Climate change: whose problem is it?

Kyle S.
Pathways World School
New Delhi, India

Climate change is any long-term significant change in the weather patterns of an area. We are experiencing these changes and I believe that there is no other more important issue than this one. So whose problem is it? It is definitely not the UN's or Al Gore’s problem. It is the world’s problem! It is a shared problem and, both individually and collectively, we can prevent it. Global warming is causing climate change and finally everybody is paying attention to it. Al Gore’s big hit movie, The Inconvenient Truth, has brought focus to this problem across the world.

Climate change is happening and I am 100% sure of it. For example, if you look at the polar caps, they are melting rapidly. The sea level is rising and that is a sign of climate change. The worst of all is that it is destroying agriculture with changes in weather. This will lead to a drop in the production of crops and the food supply of the world. Some politicians do not support this scientific view. I believe that scientists are correct and politicians just say what they believe they need to say to be elected. Can you guess why I am saying this? Scientists study this for their whole life to get the answers and do not change their answers until there is new research. On the other hand, politicians change their positions based on changes in public opinion.

I think climate change is affecting me personally, but not in a big way yet. For example when it is very cold, I cannot go to the park, ride my bike, or even play baseball. When it is hot, I cannot play outside because I will get sunstroke or even sunburn. When it is hot, I use the air conditioner and when it is cold, I use the heater, affecting the environment by using up resources.

The world is worried about climate change right now because, in the future, it will get so bad we will not be able to stop it. These changes may not be reversible and we would have lot many problems like flooding of islands and low-level areas. The problems have already started occurring, from melting of polar caps to changes in weather patterns. Right now in the Antarctic, Emperor Penguins are dying rapidly because there are many cracks in the ice and these penguins are getting stuck in them and dying.

I believe that the rich should do more than poor people, as the rich are consuming more resources and causing more damage to the climate than the poor. For example, I participated in a science fair; I was making a solar cooker, and I figured out that poor people use solar things. The rich people are consuming more resources by using plasma TVs, central air conditioning and heated pools. I do believe that we have a chance now to slow down and stop climate change. So governments should prioritise this higher. They have to help and support individuals by encouraging people to change their behaviour.

I believe that kids care way more than adults (except for scientists) about climate change. If you go to any school in the world, they will have at least one day when all the students go to the park, pick up garbage, and clean their city. I also believe that we can never rely on technology to stop climate change. Right now, technology has made climate change worse because machines use fossil fuels and pollute air. So, I think we have to change our life style to make climate change stop forever.

By the time I am an adult, things will be worse. For example, by 2050 the Arctic Ocean will have no ice, but just water. Also, I bet by 2050 over one million species will be extinct or will have died out. I believe that all people across the world will come together to stop this change.

After you read all of this, I hope you have gotten a little scared, because I got scared writing this. I hope you will do your part to stop climate change and global warming. Start today by consuming less resources. Start today by asking your government to make this a priority. We can stop it from happening.

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