Climate change is the difference in the Earth's global climate or in regional climates over time. It encompasses changes in the state of the atmosphere over time on a scale ranging from decades to millions of years.
Scientists largely attribute this shift to the abundant use of fossil fuels increasing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since the late 19th century, the planet's average surface temperature has risen 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the number seems small, that’s a drastic change in the Earth’s temperature and sheds light on what is yet to come. Climate change and global warming are distinct phenomena, but global warming does lead to climate change. Far from just affecting humans, it negatively impacts the natural environment and other species. The current administration has refused to take action against climate change, rolling back previous regulations and protections and pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord. At the last United Nations meeting when climate change was brought up they seemed to just push aside the entire narrative of global warming and climate change as it doesn't affect them directly. After hearing this, the absence of urgency became very concerning to many people.
After an interview with Senior Ethan Atkinson he said “With the temperature's rising, it does negatively affect food supply and can eventually lead to droughts and making agriculture more difficult especially with the rising sea levels that can lead to loss of land and food from the coastal areas… I'm not really concerned about it now because it won't affect me in my life time but for the sake of my kids and grandchildren it does worry me.”
Mrs. Tara Coomes, a Bowling Green High biology teacher, also expressed concern about global warming. She said, “I’m very familiar with climate change. We actually had a class discussion about it in my AP Bio class.” She also said that “the ozone is beginning to shrink.” Improvements, Coomes said, will only come with action, namely cutting pollution and decreasing deforestation.
Scientists largely attribute this shift to the abundant use of fossil fuels increasing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since the late 19th century, the planet's average surface temperature has risen 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the number seems small, that’s a drastic change in the Earth’s temperature and sheds light on what is yet to come. Climate change and global warming are distinct phenomena, but global warming does lead to climate change. Far from just affecting humans, it negatively impacts the natural environment and other species. The current administration has refused to take action against climate change, rolling back previous regulations and protections and pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord. At the last United Nations meeting when climate change was brought up they seemed to just push aside the entire narrative of global warming and climate change as it doesn't affect them directly. After hearing this, the absence of urgency became very concerning to many people.
After an interview with Senior Ethan Atkinson he said “With the temperature's rising, it does negatively affect food supply and can eventually lead to droughts and making agriculture more difficult especially with the rising sea levels that can lead to loss of land and food from the coastal areas… I'm not really concerned about it now because it won't affect me in my life time but for the sake of my kids and grandchildren it does worry me.”
Mrs. Tara Coomes, a Bowling Green High biology teacher, also expressed concern about global warming. She said, “I’m very familiar with climate change. We actually had a class discussion about it in my AP Bio class.” She also said that “the ozone is beginning to shrink.” Improvements, Coomes said, will only come with action, namely cutting pollution and decreasing deforestation.
By Miles Smith