A Modest Proposal To Climate Change America

“Scientists’ overwhelming conclusion is that climate change is happening and human activity is the primary culprit,” (“Climate Change”). The world we live in is falling apart more and more every day. Pollution; Global Warming; Climate Change; These are all problems that caused by people who have come forward in recent years, one of the biggest issues is climate change. The United States government needs to take aggressive steps to combat climate change because scientist have warned that if the climate changing progresses at its current rate, it could have disastrous consequences for life on Earth. Data shows that climate change is linked to rising sea levels, droughts, an increase in the risk of extinction of many species, and the increase in severe storms. With all the issues that are connected to climate change we are not doing enough to try to counteract the lasting effects it has on our environment.

I really appreciate all of the work you're doing spreading awareness about climate change while doing your own part to combat it. In this day and age, our work to change the course of our currently unsustainable civilization is more important than ever. That's why we must be very careful when discussing the changing climate and the repercussions that spring from it. Most conversations about climate change focus on the major problems that are going to occur in the future as a result of current human practices. Yet, it is evident that these changes are wreaking havoc in the present world that we all inhabit. That is why the narrative on climate change must change. Not only is climate change real, but it is impacting the earth in devastating ways at this very moment. Climate change should be treated as the atrocity of today, not the possible problem of the future.

Climate change has been a subject of discussion in the media for many years, supported with the use of arguments against oil polluting the environment and extreme scare tactics of Polar ice caps flooding civilians backyards. The issue has been ignored by the majority of lay people as seeming too complicated, and with all the conflicting information in the media in the past, who can blame them? However, scientifically, climate change and what perpetrates it is fairly simple to understand and society as a whole is beginning to come to a clear consensus on climate change. Thanks in part to more readily available forms of media and information, people have become cognizant of the fact that climate change is a legitimate problem which requires immediate amelioration. While this may seem melodramatic, society is realizing that climate change is an issue which can no longer be denied if the human race wishes to continue.

The Unites States of America is currently working to combat climate change in order to protect people from its effects. By combatting climate change, the USA hopes to prevent its effects from becoming worse in the future because the USA cares for its citizens and doesn’t want them to keep experiencing the consequences of climate change. The USA is putting great effort into dealing with climate change and also hopes that other businesses, organization, and individuals will join them in their effort (Environmental News Service). One concern the USA has towards climate change is its cause of natural disasters. Climate change is bringing more natural disasters by making weather patterns stronger, and weather patterns are becoming stronger as climate change grows which is bringing more natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and drought to the USA (Rice). One example of a natural disaster that occurred in the USA as a result of climate change is the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. In this event, a tornado rated 5 on the Enhanced Fuijta scale hit Oklahoma and had a negative impact on this city by destroying many of its houses and buildings also resulting in the destruction of businesses such as schools (Cable News Network). Another major concern of the USA towards climate change is that it will cause a rise in the global sea level which will result in many of its coastal cities to be submerged underwater. There will be a permanent 4 feet rise in the global sea level

Climate change is affecting humans every day, and yet most of us have found that every region of the globe is affected in some way or another. For us here in San Diego, California, in the Western Hemisphere, on the west coast, United States, North America, that impact is felt mostly with rising sea temperatures and rising sea levels. There are noticeable predictions that by 2050, rising sea levels here will rise as stated: “"At least a 16 inch sea level rise is expected in San Diego, Ca by 2050, with a projected rise of 50% by the turn of the century."

Climate change is an issue that has plagued the minds of humans for centuries. The issue goes back as far as the ancient Greeks, who thought that cutting down forests could lead to more rain. We have always been preoccupied with the topic, and now finally we have evidence that it is in fact happening. We have to work towards lessening the effects that climate change has on our society and combat the reluctance of our government to change our nation’s methods of getting energy. In, “A Climate Repair Manual,” by Gary Stix, he urges Americans to change their ways and use more renewable sources of energy.

