Angela Chan, Class IV
On April 6, hundreds of scientists from across the world went to corporations and government buildings to peacefully protest the lack of action on climate change, which we so desperately need. According to NASA, “The effects of human-caused global warming are happening now, are irreversible on the timescale of people alive today, and will worsen in the decades to come.”
There have been observable effects on the environment lately, such as shrinking glaciers, droughts, frequent heat waves, rising sea levels, etc. While these impacts are threatening our health, and destroying natural habitats that animals rely on for food, shelter, and other vital resources, the international leaders and the banks that fund fossil fuel companies are continuing to profit off the destruction of the earth.
Fossil fuels, the primary source of the world’s energy, are used for transportation, heating, creating products like computers and cosmetics, etc. When fossil fuels are burned, they emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the air and cause global warming. Businesses address these issues and set goals to demonstrate the seriousness of their commitment to climate change. In 2007, Coca-Cola announced a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to help protect global water resources and improve the firm’s own water management. However, Earth Island Institute, a non-profit environmental organization, alleges that Coca-Cola has been deceiving the public by marketing itself as sustainable and environmentally friendly while “polluting more than any other beverage company and actively working to prevent effective recycling measures in the U.S.” As companies continue to use this crisis as an opportunity to thrive and enhance their reputations, scientists from all around the world are increasingly turning to acts of civil disobedience to highlight the urgency of taking action on climate change.
In Los Angeles, Peter Kalmus alongside other NASA scientists were shortly arrested after chaining themselves to the front doors of a JP Morgan Chase Bank, the largest financier of fossil fuels. In Madrid, scientists threw red paint, representing those who have died or will die due to the climate crisis, on the steps of the Spanish Parliament.
Climate change is a worldwide concern too. Residents in India and Pakistan have been experiencing severe heat waves since April, with temperatures soaring up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Vox, “The sweltering weather has reportedly killed at least 25 people in India and 65 people in Pakistan, though the true number of casualties is likely much higher.” The heatwaves have impacted their access to air conditioning, shelter, and adequate water. As temperatures soar, an abundance of wheat crops have withered in the fields or have been damaged, causing food shortages and rising food prices.
In the Philippines, there's supposed to be sunshine and tropical weather, but instead, they’ve been experiencing typhoons for the past few months. Thousands of houses have been swept away by the intense storms. According to ADRC, “The Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year, five of which are destructive.” As a result of climate change, typhoons and other natural disasters are getting more intense, putting the lives of millions at risk.
An unknown activist stated, “There’s still time to reduce emissions so that a third-degree world remains a fiction rather than becoming a fact.” Here are a few simple ways to help protect and save the earth:
Try an alternative mode of transportation (ride a bike, walk, or take public transport to your destination to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions)
Delete unwanted and spam emails to help reduce carbon footprints
Use Escosia instead of Google (Escocia is a search engine similar to Google, but it’s carbon negative and for every 45 searches, they will plant one tree)
Stop using plastic bags, bottles, etc.
Reduce electricity usage (unplug chargers and electronics you don’t use, and turn lights and other appliances off when not in use)
Plant more trees in your neighborhood, backyard, etc.
“We’ve been trying to warn you guys for so many decades that we’re heading towards a f***ing catastrophe,” NASA scientist Peter Kalmus says. “The scientists of the world have been being ignored. And it’s gotta stop. We’re going to lose everything.”