Global Warming and the Future of Humanity

Global warming is perhaps the most dangerous threat to humanity in the foreseeable future. However, global warming is just a symptom of a much larger problem: resource management. Unfortunately for us, the Earth has a finite amount of resources. As inhabitants of this planet, we should be making sure that these resources are sustainable for the Earth and for us, but humans are inherently selfish and short sighted. Global warming and its denial has become an enormous social and political issue as well as a scientific one, but I'll stick to the more factual side of it. The global temperature is higher than it has been in millenia. The ice caps are melting, which is leading to massive habitat loss and flooding. Weather patterns have become more irregular and unpredictable, with record numbers of hurricanes hitting countries each year. Habitats are being destroyed and more species have gone extinct than since the dinosaur extinction. Levels of carbon dioxide in the air and carbonic acid in the water are increasing. This is leading to acid rain, unhealthy air, and the bleaching and destruction of coral reef habitats. To top it off, we are rapidly running out of oil and other resources that we rely on. Unfortunately for us, these problems are so overwhelming that most people have decided to stick their heads in the sand and hope they go away. Instead of confronting the issue at hand, people are blaming others, pretending the problem doesn't exist, or just letting the next generation deal with it. The first step to solving the looming crisis is to confront it and acknowledge its existence. We don't want to make the sacrifices necessary to stop this problem, but the more we wait, the more we will need to give up. We need to fully address this problem. Here is a ten step plan to doing so.

1. Trust the facts. Instead of getting information from media sources or friends, look at scientific articles. These articles have strict requirements to be unbiased and only report what is scientifically tested and found. If you don't want to trust one of these articles, do an experiment yourself. Look to scholarly articles for your information. Instead of just Googling "global warming", go to scholar.google.com. Now, when you search for "global warming", it will show you trusted scientific articles.

2. Talk about the problem. Instead of attacking climate change skeptics, discuss the problem with them. Show them the facts and look at the issue from their perspective.

3. Make social media companies more accountable. The spread of misinformation is a big factor in people not knowing what to believe. When opinions and lies are presented as facts, it can be hard to distinguish truth from false. Unfortunately, social media algorithms promote the spread of pseudo-facts and lies because they attract more people. We need to make sure that these companies are held accountable for the spread of misinformation.

4. Force corporations to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Petition for companies to change their methods, and support Earth-friendly businesses.

5. Reduce our beef consumption. Cows take up valuable land that, if used to farm crops, could feed billions more people. In addition, cows release as much carbon dioxide as all cars, ships, and planes combined.

6. Move to a more sustainable energy source. Many people are already making the switch to solar or wind powered energy. This is cheaper and more sustainable in the long term.

7. Be more aware of what you buy. Every unnecessary purchase you make not only hurts your wallet, but it also hurts the environment. It may not seem like much, but all the plastic and wrapping on those products piles up.

8. Use more degradable items. Plastic and non-biodegradable items will sit in trash piles for centuries to come. If you wouldn't leave trash lying around your house, why would you leave it lying on your planet? If you must use plastic, remember to recycle!

9. Reduce water consumption. Though it can be hard to forget, water is the most valuable resource on this planet. Think of water like diamonds. You wouldn't take hour long showers if you were watching diamonds slip down the drain. Don't use more water than you need to.

10. Hold politicians accountable. Politicians aren't scientists, so they shouldn't be the authorities we trust when it comes to scientific topics. Instead of blindly following the word of a politician, do your own research. Just because someone is an authority doesn't mean they are right.