The World Is In Our Hands

Globalization: A Threat To The Environment Around Us

Global warming poses many threats to both the climate and the health of the people on this planet. It alters the crop seasons, which affects the way people live. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels build up in the atmosphere and trap heat that would otherwise escape. This trapping of heat leads to a gradual increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature.  While some may wonder why this is a negative, there are countless reasons why global warming is harmful to not only our planet but to us, its inhabitants, as well.

What Are The Dangers Of The Temperature Rising?

First, rising temperatures lead to thawing of otherwise frozen ice caps in the oceans.  This leads to rising seas, which can significantly impact low-lying cities and islands surrounded by seawater.  Next, changing rainfall patterns are directly related to global warming, leading to droughts and wildfires in some areas and devastating flooding in others. Another significant impact of global warming that is often less discussed is the spread of disease. For example, diseases such as malaria tend to inhabit warmer climates.  With an expansion of warmer climates on Earth so too come the diseases that prefer those climates. Lastly, and perhaps most notable, there is tremendous destruction of entire animal populations due to loss of habitat. For example, cold climate animals are losing their homes due to warming of those areas in which they normally inhabit. Simply put, global warming affects all of us: plant, animal, and human.

What Can We Do To Reduce The Risk Of Global Warming?

By being more conscious of the world around us and the need to do our part to protect it, we can each do a small part to reduce the effects of global warming.  Below are a few simple tips you can follow immediately to start making a difference:

1. When buying your next car, look for one with the best fuel economy. Each gallon of gas you use is responsible for 25 pounds of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. So, the better gas mileage the less the air is polluted.
2. Replace just five lightbulbs in your home with Energy Star rated bulbs. This may seem like such an insignificant change; however, this can reduce your energy consumption in those light fixtures by up to 75%. Added bonus: Energy Star bulbs last far longer than traditional bulbs, thus saving you money in the long run!
3. Use a programmable thermostat. Why heat your home when no one is there? This is a no-brainer that not only saves the environment by decreasing the amount of energy used but also saves your pocketbook quite a bit.  These devices are relatively economical and can be installed with ease.
4. Share the ride to work. Carpooling and using public transportation are excellent ways to do your part to decrease emissions in the environment, thus helping to control the global warming problem. Again, this is another way for you to save money as well on gas and automobile expenses by sharing those with co-workers or fellow citizens.
5. Reduce, re-use, and recycle. This is probably a tip you have heard about for years.  Kids as young as preschool age are already learning about recycling and its importance, but as adults we often get so caught up in our busy lives that we forget to do it. It only takes a few extra seconds most of the time to toss a can, newspaper, or box into a recycling bin instead of throwing it directly into the garbage, yet the lasting impact if everyone would recycle could be staggering.