I am writing to ask for your administration to support the development of initiatives and policies to stop the climate change. Four decades from now, we do not want to repeat the story in The Age of Stupid, movie in which a man lives in the devastated future world of 2055. The man looks back to today’s date and asks himself why we did not stop the climate change when we had the chance. However, today global warming is out of control, global temperatures are steadily rising. “The primary cause, a consensus of scientists has said, is the rising emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane” (Stone, 2013). The carbon dioxide (CO2) stays in the atmosphere for 50 to 100 years, nitrous oxide

We have all heard statistics over how unmitigated global warming can lead to rising sea levels, increased temperatures, lower rates of precipitation. The Congressional Budget Office recently found that climate change, if unmitigated, would create costly damage not only to the United States’s economy, but also to the world as a whole (source). Despite a scientific and general consensus that climate change is real and a problem, actual committed action against climate change has been disappointingly slow, until recently. We also know the cause of climate change. The United States EPA finds that “Carbon dioxide accounts for most of the nation’s emissions and most of the increase since 1990” (EPA). What we don’t know is a solution.

The dichotomy of climate change can divide the world down the middle. Those who believe in climate change advocate for earth-friendly policy to better the environment and help society as a whole. Those who believe the evidence does not support a climate change theory simply ignore scientists and do not advocate for any type of change in living. However, change is necessary to preserve the planet and maintain the modern democracy- not just in the US, but in the world. Those who deny climate change also deny the chance for cleaner, eventually cheaper energy, long-term jobs, healthier lifestyles, and greater unity between nations. The best and most efficient way to control the path to sustainable, green living is through the government.

The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to human activity is increasing global average surface air temperatures, disrupting weather patterns, and acidifying the ocean (1). Left unchecked, the continued growth of GHG emissions could cause global average temperatures to increase by another 4°C or more by 2100 and by 1.5 to 2 times as much in many midcontinent and far northern locations (1). Although our understanding of the impacts of climate change is increasingly and disturbingly clear, there is still debate about the proper course for U.S. policy—a debate that is very much on display during the current presidential transition. But putting near-term politics aside, the mounting economic and scientific

Based from the 2013 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); an organization established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), if people continue to procrastinate and ignore the issue of global warming, the sea level could rise anywhere from 6 to 16 feet by 2300; places near the sea would have massive flooding and some islands would be submerged (Gregory Trencher, 2011). People often forget that the Earth isn’t just the home of humans, but the home of all living things- present and future; whatever errors that are made during modern-day, the future has to manage them. “...the political and economic institutions of our civilisation are fixated on enjoying the present and unable to account for the consequences of our actions on tomorrow.” (Gregory Trencher, 2011). Instead of dealing with costly and threatening issues that directly affects humans, the government decides to hold off on finding a solution; indifferent to the consequences to come. CONCLUSION

As the U.S becomes more industrialized, we have noticed severe changes not only in the economy but in the climate as well. Although change is inevitable, the most recent changes we will begin to notice more often in rising sea levels, melting ice and torrential downpours are fierce. Climate change is caused by a multitude of activities. Much of what happens in the future relies strictly on the actions and inactions of what we do now and later. Experiencing a multitude of different dramatic occurrence's, our Earth is suffering because of climate change. With these issues rapidly increasing, there have been organizations put into place in order to make life here on Earth more sustainable.

Millions of people, including American citizens are being killed and displaced by this changing environment. The ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising. Deserts are becoming drier, while oceanside areas are being ravaged by tropical storms. Our world is turning into a chapter from the Book of Revelations. But, we still have time to halt this apocalypse and to preserve this planet, our home. In the past few years, we as a people have made tremendous strides of progress. But, we can’t stop now. We must continue to push forward. And we must fight for our planet and those who are unable to speak out. It is the job of this generation to act now and change the course of history.

There is an issue on this planet that will define this generation. The issue is climate change. Global warming. A world on the collapse as our oceans are acidified, our air polluted, our forests disappearing, and human rights issues getting worse. It seems that people are not aware of how big climate change actually is. It’s not something that only takes place on the ice caps or in the forests on the far corners of the world. This is an issue that happens here, and now. It’s real. It’s happening.

Climate change is a worldwide issue. Not only is firm action and leadership critical in the United States, but also international efforts need to work toward reducing emissions. Strong public demand for climate change is crucial to enact effective global warming solutions for the future. Unless immediate action is taken, climate change will continue to escalate and continue to affect the entire planet. Ways nations and individuals can help repair the earth's atmosphere is reduce air pollution, use green energy, stop deforestation. Reducing air pollution could have a dramatic effect on climate change. Humans could impact this reduction by simple things such as conserving