In September, 300,000 people in the UK joined the global climate strike. We’re facing the largest threat our species has ever seen. Climate change is observed all over the world and is a result of global warming. Energy from the sun is transferred to the Earth and some is absorbed by the Earth’s surface warming it up. The warm surface emits some of the energy back into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases in the air absorb the energy and emit it back to the Earth’s surface. The process repeats itself over and over again. This is called the greenhouse effect.
Without these greenhouse gases the mean surface temperature of the Earth would be around -18◦C (our current temperature is around 14◦C). An Example of a greenhouse gas includes carbon dioxide.
Natural factors of climate change include:
Volcanic eruptions – During a volcanic eruption carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
Solar output – The amount of energy emitted by the sun.
Human Factors of climate change include:
Burning fossil fuels – They release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Deforestation – Trees absorb carbon dioxide and without them carbon dioxide levels will continue to increase.
Duping waste in landfill – waste produces methane which is another greenhouse gas.
It’s not too late. Both children and adults are fighting to save our planet. We can’t stop climate change but we can prevent it from getting much worse. The best thing we can do is to put pressure on the government to act urgently. We can also make changes in our everyday lives to reduce carbon emissions.
Recently Sir David Attenborough has strongly criticized Boris Johnson for avoiding a TV debate on climate change. The environmentalist said, ‘I don’t know what else he had to do, but it would have had to be very, very important to dodge this one.’
There are many ways in which we can help reduce climate change. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs, switch to renewable sources of energy such as solar power, support or join youth-led movements. The next climate strike is on the 29th of November.
The new draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy aims to change the way we choose to travel. By 2041, the Mayor aims 80% of all Londoner’s trips to be made by foot, by cycle, or by public transport.
