CLIMATE CHANGE
Humans are the main culprit of this catastrope, which has a lasting
impact on the world.
Global warming, also known as climate change, is a phenomenon where the average temperature of the earth's climate slowly rises due to the increased amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases are gas molecules in the atmosphere that trap the sun's heat and keep it from escaping back into space; this is known as the greenhouse effect. Without them, the Earth's average temperature would be around 0°F, and would not be able to sustain life. However, like all things, too much of a good thing can be bad.
In 2017, America released over 6425 metric tons of greenhouse gases into the air. Of that amount of greenhouse gases, 29% was released via transportation, 28% via electricity, and 22% via industry.
If the Earth's average temperature keeps increasing, even if it's only be 1° a year, it will begin to add up and will start to affect the Earth and its inhabitants in irreversable ways. If we do not take action now, we will destory our home planet, and we will no longer live in a thriving world, but rather one that is dying. If our planet is hurting, we are hurting. If our home is dying, we are dying.
We need to preserve Earth for the next generation and the next. We will not burden our children and grandchildren with the responcibility of fixing the planet, but rather we will show them how care for it. Come and make a difference.
Alyssa Calleros is a rising high school junior as of 2020. During her sophomore year, she enrolled in an AP Environmental Sciecne class; since then, she had a passion for learning about her home planet, as well as sharing her knowledge with others. She is also currently taking part in the Girls Who Code Virtual Summer Immersion Program, and using her knowledge of the environment and her new-found skill in coding to hopefully help make the world a better place. Her hobbies include drawing, listening to lofi, watching anime, playing D&D, baking, and the occassional dragon slaying.
Ashely Medel is a rising senior. She will graduate high school in 2021 and has maintained a passion for the wellbeing of nature her whole life. She helped begin a club dedicated to cleaning up her community and maintains a limited relationship with plastic, paper, and styrofoam. Ashley enrolled in the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program and is very glad she did because she got to experience coding for the first time. Ashley enjoys walking her dog, hiking, watching Netflix, and eating.