We are waking up to a world of floods, heat waves, and disappearing forests. The children of tomorrow will bear the burden of our indifference. The choice to save the planet is still in our hands.
Muntaha Sheeraz
Waking up to a world with more floods, longer and more intense heat waves, and the large-scale disappearance of forests is not merely a possibility; it is already happening in many parts of the world. Climate change is a long-term change in the Earth’s average surface temperature. It is not only about heat; it is also about the melting of glaciers, the shrinking of snow-fed streams, and changes in weather and precipitation patterns. On 17 November 2023, the Earth’s average surface temperature increased by about 2.06°C.
Climate changes have been observed throughout history, but rapid warming has been observed since the late 18th century. Why does climate change matter most today? We are living in the 21st century, and climate change is no longer a future risk. Its impacts are clearly visible and widespread. It matters most today because it is affecting people’s lives, health, food supplies, water resources, economies, ecosystems, and overall quality of life. This planet was given by God to humans as a gift, but we have been so selfish and irresponsible that we have destroyed it for our needs.
There are several causes of climate change, and almost all of them are related to human activities: the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial pollution, and transportation. All these activities release harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which trap heat energy in the atmosphere and create a blanket over the Earth, causing the planet to warm up. Climate change leads to global warming, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, extreme heat waves, and many health issues.
Some decades ago, climate change was considered a Western concept, but now its impacts are felt globally. Nowadays, places as cold as Kashmir are facing serious and adverse impacts of climate change. The demarcation between seasons that was well-defined a decade ago has completely vanished. The transitional seasons between summer and winter have also disappeared. Some seasons, like early spring, have been lost. This change is felt as most spring flowers, such as the narcissus that used to bloom in March, can now be seen fully bloomed in January or February.
Because of climate change, many migratory birds have altered their cycles; some now stay here during the summer, while others do not return even in winter. Birds like the hoopoe, once seen in flocks during spring, are now hardly spotted. Many others, like the Katij, have completely disappeared. According to research, climate change is expected to increase at an uncontrollable rate in the very near future.
Climate change has an adverse impact not only on the environment but also on society. To encourage people to avoid activities that cause climate change, you must first encourage yourself, your family, and your friends to make that change. As it is said, one small step leads to bigger ones. So start with yourself. To solve this problem, you do not need to cut the stem; you must destroy its roots. To encourage people, you do not have to give lectures; instead, link the problems of climate change with things that are valuable to them, such as money, health, and family.
We are part of a generation that clearly understands climate change, so it is our responsibility to encourage others. We must promote the use of public transport over private transport and encourage carpooling. The children of tomorrow will bear the heavy burden of our indifference if we do not act today. We are not only fighting to save the environment; we are fighting to save a clean environment so that future generations will have clean air to breathe and live.
The planet is not dying. It is being killed. And the choice to save it is still in our hands. Climate change will not wait for us to change, so we must change before it is too late. If we have destroyed this Earth with our hands, we can also heal it with our hands. The future is still ours to write.
The writer is a Class 9 student at SAPS
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