There are many problems facing the upcoming Generation, Generation Z however one of the most contentious, and potentially catastrophic problems is climate change, and more specifically global warming. Global Warming (according to NASA) is the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system. Some of the feared effects that Global Warming may have on the environment include ocean acidification, extreme weather patterns, and a rising sea level. Statistically it has been recorded that the average temperature of the Earth has risen about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century. In addition, five of the ten hottest recorded years have occurred since 2010. Although this change may seem small, many in the scientific community fear that it will continue to rise, and believe that it is already causing severe problems around the Earth, but especially in impoverished or coastal communities.
Due to the immense quantity of evidence in favor of climate change’s existence, there are few people denying its existence, but rather denying that it is due to human’s emissions of carbon dioxide. Even Searcy’s district representative French Hill believes that, “Climate
change is real but the proposals put forward by Democrats, like the Green New Deal, are fiction.” As controversial and impactful as the topic of climate change is partisanship was bound to get involved. Although there are some Republican politicians (such as Representative French Hill) who believe that climate change is real, and a threat to our society there are other politicians who have outright denied climate changes existence, and our effect on the increase of Global Warming. Since President Trump’s time in office he has passed 131 acts towards deregulation of the energy industry, (with many of these acts aimed especially at coal). President Trump’s actions have been approved by the Arkansasn people as a whole with nearly 64 percent of citizens believing that climate change posed no “serious threat” to America according to a poll done by the University of Arkansas. This lack of concern for the threat of climate change certainly contributes to the lack of action taken by congress.
Many students at Searcy High School agree with Trump’s deregulation of the energy industry. Kyle Whitsett, a senior at Searcy High School voiced his approval with the Federal Government’s actions, “I think that even though climate change is real, it’s more important that American continues to create jobs.” There is a lot to be said for the energy industry’s ability to create jobs, especially in states that otherwise would not have a lot of agricultural or industrial exports. According to the Federal Government the United States energy sector was valued at $350 billion dollars in 2019 and $1.3 trillion dollars globally. Additionally the energy industry employs over 6.7 million Americans, or approximately 5% of all jobs. Traditionally the fossil fuel industry has been the primary contributor of jobs in the energy sector (nearly 70% in 2015) however in recent years the number of clean or renewable energy jobs have skyrocketed to a point where fossil fuels only account for 55% of jobs in the energy sector of the U.S. Kyle Whitsett when informed of the rise in clean energy jobs said that, “Ideally America would run on all clean energy, but there are too many people that rely on coal jobs to make the switch all at once.”
One potential solution that politicians in favor of climate change have proposed is the introduction of a carbon tax, or a tax on any products that contribute to the release of harmful carbon dioxide emissions such as gasoline or diesel. Coach Clennon the AP Environmental Science teacher is one proponent of a carbon tax, “Although at first it would be hard for families that don’t have as much money to switch to an electric car or electric appliances in the long run it would save money for the country, and for individual households. I also think there should be a set number of years after the law is passed for it to go into effect so that people have a chance to save up money before the price of gas skyrockets due to the tax.” A carbon tax, although not the solution to all of the world’s emission problems would severely decrease the overall amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the United States. The United States emits 5,269.5 million metric tons of Carbon Dioxide due to Fossil Fuels (primarily the burning of gasoline) which puts it second highest in the world. Although this figure is immense compared to undeveloped countries China emits nearly double the emissions of the United States (nearly 10 million metric tons). When questioned on how the world needs to convince China to reduce their overall emissions Coach Clennon replied, “Money, the only way that they’re going to be convinced to reduce the amount of emissions they’re outputting is if the U.S. and other first world countries put sanctions on China which prevents them from making money off their damaging business practices.”
Another major effect of global warming and the release of Carbon Dioxide is the increased acidification of the oceans caused by the increased Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere which is then absorbed in the ocean through photosynthesis of aquatic plants, and then released in the water after the plants die. This increased acidification has caused the death of over 20% of the current coral reefs in the world, and it is projected that another 35% could be lost in the next 10-25 years. Although this can be an easy loss to discount for people who have never witnessed a coral reef or know about their impact coral reefs account for half of all oxygen produced on Earth. Asher Blake, a senior at Searcy High School described the importance of coral reefs on Earth, “If all coral reefs in the ocean die there is a very good chance that their death combined with the rapid loss of the rainforests, people may not have access to oxygen and will be unable to go outdoors without constant oxygen, and would need filtration systems in their homes to be able to breathe.” This may seem like a post apocalyptic environment that exists solely in science fiction novels, and most scientists predict that there will be at least fifty years before we are faced with consequences as drastic as these most environmental scientists do believe that this is the direction we’re heading without severe corrections from people on an individual, and governmental scale. Asher Blake also believes that there are also significant cultural, and aesthetic reasons to preserve the coral reefs, “I had the chance to see a coral reef in person, and it is one of the most beautiful things that exist on Earth. It would be extremely unfortunate if none of our children ever got to witness that.”
The issue of climate change is a vast multi sided problem that affects people all over the United States, and the world. Although there is no one definite solution to this problem for each side to achieve their goals there must be a compromise of values, and cooperation between countries and people, to handle one of the first true problems that affects all of humanity, regardless of race, class, or religion.
