Stop being a Climate Change Denier
My #ClimateStory
My name is Sirui Tao. I am an international student from China and now studying at UCSD as a freshman. When I am still in middle school, there was a great outburst of smog in my city. Even now, I can still remember how hard it has suddenly become for me to ride to my school since the transparency of the air was so low. The PE classes were canceled as the air was too poisonous for us to play outdoor and everyone was suggested to wear masks.
The situation has improved since. However, such experience taught one lesson and that is also what I want to share with you:
— “Climate change is real and serious!”
What can we do? You may want to ask.
In this article, the evidence, effect, and solutions to climate change will be elaborated in a very intuitive way.
Stop denying, become a climate change activist. We can shape our future.
Evidence
Clear evidence has existed for climate change for a long time.
Also, it is indeed human-caused, not by solar activity.
Is there any debate? No
“Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of 1,300 independent scientific experts from countries all over the world under the auspices of the United Nations, concluded there’s a more than 95 percent probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet in its Fifth Assessment Report.” (NASA)
The panel’s full Summary for Policymakers report is online at https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_wg3_ar5_summary-for-policymakers.pdf.
Nice credible sources:
Misleading notorious sources: [Even they admit climate change now]
The science is settled. The sooner we can accept this, the sooner we can work together to address these problems and create a greener future.
Affects
The climate change, as been proven as a valid thing, certainly will carry consequences.
Wildfires:
- “The 2018 wildfire season was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire season ever recorded in California, with a total of 8,527 fires burning an area of 1,893,913 acres” (2018 California wildfires)
- Top 20 Largest California Wildfires
Hurricanes:
- “Eight of the 10 costliest hurricanes on record in the United States have occurred since 2004. Damage estimates are still being tallied for 2017 hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Sandy (2012) cost $125 billion and $65 billion respectively. Hurricanes Andrew (1992) and Ike (2008) cost $27 billion each.” (Hurricanes and Climate Change)
Drought:
- Nearly 40 percent of the world — 1.3 billion people — relies on agriculture as its main source of income. So if severe droughts lead water shortages in an area dependent on agriculture, it puts the health and wellbeing not only of animals and crops at risk but of the farmers and communities that depend on them too. To get a sense of the scale of this threat in the US alone, in 2012, the US Department of Agriculture declared a natural disaster in 2,245 counties because of severe droughts. That’s a lot of people and a lot of communities living with drought. (The facts about climate change and drought)
The impacts of climate change are numerous as it limits natural resources. Yet, the impact will be unfairly concentrated more in the poorer populations as they don’t have the capital to adapt to the situation. Many of them would forcibly relocate in order to survive.
Solutions
So, after realizing that climate change is real, what could we do to change?
Here are some simple suggestions I found:
- Go to a climate change rally and push for political changes
“We have 11 years — not to start but to finish saving the planet. I want you in the movement for climate justice. All I need you to do is want a livable future. This is your planet, and no one can advocate for it like you can. No one can protect it like you can.” (I work in the environmental movement. I don’t care if you recycle.)
If you feel interested, these are places you can join:
- Sunrise Movement
- UC Sustainable Student Engagement
- UC campus student organizations:
[Tip: these school organizations often have free food during the activities!!!]
- Try not to waste food
“Two important statistics help frame any discussion about food waste: 1.3 metric gigatons of edible food go to waste every year and at least 795 million people are undernourished worldwide.” — UC Carbon Neutrality Initiative
As we can see food waste is not negligible
For tricks to reduce your daily waste, check out these two videos:
To learn more, please visit: UC Carbon Neutrality Initiative
Stop denying, let’s make a real difference and create a better future for our generation by finishing these easy tasks.
