As part of this process, I wanted to further my knowledge about the environment and what we can do to help stop climate change before it’s too late. Global warming is a very big issue at the moment and I’m glad it’s starting to get the attention it deserves, but we can always do more. Scientists are saying without change, the world will be at the point of no return by 2030 and unless we make impactful changes before then, we will be unable to repair the damages we’ve caused and we won’t give a healthy, green planet to the generations to come.
What is the difference between climate change and global warming?
Climate change is where there are changes in the weather patterns throughout the planet, and as normal as this should be, these changes are being driven by burning fossil fuels. However, global warming is the heating of the Earth’s surface which is caused by fossil fuels being burnt and traps the heat on earth so the climate becomes warmer. They are very similar as fossil fuels cause global warming which heats up the planet and leads to the climate changing.
What can nature do to stop the climate changing?
Trees, plants, animals and other natural things can be used to decrease the effects of global warming, so we need to keep their numbers up if we want to stop any more damage being done. We can plant more trees in rainforests like the Amazon to keep it alive, as they soak in carbon dioxide and release oxygen for the air to become cleaner. As for animals, the larger ones eat the insects that damage the plants as part of the “food chain”, which means those plants and flowers have a longer lifespan.
What is the “food chain”?
As shown by the diagram below, the food chain is where we document what animals eat each other by size and habitat. For example, a larger animal, such as a lion, will eat the animal that is slightly smaller and less powerful, such as a gazelle. This gazelle will eat an animal much smaller like an insect, and this insect would have been living off grass, moss or some other kind of natural resource. It shows a hierarchy between animals and how the bigger one will always win the race but it’s better for the environment to eat the smaller animals, as they cause harm to our plants.
What can we do to help?
There are simple things that we can do to help save the planet, but we have to put them into place now if we want to keep this world fresh for the later generations. Here are some ideas of what people can do, at home, at work and in their everyday routine to help slow climate change:
Choose a plant based diet - start switching your meals from meats, processed foods and animal produce and switch to alternatives that are better for the environment. You can also do this with makeup, beauty and skincare products to choose products that are 100% vegan and companies that are cruelty free.
Switch to an electric vehicle - driving unleaded and diesel cars and vans burn fossil fuels, and as expensive changing cars can be, if you are approaching a time where you’re ready to look for a new vehicle, choosing an electric one prevents more greenhouse gases.
Or even better, don’t drive as much as you can! - If you are able to walk or cycle to a location such as work, to see family or even going to the shops, you can do your bit for the carbon footprint by leaving your car at home. Also, make the most of public transport whenever it’s possible.
Make sure your litter goes in a bin, and it’s the right bin - you are given different bins for each type of rubbish, so make sure you’re putting the right rubbish in the right bin. Especially the recycling, as we can always find another good use for it as long as it’s either paper, cardboard or some plastics, just make sure you check on the packaging to see what the rules are!
Do your shopping from local businesses - Ordering online and shopping from big supermarkets creates a large carbon footprint so shopping from businesses close to your home, especially if they’re small and handmade, would be better for the environment and more cost effective.
What happens to our planet if we don’t make changes?
If we don’t help the planet in the next eight years, we will set up a miserable world for the generations to come. Since the planet is warming, the ice caps are melting meaning the sea level is rising, which leads to changes in weather patterns such as storms, flooding and tsunamis. This then causes damage to the habitats of our animals and our homes, meaning our land will be submerged. Aside from this, wildfires will increase and will become out of control, meaning the trees, one of our main resources for many things and a very important part of our world, will be lost forever with no chance of replacing them. This world is fragile and we need to start taking much more care of it if we want to keep it the way it is, we have to make changes, whatever you can do, right now!
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