Right now, it feels as though we are in a blockbuster disaster movie about the world ending. One with violent storms, deadly earthquakes and rapidly decreasing environments around the world. Usually, these kinds of movies have a happy ending, with the hero solving all of the major problems and everything going back to normal. Sadly, we are not in a movie; this is real life.
This is climate change.
For many years, the discussion of climate change has been something on everyone’s mind, whether they believe in it or not. It has sparked huge, worldwide debates among all types of people. While there is no doubt that temperatures all over the planet have increased (1.7°F to be specific), people are taking drastically different sides. One side argues that the rising level of greenhouse gases are due to human activities, such as burning fossil fuels. These activities have since lead to climate changes such as global warming, loss of ice caps, droughts and more dangerous storms. The other side argues that human activities are too small to alter the earth’s climate and that the earth is capable of adapting to the increase of heat.
Many countries have sided with those wanting to stop the effects of climate change and are finding ways to live and thrive in a cleaner, more efficient way. However, there is one country that has done a complete 180 in terms of advocating for climate change. That country is the United States of America and this change can be linked to its president, Donald Trump.
Trump has been outspoken about his denial of climate change and so has his administration. He has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, which prevents the country from moving with other countries towards a cleaner and more sustainable future. He has also posted several tweets on climate change, from blaming the Chinese for coming up with the “concept” of global warming, to turning to the conversation to nuclear weapons.
It snowed over 4 inches this past weekend in New York City. It is still October. So much for Global Warming.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2011
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
The global warming we should be worried about is the global warming caused by NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the hands of crazy or incompetent leaders!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2014
He especially has had a history of nominating those who also not do believe in climate change to run programs that deal with our environment. In fact, he has nominated Oklahoma congressman and climate change denier James Bridenstine, as well as Steven E. Winberg, who has worked in the coal and natural gas industry for several years, to direct multibillion-dollar federal programs that will affect the country’s energy and climate agendas. It completely goes against Barack Obama’s agenda to fight against climate change. Trump has argued that the Obama administration used climate change to restrict business growth.
When asked if recent hurricanes have affected his views of climate change, President Trump said, “If you go back into the 1930s and the 1940s, and you take a look, we’ve had storms over the years that have been bigger than this. If you go back into the teens, you’ll see storms that were as big or bigger. So we did have two horrific storms, epic storms, but if you go back into the ’30s and ’40s, and you go back into the teens, you’ll see storms that were very similar and even bigger, OK?”
There is also a major problem with Trump’s recent statements. They completely contradict his tweets from earlier this month.
Hurricane Irma is of epic proportion, perhaps bigger than we have ever seen. Be safe and get out of its way,if possible. Federal G is ready!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2017
Hurricane looks like largest ever recorded in the Atlantic!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2017
This battle is getting harder and harder to fight. No matter what, Donald Trump will not believe in climate change and he will do anything and everything to deny it. Even if it means being a victim to his own hypocrisy and ignorance, he will go to great lengths to avoid discussing it. He has seen the damage that the hurricanes have done in Texas and Florida, yet he claims it does not change his opinion of climate change. There have been severe effects of climate change not only in the U.S., but around the world. The U.S.’s actions can impact people worldwide and his recent statements have only disappointed a tremendous amount of people around the world.
However, we can make this movie have a decent ending. The number of people who advocate against climate change and reducing our carbon foot print has grown in the Trump era. More and more scientists have spoken out with their fear of climate change with evidence. They even protested in a “March for Science” against Trump policies back in April of this year. Our voices are getting louder and louder. Trump may be in the lead now with the majority of his administration denying climate change and even Congress siding with his environmental policies, but this is one battle we cannot afford to let him win.
While it may be a strenuous fight, we are capable of stopping the effects of climate change and putting the U.S. on a better path to a more sustainable future, whether Donald Trump likes it or not.
