"Global Warming is not real."That's like saying the laws of nature are not real. If you smoke cigarettes, your lungs are going to turn black. If we emit carbon dioxide and pollute the air, the atmosphere is going to respond.
A few weeks ago, I traveled to Colorado to research the effects of global warming and how we can understand that it is happening around us.
After interviewing a field manager from the Rocky Mountains and a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, I discovered the truth behind global warming. These truths are things that we cannot ignore. The fact that some people even question if global warming is real is appalling.
Stepping off the plane in Colorado, I was expecting there to be snow on the ground and cold air. Instead, the temperature ranged in the 50s to 60s. This was in December and my expectations of snow covered mountains were diminished.
Don't get me wrong, the mountains were still beautiful but I cannot begin to imagine the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park covered in white snow. This is a park destined for skiing, and with less snowfall, the economy surrounding skiing is hit hard.
In addition, global warming greatly affects wildlife and ecosystems. With snow pact levels changing, the tree line in mountains goes into higher elevation causing their ecosystems to do the same.
The fear of global warming is that if the planet continues to warm, the earth with losing its beautiful ecosystems. Imagine your kids growing up without knowing what polar bears or glaciers are.
I learned that one of the main reasons why many people are doubting global warming is because the amount of warming is so minimal. However, the planet takes time to warm. The sea traps heat which is eventually released into the atmosphere causing warming.
Although the planet has only seen a one degree C change over the past few decades, it does not mean the planet is not warming up. This one-degree temperature change could be the difference between freezing or not. Ecosystems depend on certain temperatures to thrive and survive, so a one-degree difference can greatly affect where ecosystems are located.
There are always going to be people who believe global warming is not real even with all of the scientific data and observations. And, we cannot change that. They have other priorities. But, what we can change is how those who do believe in global warming act.
The issue today is not that people do not believe in global warming, it's that no one is doing anything about it. I'm afraid that if we continue down this road, the next generation will be left with problems worse than ours.
Just like a human body needs to be taken care of, so does Earth. Recycling, carpooling, throwing away trash, saving energy, and educating those around you are just a few simple things each person can do to contribute. This planet is our responsibility. Yes, global warming is real. But, we can do something about it.
