Considering the current welfare of our once flourishing environmental economy, we as humans could easily be dubbed as serving no greater purpose than extending our evolutionary lineage; humans primarily serve as a medium for reproduction. Huge claim? Well, there’s a possibility that our Earth’s soils were never even meant to serve as footprint space for our species. A host of our world’s ecosystems have been plagued at our aimless dispense, as we tamper with the extremely delicate balance an ecosystem must maintain in order to achieve its evolutionary standards naturally. In simpler terms, we’re forcing systems into evolutionism rapidly, and quite dangerously.

Why is it that Americans, and in larger numbers, African Americans, disregard the overarching importance of climate change when in fact the health of our soils influences the sustainability of our species? Last year, 2015, was recognized as being the hottest year on record since scientists began keeping record of global temperatures in 1880. Why are Blacks, who are often victims of the most severe environmental complications so withdrawn from conversations about climate change?

While many overly complicate understanding climate change and what is at stake, the science behind global warming isn’t overly complex. Fossil fuels, which are critical with regards to continuing to foster our era of technology, are detrimental in abundance.

Scientists refer to The Greenhouse Effect as a medium used to describe the root of global warming.

Sunlight, in the form of energy, is absorbed almost entirely by land and water. However, the remaining fraction of this energy is reflected back into the atmosphere. Naturally, it should escape the atmosphere. But, when the surface of the earth warms up, it reflects a different type of energy called infrared radiation. As this energy travels back towards outer space to escape Earth’s atmosphere, the abundance of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere (from our excessive use of fossil fuels) capture this energy, and re-emit it, ultimately warming the surface. If our earth’s surface heats up too quickly, the living conditions for the human race and the host of other species our world is home to are affected.

We don’t pay attention to global warming primarily because we aren’t mentally programmed to interpret what seems like future complications as immediate issues. It always seems as if the intensification of severe storms is happening elsewhere. It’s someone else’s problem, not ours. Engaging in the fight against climate change costs, too. Sustainable living is expensive and for many African American families, it’s difficult to incorporate the necessary elements of maintaining a green lifestyle into their budgets.

Another reason why Black people don’t take heed to climate change? There aren’t enough prominent African Americans, whether scientists, politicians, or entertainers, who engage in the climate change debate. Often times, we as a community, need influential individuals as propaganda in order to change our thought process and ultimately our direction.

While the image of a polar bear floating on a melted icecap in the middle of the ocean is the first picture many of our brains have begun to associate phrases like “climate change,” or “global warming,” with, the condition of our world is far more expansive than this. It is important for African Americans to begin to be willing to expand their scope regarding global warming so that we continue to live as informed global citizens.