such as hurricanes and typhoons to become more dangerous, powerful, and destructive. 

The fight towards climate change has inspired many to take action. For example, 17 year old Greta Thunberg has now become the face of climate activism by starting her movement “Fridays for Future” also known as School Strike for Climate. Thunberg has empowered many across the world to take a stand for climate change. Actor and environmentalist, Leonardo DiCaprio, dedicated a movie titled “Before the Flood” to show the impact of climate change and how it can be stopped before it is too late. The movie talks about how we can have heating, electricity, and transportation through 100% renewable sources. DiCaprio collaborates with the world’s top climate scientists, energy experts, government officials, and entrepreneurs as to how the world can best go about solving climate change. He also gets an eye opening experience by travelling across the globe to see firsthand how climate change is affecting places like the arctic circle, Beijing, China, and Bahamas, Caribbean. 

Little things that people can change to stop climate change is use their energy wisely, green your commute, stay away from using plastic and invest in reusable things, and support or join youth led movements. Organizations such as, The Coalition for Rainforest Nations, Clean Air Task Force, and The Climate Emergency Fund are all reliable and credible organizations to donate to. 

Sources: 

Byrd, Rosaly, and Laurèn DeMates. “5 Reasons Why Climate Change Is A Social Issue, Not Just An Environmental One.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 6 Dec. 2014, www.huffpost.com/entry/climate-change-is-a-socia_b_5939186. 

National Geographic Society. “Climate Change.” National Geographic Society, 27 Mar. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/climate-change/. 

National Geographic Society. “Journey.” Before the Flood, 21 Oct. 2016, www.beforetheflood.com/explore/the-journey/.

Nunez, Christina. “Sea Level Rise, Explained.” Sea Level Rise, Facts and Information, National Geographic Society, 27 Feb. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/. 

Shaftel, Holly. “Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.” NASA, NASA, climate.nasa.gov/. 

Suzuki, David. “Top 10 Things You Can Do about Climate Change.” David Suzuki Foundation, 28 Oct. 2020, davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/. 

Woodward, Aylin. “Greta Thunberg Turns 17 Today. Here’s How She Started a Global Climate Movement in Just 18 Months.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 3 Jan. 2020, www.businessinsider.com/greta-thunberg-bio-climate-change-activist-2019-9.