Climate change has been a long-standing issue recognized by many administrations throughout time. However, nothing drastic has been done to deal with it. As the effects of climate change become more apparent, it is evermore important to combat this, and this responsibility should not lie solely on the general population. Governmental officials should be doing more to put an end to this.
I believe that we have the resources needed to start major transitions away from fossil fuels. The only thing hindering this change is the hunger for profit from the top 1%.
Climate fluctuations around the world have contributed to countless natural disasters throughout 2024. The California wildfires, back-to-back hurricanes tormenting Southeastern states, and even globally the Sahara desert experiencing rare rainfall causing flooding.
In recent years, bizarre weather phenomena has increased in frequency. With 102 significant events happening within this time frame, that is about 20 disasters per year. In contrast, the 2000s, 2000-2009, saw about 67 disasters during that time frame, or about 7 disasters a year.
The year started with a cold snap, affecting states as far south as Texas, leaving many in sub-freezing temperatures. In February, an unprecedented downpour swept across the state of California. Even in Washington irregular heat waves have been severe enough to melt the doll that played Renesmee in “Twilight,” which I was fortunate enough to see before she was too far gone.
A multitude of unfortunate events happened throughout this year, but I want to focus on one type of natural disaster that has begun to occur far too often, wildfires. This year alone 38,143 wildfires destroyed more than 7.8 million acres of land across the United States. Yet, we do not seem to be worried about this. This is infuriating as not only does this release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but people are losing their homes and their lives, only to be met with apathy.
Climate change deniers can refuse to believe in the growing threat all they want — more power to them — but it has come to a point where we need to realize how these natural disasters, not only wildfires, are affecting very real and valuable lives.
There are many reasons why weather patterns are becoming more erratic, but the most influential factor is climate change — more specifically, the carbon emissions we produce as a collective.
Most of the carbon we produce comes from burning fossil fuels, which are burned to produce electricity, fuel, and heat. Carbon emissions also come from industrial farms, producing 11% of global emissions. All these emissions act as greenhouse gasses that linger in the atmosphere and trap heat, making the planet warmer.
At what point do we take a step back and ask ourselves if what we are doing is sustainable in the long run, what happens when we creep closer and closer to the point of no return? The monitoring of carbon emissions has given us concrete evidence of the need to cut back on the overconsumption of fossil fuels, yet we continue to ignore both the studies and the scientists.
Around the world, there have been countless climate protests in the past decades, and we have not been listening. Instead, we treat them as criminals for speaking the truth.
Greta Thunberg started her activism career at only 15 years old, she led protests in her high school for climate justice and now she is being arrested and detained for her participation in recent protests.
Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist at NASA’s jet propulsion lab, was also arrested during a peaceful protest against the use of fossil fuels where he chained himself to the front doors of a Chase bank.
Even with all these constant reminders people still choose to ignore these signs, which are clearly presented to us. I am just waiting for the time when we start listening before it is too late.
Research by World Animal Protection, an international non-profit for animal welfare, predicts that the damage from climate-driven disasters could exceed $1 trillion (USD) by 2050.
Not to worry though, different groups have already taken on conservation efforts in the U.S. American producers are storing more than 8.8 million tons annually in cultivated farm soil as a voluntary conservation effort.
The Biden administration has taken great steps to slow down the release of greenhouse gasses, more specifically hydrofluorocarbons -a potent synthetic greenhouse gas- and methane which are emitted in smaller quantities but trap more heat making them a more dangerous pollutant.
There is also a methane emission fee included within the Inflation Reduction Act which is set to increase to $1,500 per metric ton of methane in 2026.
Our efforts are going in the right direction to combat climate change but this is not enough.
Not to mention this is the same administration that approved the highly controversial oil drilling Willow project in 2023, which will release more than 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution into the atmosphere annually.
What a hypocritical thing to do after promising to reduce net emissions by 50% by 2030. Rather, the government focuses its time, effort, and money on the military and foreign affairs.
This fiscal year to date- since October 2023- the government has spent $6.13 trillion (USD) and is in a $1.83 trillion (USD) deficit. The Environmental Protection Agency received $9 billion (USD), while the military was given $841.4 billion (USD).
This does not reflect the pressing issues in America as of right now with the rising cost of living and the threat of catastrophic weather displacing you from home.
The U.S. Government has to see that a problem for the people is a problem for them, and they should act accordingly. They should also recognize our needs are ever-changing and the funds’ allocation can reflect this; yes, there might be a time when we need an increased military budget, but that is not the case right now.
We look now at Trump’s administration and its plan for combating the ever-growing concern of climate change.
