Today’s Guest Column
I will get straight to the point. This column is a call to action.
If we don’t decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, climate change will worsen and the human race will suffer. Global temperatures will increase, sea levels will rise and weather patterns will shift, leading to large-scale change on our planet, as many scientists have posited.
Climate change will not distribute its effects equally around the globe. The North Pole has experienced, and will continue to experience, the highest temperature increases. As such, Arctic ice will continue to melt and drain into the ocean, raising global sea levels and flooding communities that live by the water.
Climate change will also affect life in our seas when increased carbon dioxide levels in the air lead to higher levels in the ocean. This increased carbon dioxide in the oceans will kill coral reefs and destroys their vibrant ecosystems, eliminating habitats for millions of species, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Studies show that coral reefs are unable to survive once carbon dioxide concentrations reach between parts per million, which unfortunately scientists predict will occur by the second half of the century.
Shellfish and plankton species are very sensitive to carbon dioxide levels, too. Many large marine animals that rely on plankton and shellfish as a primary food source will face serious survival threats when their food source dwindles. Fishing industries will suffer, and about 1 billion http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1084135/ people will lose their main source of protein, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Climate change also will affect the spread of disease. A slight increase in temperature will expand the range of disease-carrying mosquitoes that thrive in warm weather and put millions of people at risk.
Despite the known consequences of callous energy use and burning fossil fuels, global energy consumption has almost doubled since 1990, and fossil fuels are expected to continue to be our main source of energy. Even worse, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that America is the No. 1 consumer of oil worldwide. As fossil fuel consumption increases, so will the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, further harming the environment and the people on this planet. It is imperative that we take steps to reduce our energy usage and dependence on oil.
Luckily, the chronicle of climate change doesn’t have to end with tragedy. As awareness grows about how we negatively influence the environment, humankind’s tremendous capacity for innovation can be put to the test. But before large-scale change can happen, there must be a change at the smallest level: the individual.
If everyone makes a small change to his or her lifestyle, it will make a big impact. And as individuals begin to use less energy, and consequently fewer fossil fuels, the large-scale change that we desperately need will soon follow.
So this week, you can reduce your energy output in a number of ways. Turn off the lights when you leave a room; use public transportation or walk instead of driving a car, support local agriculture, stay away from beef and unplug electronics when you aren’t using them. By remaining aware of how your actions affect the environment, you can be eco-friendly and help create a sustainable world.
Wednesday to April 15 is Energy Week, the third week of the What Will YOU(md) Do? sustainability pledge. During this week, choose to bring the issue of climate change into your life and pledge to reduce your energy use. Learn more and take the pledge at www.whatwillyoumddo.org.
Sara Spaur is a freshman economics and government and politics major. She is a member of the Student Government Association’s Student Sustainability Committee. She can be reached at sspaur@terpmail.umd.edu.
