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Engl 1A
14 April, 2024
The Climate is Underattack
Our planet will not be the same in a few years. Global warming is no doubt an ongoing issue in
the world. Rising temperatures of the Earth's surface is a result of increased carbon dioxide and
greenhouse gasses from burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil (Hughton). In normal
circumstances, these gasses would escape the Earth's atmosphere into space but these pollutants trap the
gasses and heat which causes the planet to get hotter. This is called “the greenhouse effect” (Turrentine, et
al.). Now more than ever people need to take action to help with this very serious and damaging issue.
However, many do not believe in the climate crisis and therefore do not take it as seriously as they should.
This problem needs to be addressed because it is damaging the environment and affecting lives. An article
published by Climate and Clean Air Coalition explains how a warmer climate can decrease access to safe
water, transmit more disease, and increase public health risks. A solution to this problem is to be more
environmentally friendly. This is as simple as recycling, throwing trash away in the garbage instead of
littering, using energy efficient light, and composting. These small steps can lead to a major difference in
the environment if everybody started to do it. Protecting the Earth's ecosystem is crucial for a better
environment for future generations to come. Although some do not believe in global warming, people
should be more eco-friendly because it reduces waste, protects wildlife and their environment, helps
conserve natural resources, and helps slow down the climate crisis.
Surprisingly, many people do not believe that global warming is real or even an issue in the first
place. They believe that changes in the Earth's climate are normal and natural. Chris Mooney, the author
of The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science asserts “these individuals are just as emotionally driven
and biased as the rest of us, but they're able to generate more and better reasons to explain why they're
right—and so their minds become harder to change.” He emphasizes that even with adequate research and
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information, the people who do not believe in global warming will have a hard time changing their minds.
An article titled Why Some Americans Do Not See Urgency on Climate Change explains how people
believe humans have a limited role in the crisis. Interviewers said they believe that climate change is only
a hoax used for political gains (Pasquini, et al.). One even argued that there are no steps to take to better
this issue. “I don't see anything people or society can do to change the weather and change how the
climate is going to react” says the interviewee. In fact, a handful of people who were interviewed say that
they are less focused on the climate and more skeptical about where people are getting the information
about global warming from (Pasquini, et al.). However, this does not deny the fact that it is a problem and
needs a viable solution.
One way being eco friendly helps is because it reduces waste. An article published by Shaka Love
explains we can start this off by remembering the three R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle. Whenever we
reduce our waste, we lessen our ecological footprint and when we reuse and recycle, we are able to keep
valuable resources in circulation and we minimize our need for new production. Being eco friendly also
means not using single use plastics. Things like bags and straws get tossed out onto the floor or the ocean
but by using a reusable bag and straw when shopping or having a drink, you are able to eliminate that
issue. Even using bamboo straws are a better alternative to single use plastic straws. An article written by
the Environmental Protection Agency says that by composting, buying what you need, and donating
unused food to food banks will help reduce waste. By shopping smart, you are able to get exactly what
you need instead of buying things you may not use in time which then ends up in the trash. Shopping
smart can also mean going to the thrift store and buying used items such as clothes, furniture, and even
glassware. All of these factors can help decrease the amount of waste as well as carbon emissions put out
into the environment.
Not only does not being eco friendly hurt wildlife, it can even make certain species go extinct.
An article written by JS Erica states how without wildlife, there would be a significant decline in plant
reproduction, nutrient cycles would be disrupted, and economic instability and job losses would occur.
