By Jeevanjot Parmar
“We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it” (Barack Obama).
The last decade was the hottest in the last 125,000 years, CO2 levels are rising each year and are at their highest, we lose about 1.2 trillion tons of ice each year, and by the end of this century, many places will be too hot to live in. What is causing all of this? The answer is Climate Change. I’m sure you’ve all heard of this term by now, either from your teachers or from the news, but have you ever looked into it further? What is causing the global temperature rise, why are the ocean levels rising, and how is this happening? How do we fix this?
We must first identify the source of the problem before we can begin to address it. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are greenhouse gases that trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise. But what are the primary causes of these gas emissions? According to recent studies, the primary contributors are the use of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, waste management, and agriculture. With all of these combined, we now have a phenomenon known as the Greenhouse Effect — at normal temperature, this natural phenomenon is caused by the interaction of certain gases, known as greenhouse gases (GHGs), with incoming solar radiation. Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour (H2O) absorb and re-radiate heat energy, trapping some of it within the Earth’s atmosphere. This trapped heat contributes to keeping the planet’s temperature at levels suitable for life.
The presence of this amount of greenhouse gas in our atmosphere is normal, and it is unquestionably required to sustain life on Earth; however, the enhancement of these greenhouse gases is not. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect — The use of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, and industrial processes have all contributed to a significant increase in GHG concentrations in the atmosphere. This increased greenhouse effect intensifies heat trapping, causing global temperatures to rise—a phenomenon known as global warming. There is no single cause of climate change; harmful gases come from everywhere and everywhere — so what can you do as an individual to help prevent climate change from worsening?
Individually, it’s difficult to make a difference when you’re the only one doing it, but when you commit to it and encourage others to do the same, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Reversing Climate Change is far more difficult than increasing it, but the Earth is our only home right now, and losing this one place we have called home for centuries is not only psychologically heartbreaking, but also unfair to the wildlife that has suffered as a result of our actions. Here are a few things you can do right now in your own home to help combat climate change: Reduce your energy consumption, water usage, waste, and meat consumption.
Participate in community initiatives that are actively fighting Climate Change; whenever you see garbage on the streets, do the right thing and throw it away in the appropriate bin; reduce one-time plastics; and purchase metal items (cups, straws, bowls, etc). Remember, you cannot fight someone if you do not properly know them and their fighting style; similarly, you cannot fight climate change if you do not properly educate yourself on the subject. Use the online resources available to you to learn more about what you can do to help prevent climate change. When one person starts doing it, everyone else will follow suit. With enough determination, we can help defeat climate change and secure our future.
Astra Stem 
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