The scientific community is in agreement that the current climate crisis is largely caused by human activities. Our excessive energy consumption, rampant deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices are significantly contributing to the spike in global temperatures and increasingly devastating natural disasters we are experiencing. While reducing emissions is necessary to combat global warming, it is also important to recognize that humans are partially to blame for the growing crisis and make meaningful changes in our daily lives to reverse the damage we have caused.
Humans emit greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, when producing and burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, for electricity and transportation. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the Earth’s rising temperatures. Humans account for over 75 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions that occur annually, and if current trends continue, the temperature could rise by another 2-7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. In addition, without understanding the impact of our actions, we continue to exploit natural resources, pollute the planet and cause widespread deforestation.
These activities have dire consequences, as melting ice-caps, rising sea levels and devastating natural disasters are occurring on a larger scale than ever before. According to recent reports, the damage caused by the surge in global temperatures has been particularly acute in countries around the equator, where extreme temperatures, floods, and a lack of food and water, have led to a global sense of urgency to take immediate action. Further, the world’s leading environmental organisations have warned that if unchecked, global warming could have perilous implications for the way in which we live and for our planet.
Thankfully, there are several initiatives and measures being taken to reduce emissions and counter the damage caused by humans. Battery-powered vehicles, renewable energy, carbon trading and green building technologies, are already being successfully employed in an effort to reduce emissions, combat global warming and raise awareness of our actions. Moreover, countries have teamed up through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to set important targets for emissions reductions and promote international collaboration.
It is essential that we all take responsibility for our behaviour, representing the younger generations, as well as future generations, by making meaningful changes in our daily lives. Actions like reducing airplane-travel, carpooling, buying locally produced foods, recycling and rejecting single-use plastics, can go a long way to reducing emissions and reversing climate change’s effects. In addition, we need to educate and create awareness of the long-term implications of our actions and behaviours, so that everyone better understands the impact of global warming and does their part to mitigate it.
Making a difference and being accountable for our actions is essential to halting and reversing the alarming rates of global warming. We must put forward bold decisions to change the world and ensure that those who are most vulnerable are supported in order to create a more sustainable future, where we all can thrive. It is up to us now and only we can act swiftly and effectively enough to pave the way for a brighter, more secure future.
