Climate Change. What's Up With That?

It’s no secret that climate change is a real threat facing our generation. But how bad is it, why is it important, and what can be done to help stop it?

According to NASA, the planet's average surface temperature has risen approximately 1.62 degrees fahrenheit since the late 19th century. This change doesn’t make climate change look like an immediate threat but when put into perspective, it is clear that something needs to be done to counteract rapid climate change.

Since 2010, our world has experienced the 5 warmest years on record with 2016 being the warmest to date. With this, we have also seen an increase in ocean temperatures. The top 700 meters of the ocean have shown warming of .4°F in just the last 50 years. Also, between 1993 and 2016, Antarctica lost about 127 billion tons of ice per year.

I’m done boring you with numbers and statistics now. My point is that there is clear evidence of climate change. What would happen to our planet if we continued to do nothing about the changing climate? Earth isn’t going to burst into flames or start spinning off its axis but climate change threatens coasts and islands with rising ocean levels as glaciers melt. Extreme heat waves every 5 years and even long droughts. The world isn’t going to immediately end if measures against climate change aren’t taken, but the effects of it can be seen today and will only become more prevalent.

So, what can be done to help combat climate change? In order to fight against the rising temperatures, the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into our atmosphere needs to decrease drastically. Some things you can do to counteract climate change include (but of course are not limited to):

Eating more meatless meals

Buying foods that are local or organic

Cut back on your food waste--- buy what you need and eat what you buy

Growing some of your own foods

Decreasing the amount of electricity you consume

Driving less

One of our own here at NHS is doing her share by starting an Environmental Club here in the school. I had the chance to talk to senior Lily Quade this week to discuss what Environmental Club is all about and how to get involved.

Lily said her inspiration for starting the club was seeing other schools taking similar actions and thought it was a good cause that should be brought to Norwalk. Her goal was to raise awareness and initiate some action within the school. Currently, the club is working on getting rid of the styrofoam trays used at lunch as styrofoam is not compostable and very bad for the environment. If you are interested in joining the environmental club, contact Lily Quade on her school email and she will get you all set up! Also, the group is looking for more ideas as to how they could make changes with the school to help the environment, so any ideas of your own can also be sent in to Lily’s email and would be much appreciated.