Everyone, everywhere, is being impacted by climate change. Sea levels are rising, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, and many species are facing extinction.
But what are we doing to prevent it?
To combat climate change, individuals, communities, cities, corporations, educational institutions, religious institutions, and organizations are all taking action.
Experts first raised concerns about global warming in 1979; today, scientists prefer to use the more general term “climate change” to refer to the complex modifications currently influencing our planet’s weather and climate systems.
Lately, in the 2000s, one of the famous people talking about it is Greta Thunberg. In April 2019, she admitted to the UN on climate change and said:
“I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean,” she told delegates. “Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.”
Millions of lives are already in grave danger due to climate change, but there are ways to reduce this threat.
We don’t know what people in authority are doing, but we can do our part to prevent drastic climate change.
What is Climate change?
Climate change means major and long-term changes in the Earth’s weather patterns. One major cause is human activities like burning coal, oil, cutting down trees, and running factories.
These actions release gases that warm the Earth. This warming leads to problems like stronger storms, rising sea levels, and harm to plants and animals.
Understanding Climate Change Predictions
Climate change is about what might happen in the future, so people are concerned now. It mostly focuses on predicting future temperatures and how they may affect the climate.
According to the WMO, 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record.
Many experts try to stop temperatures from rising too much, but the truth is, no one can be 100% sure what the future climate will be.
Since we don’t know exactly what would have happened without any action, it’s hard to say for sure if certain actions helped. In the end, there are only three possible outcomes: the Earth could get warmer, cooler, or stay about the same.
8 Powerful Ways You Can Help Stop Climate Change
Worried about the planet?
You’re not alone, you can make a difference!
Even small changes in your daily habits can help fight climate change. Here are 10 easy, effective, and even fun ways to protect our Earth:
- Buy Less, Choose Wisely
Electronics, clothing, plastics, and other consumer goods emit carbon dioxide at every stage of production, from raw material extraction to manufacturing and transportation to market. To safeguard the environment, buy fewer items, shop secondhand, and repair what you can.
- Use Energy Wisely
It is no secret that mining fossil fuels is destroying our planet, which is why we must transition to sustainable energy sources. Even if you can’t afford to buy an electric vehicle or construct a home solar array, there are plenty of ways to reduce your energy consumption, such as selecting a green energy supplier or replacing fluorescent light bulbs with LEDs.
- Throw away less food..
Throwing away food wastes the resources and energy necessary to grow, produce, package, and transport it. And as food rots in a landfill, it emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas. So buy only what you need, use it, and compost the rest. Reducing your food waste can lower your carbon footprint by 300 kg of CO2e each year.
Are you prepared to alter a few minor aspects of your daily routine to contribute to preserving our planet for coming generations?
- Public Transportation
Using public transit can help minimize climate change by reducing the number of cars on the road, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted into the environment. So, wherever possible, take a bus, ride a bicycle instead of a car, take the subway, or walk to areas near your house. You may help reduce your carbon footprint by taking public transportation or driving an eco-friendly vehicle.
- Stop Cutting Down Trees- Plant More
Every year, millions of acres of forests are destroyed, releasing a large amount of carbon into the air. Cutting trees, especially in tropical areas, adds a large share of harmful greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
Since trees are the true pioneers of climate protection, planting them has regularly been named as a top climate change solution. This is because trees help to clean the air, stabilize the soil, safeguard biodiversity habitat, sequester carbon, and do a variety of other things.
- Unplug Devices When Not in Use
If you’re going on vacation or leaving home for a while, remember to unplug devices. Many gadgets, like phone chargers and TVs, still use electricity even when they’re off.
Did you know that even a plugged-in charger with no phone attached can still draw power? By simply unplugging unused devices, you can save energy and reduce your carbon footprint.
- Reuse and Recycle
Recycling is an easy and effective way to protect the environment. It helps save natural resources and supports biodiversity by reducing the need to take new materials from nature.
Plus, recycling is cost-efficient and creates less pollution, since it avoids using raw materials that produce greenhouse gases during processing.
Conclusion
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet today, but every person has the power to make a difference.
Adopting simple habits, like buying less, using energy wisely, supporting renewable energy, and protecting our forests, we can all contribute to slowing down global warming. Small actions add up when millions of people take part.
Are you prepared to take part in the movement and contribute to the development of a more sustainable and healthful future for future generations?
