You Can Affect Climate Change

​The U.S. has seen record-breaking devastation from wildfires and hurricanes in the last two years. In 2017, there were 71,499 wildfires with 10 million acres burned and 10 hurricanes bringing the second highest death toll in ten years. Although there are many factors to consider when looking to the causes of these natural disasters, one thing is common to both: higher temperatures.

When it comes to the wildfires, the drying out vegetation was caused by factors like higher temperatures and allowing for the spread of the tree-killing Pine Beetle. Contributing to the hurricanes is a combination of unusually warm water temperatures which intensified storms and low wind shear due to the lack of an El Niño weather system. It can’t be overlooked that with an increase of atmospheric temperature caused by increased greenhouse gases comes an increase in water temperatures, as the ocean water absorbs this heat.

Scientists predict these conditions will only escalate in severity unless actions to reverse global warming are taken. According to the October 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with an increase of 2.7˚F in atmospheric temperature by 2040, the planet could reach a crisis point that will bring issues like food shortage and an increase in natural disasters, such as wildfires and hurricanes. 

According to the IPCC report, a 45% reduction of greenhouse pollution by 2030 and an 100% reduction by 2050 is required to avoid this crisis. The most significant way to reduce greenhouse gases is to switch to renewable energy sources. According to the New York Times, "Renewable energy such as wind and solar, which make up about 20 percent of the electricity mix today, would have to increase to as much as 67 percent.” 
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Renewable energy such as wind and solar, which make up about 20 percent of the electricity mix today, would have to increase to as much as 67 percent.”

​While this is a very significant shift, thankfully, we are making progress. Over two thirds of the U.S. is well on its way to reducing greenhouse emissions as 29 states have mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standards, and 8 states make them voluntary. California, New York and New Jersey require 50% of all electricity be generated by renewable sources by 2030. That means that 42,000 tons of CO2 pollution will have been prevented.
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However, real change begins with each of us doing what we can do now. When we choose sustainable energy sources to power our homes or businesses or vote for environmentally-friendly legislation, our combined efforts add up and the health of our planet improves. All of us can create a safer and cleaner world for ourselves and future generations. It is our privilege and our duty.

Sources:
http://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/07/climate/ipcc-climate-report-2040.html?fbclid=IwAR1eyjYHkqELtGZt3l0PHOnxPESfjo_xAnvlaZpMHOB7to3P3XSCY9SBBsI
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-we-know-about-wildfires-and-climate-change/
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-wildfires
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-hurricanes
https://www.businessinsider.com/hurricane-season-2017-maria-irma-harvey-2017-9
http://www.ncsl.org/research/energy/renewable-portfolio-standards.aspx
https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions
https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr-nrs-p-36papers/47regniere-p-36.pdf