When being environmentally friendly, less trash ends up in oceans which decreases the harm to sea life
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such as turtles and fish. A blog posted by Clean River Recycling Solutions states “trash removal and
recycling helps wildlife by reducing the need to expand landfills, mining, and drilling operations.” By
being more mindful of where we are putting our trash and recyclables, we can better the environment for
wildlife. Recycling and throwing trash away is not the only way to help protect wildlife. Planting trees
along with flowers, and shrubs is a great way to help and still be eco friendly. An article written by Lisa
Granshaw states “trees help wildlife have food, shelter, and homes for future years.” Lisa also explains
how “shopping green” can also play an effect on animals. “Choices we make at the store, what toilet
paper we buy, how much we use, affects tigers, rhinos and elephants and where those animals live.” It's
important to be mindful of what we buy and how we use it in order to sustain the habitat these animals
live in. Making your backyard wildlife friendly is also a good way to help (Evangelista). By building bird
feeders and planting natural milkweed, you can help aid monarch butterflies and birds that are
endangered. Staying away from harmful chemicals such as chemical pest control and grass growing
stimulants can be detrimental to wildlife that are important for the environment (Evangelista). There are a
multitude of different ways to help sustain wildlife and their habitat by being eco friendly.
Another way being eco friendly helps is by conserving natural resources and energy. Conserving
natural resources is important not only to wild life but human life. As humans, we are constantly
consuming food and water, breathing in air, and taking up shelter. All of this uses natural resources but
not conserving these resources can be damaging to the environment. An article titled The Benefits of
Eco-friendly Living for You and The Environment states “by reducing energy consumption and using
products made from recycled materials, you can reduce the impact of resource extraction on the
environment.” Turning off the sink when brushing your teeth and taking quicker showers can help
conserve water. In fact, conserving water also reduces greenhouse gas emissions which are harmful to the
environment. Another way we can conserve resources is by using energy efficient light bulbs and turning
off any light switches when you leave a room. An article written by Masterclass also explains how using
renewable energy such as solar panels can be a way to make a difference. With this method, it can
significantly reduce reliance on natural gas and cut back on resource depletion over time. Masterclass also
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emphasizes that “Human activity, mainly the use of nonrenewable resources like fossil fuels, is
responsible for the massive spike in climate change. By conserving our natural resources, we can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and have a more positive impact on our natural environment.” Managing your
thermostat is another great way to reduce energy and conserve resources. In winter, lowering the
temperature by two degrees and during the summer raising the temperature by two degrees can help
conserve energy in your home. The less energy that is used to produce goods, the fewer greenhouse
gasses are emitted into the environment (Robinson, et al.).
The last reason why being eco friendly is so important is because it slows down the climate crisis.
An article published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that “having the right
policies, infrastructure and technology in place to enable changes to our lifestyles and behavior can result
in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” Garrett Clark, an expert in sustainable
living with the United Nations Environment Programme says that being sustainable and eco friendly
needs to be clear to people so they know exactly what steps they are taking. It is important to not only
take action on the climate crisis but to also understand it. With a better understanding on how and why
everything works, you will have a better time helping the climate. An article titled How Using
Eco-Friendly Products Help Us Save the Earth? states “eco-friendly products contribute to a smaller
carbon footprint throughout their life cycle.” The article emphasizes on how using renewable resources
and promoting biodegradability help mitigate environmental impact associated with traditional items
made from nonrenewable sources. It gives an example of how single use plastic bags use up a lot of
petroleum and fossil fuels in their production but bagasse products, which is a dry pulpy residue left after
the extraction of juice from sugar cane, are 100% organic and leave no carbon footprint. Driving less also
helps further the damage of global warming. In an article published by Northwestern University, for every
mile you don't drive, you are saving one pound of carbon dioxide. By reducing greenhouse gasses and
carbon footprints, the climate crisis will slow down and our environment will have a better chance at
thriving.
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The importance of helping the climate is crucial to a better environment. Failure to take action to
help the climate crisis carries risk of environmental pollutants which can cause respiratory diseases and
cancer. An article written by Cindy Parker expresses how “climate change could be the biggest global
health threat of this century. If left unabated, climate change will cause many more deaths in the future.”
The United Nations Chief stated that “the damage already being caused by climate change is “making our
planet uninhabitable.” These issues are due to the intense heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods
which have effect not only on the environment but humans too. By becoming more eco friendly and eco
conscious, we all have a better opportunity to take control of global warming and bettering the
environment.
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Works Cited
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