CLIMATE CHANGE: Can we reverse the damage?
Pollution. Global warming. Deforestation. From big city air to arctic seas, climate change has affected organisms on every corner of the Earth. This terrible damage currently inflicted on our home planet will eventually become permanent. But the factories and large cities aren’t solely to blame. Every single person on this Earth has probably contributed to our worsening climate. In 2020, not even a pandemic could stop global carbon emissions from reaching a record high of the decade. What has brought us to this point?
POLLUTION
Pollution is the harmful materials released in the environment, which can include more than simply smoke and garbage. The most damaging types of pollution are found in air, water, and land.
Air pollution, the majority caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is extremely harmful to human health. Common fossil fuels are petroleum, natural gas, and coal, all of which are widely used in producing energy and electricity. Breathing in large amounts of pollutants such as carbon monoxide or dust particles can cause lung cancer and is especially dangerous to those who have breathing complications. In many of the world’s largest cities, the government sends out warnings when the air quality is very poor, advising people to wear masks or to limit outdoor activities.
Pollution released in the air mixes with water vapor in the atmosphere, causing acid rain that can erode buildings made of stone or marble. Acid rain burns the cells of organisms, damaging plants and forests Emissions from cars, factories, and power plants have increased the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, resulting in the rise of global temperatures. This is a primary concern for the entire world because of the devastating effects. Higher temperatures are attributed to the rapid melting of the polar ice caps, causing the loss of the natural habitats for many animals. The melted ice flows back into the oceans, raising sea levels. This extra water has caused heavy floods along coastlines. Increased hurricane activity may also be related to the rising temperature and water levels.
According to the National Geographic Encyclopedia, chemical pesticides are washed away from industrial farms into lakes and rivers, where it disrupts the natural nutrient balance, and kills micro-organisms at the bottom of the food chain, causing a domino reaction that will eventually extinguish the organisms at the top of the food chain.
Oil spills from boats and garbage dumped into the sea is hazardous to sea life, endangering many oceanic species. Pictures of plastic straws getting stuck in the nostrils of sea turtles, and plastic bags strangling fish are forefront in the news. But even so, people are still carelessly littering. One thing people don’t think about is if humans eat fish that live in polluted water, they are also consuming the pollution and all the harmful effects that comes with it.
Treating garbage is another worrisome problem in the world. As said by Zero Waste America, a non-profit research organization, there are currently approximately 3,000 active landfills in the US alone. Of the 300 million tons of waste produced each year, only about 1/3 is recycled or composted. Every year, these landfills are filled with an