There were many serious climate issues in 2019, most notably deadly wildfires around the world. Some were in California, where over 7,860 fires were reported and 259,823 acres were burnt. Another in Australia has been burning for months and still continues to spread as the continent goes through an ongoing dry spell.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, climate change is defined as a “change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular, a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.”
The effects of climate change are not just limited to Australia or the ice caps. Even Pennsylvania is being impacted by climate change. Geologist and CEO of Civic Mapper Emily Mercurio, a 1992 Penn-Trafford graduate, explained that the wildlife, climate and even human lifestyle in Pennsylvania could drastically change in mere years.
Mercurio stated, “We as a species are in for some major changes.” She added that Pennsylvanians will need to learn how to better manage agriculture and flooding, and will have to improve infrastructure to handle all the water coming from more frequent and severe storms.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, extreme weather events, something more frequent under a changing climate can cause and trigger mental issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression. It says that these events can also weaken the infrastructure and cause an increased risk of violence and aggression as well as displacement of neighborhoods and communities.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection states that the northwestern United States had a more than 70 percent increase in events of heavy precipitation between 1958 and 2010. This has lead to farmers having crops destroyed because of these events.
According to Mercurio, “in another 20 years, Pennsylvania won’t look anything like it does today.” She explained, for example, how the Eastern Hemlock tree is endangered due to the invasive pest that is the Wooly Adelgid.
Other invasive species and diseases are able to expand their reach due to climate change. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection states that mosquitoes carrying diseases, including West Nile disease, have an increased prevalence and transmission seasons due to warmer summer temperatures and moderate winters caused by climate change.
They cite the invasive plant Kudzu as another problem that has become prevalent in Pennsylvania because of climate change. Their website says that it was difficult to find in Pennsylvania 20 years ago, but now can be found in around 100 locations where it is currently isolated in small patches.
The impact humans have had on climate change has been a focus for scientists and researchers for years.
“CFC’s (Chlorofluorocarbon) in the air, among other things that are bad for the atmosphere but they have been outlawed thus helping making it smaller,” said Charles Gates, a geoscience teacher at Penn-Trafford High School.
Another issue is that Earth goes through heating and cooling phases; thus, some people believe that it is not climate change.
“It goes through natural heating and cooling faces. This is because wobble of the earth,” said Gates.
According to Live Science, the wobble is slight changes in Earth’s rotational axis caused by changes in the distribution of mass around the world that is typically caused by retreating glaciers, land readjustment and the convection of Earth’s mantle. The website stated that groundwater depletion, artificial reservoirs and the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet had also contributed, which was attributed to humanity’s terraforming of Earth and climate change.
A few students at P-T have taken it into their own hands when it comes to reducing their own impact on the environment.
Senior Alyssa Tomb has taken steps in her own personal life to help reduce her carbon footprint.
“I try to carpool everywhere. If my friends need a ride or anything even if they drive themselves I often to give them a ride because it reduces carbon emissions,” Tomb said. “I also try to cut out all single-use plastic out of my life as possible I use a reusable water bottle and even got a reusable Dunkin cup because I go to Dunkin so much. I’ve also been slowly been cutting out my red meat consumption because a big part of carbon emissions is the meat industry. My family eats a lot of red meat though so it has been tough.”
According to an article by Mongabay.com, different ways people can reduce their negative contribution can range from using reusable items, such as bags, batteries, and paper to using less gas when driving. Turning off the lights when one leaves a room is also a good way to reduce the use of electricity, not only reducing your impact but also your electricity bill. There are many different ways to make an impact, no matter how small.
Sophomore Emily Coles has made another kind of change.
“I try to use all recyclable dishes, utensils, straws. I bring metal and reusable straws everywhere. I also try to use utensils besides plastic that are made from bamboo, it’s essentially the same thing you can ́t tell the difference except that its biodegradable. It makes a lot of difference.”
She said she has also become a vegetarian, cutting meat completely out of her diet.
“I went vegetarian because I did a lot of research and I found that eating meat provides a lot of carbon emissions from the companies that produce them. It was a very easy switch for me and I think a lot of people think it is harder than it is. I am very happy that I did that to do my part,” she stated.
Prices can deter some people when attempting to make a switch, whether it be dietary or in use of products, as many environmentally friendly products cost more than mass-produced products. A properly raised chicken will be smaller and more expensive than the mass-produced chickens, which are cheaper than their organic counterparts.
“I do think that is an important factor in why people aren’t making the switch but I also think that when you really sit down and think about, and take your money and plan it out it is something you can really consider,” Coles said. “Because a little bit of money extra spent on something can mean a lot of difference when it comes to helping the world.”
Regardless of what role you take, educating yourself on how to improve your surroundings is key in creating a healthier future, not just for people, but for the planet.
Colby Sherwin, Sports Editor, Jake Weinstein, A&E Editor, Maxwell Reese Staff Writer, Erych Frankenfield, Managing Editor