The buzz around global warming and climate change has been increasing exponentially in the past few years. More and more researchers are providing concrete evidence that global warming is real and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. The main contributor to global warming seems to be CO2 emissions. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon emissions have risen more the 40%, largely due to increasing human activities. The repercussions of the rising CO2 levels can be seen right now. The ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising, we are experiencing fiercer hurricanes, and precipitation patterns have changed substantially. Although various efforts in Paris with the Climate Change Conference have been made, no country has made a structured plan to combat the effects of climate change.
Leonardo DiCaprio, a well-loved actor, produced an eye-opening documentary titled Before the Flood. DiCaprio travels around the globe documenting different areas and how climate change is taking a toll on them. Contrary to popular opinion, the film doesn’t report all bad news and shows various ways to slow down the effects of climate change. It suggests simple solutions such as recycling, changing your diet to one that uses fewer resources, and limiting the use of central heating units.
The election in the United States has posed a problem to environmentalists and researchers because climate change doesn’t seem to be a focal point in the current agenda. The result of the election, Donald Trump taking on the title of President-elect, is causing an immense frenzy in among the scientists. The main issue that worries them is Donald Trump believes that global warming is a hoax invented by the Chinese to scare Americans.
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012
He believes it to the extent that he pledged to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. This would set an unhealthy precedent that the United States is not serious about climate change and key countries would not follow through on their policies due to the United States dropping out. Mr. Trump has also vowed to obliterate the Clean Power Plan. A necessary agreement that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% in the year 2030 by targeting various coal and nuclear power plants. However depressing, climate change is real and it’s up to us to collaborate and put all the talks, plans, and treaties into action.
