By Alexis Cabrera, Staff Writer
CHANGES: Mankind is degrading the Earth and its natural resources.
Climate change is a global threat that has existed since the 19th Century. Ample evidence exists suggesting that our planet is suffering because of mankind’s careless use of resources. The planet is warming, but there is still time to save our home before a climate tragedy occurs. Some of the factors that have made this issue more severe include coal, oil, fracking (injecting water at high pressures into bedrock formations to extract oil or natural gas), and nuclear energy use. If climate change continues humanity will suffer dire consequences.
There are many major factors that worsen climate change, so let’s examine a few. The usage of coal is harming the planet by releasing toxic pollutants into the air. According to the article “Union of Concerned Scientists”, the burning of coal for fuel results in air pollutants such as methane nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide, both which are greenhouse gases that accelerate global warming by trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, which leads to a global temperature rise.
Another contributor to climate change is oil. Not only is the process used to obtain crude oil (oil fracking) a messy job, it’s also a harmful one. Oil fracking equipment disturbs the wildlife around it. All the loud noises and construction used for oil fracking can impede animals ability to communicate, breed, and rest. Sadly the distractions aren’t the only effect oil fracking has on the wildlife affected by it, and accidental oil spills can be deadly. One report, One report, “7 ways Oil And Gas Drilling Is Bad For The Environment”, stated that there were 2,834 oil spills announced by oil and gas companies in 2018, a new yearly record. Oil spills cause air and water pollution and harm wildlife. The process of refining oil is also dirty. Oil is refined, it releases greenhouse gases which then traps solar heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change making a huge impact on the environment.
Mankind will continue to suffer the consequences of climate change if no change is made soon. The usage of coal and oil fracking continues to destroy our Earth and exacerbate climate change. It is no question that climate change is real, and it is our responsibility to future generations to come together to put an end to this existential threat before it is too late.