The Legacy We are Leaving for Future Generations

Global warming is a hot and controversial topic since it brings serious consequences in the economic, political, and social sector which can greatly affect the future generations. Some people tend to deny that this global phenomenon does exist.

This denial comes from people who wish to escape having to deal with what global warming brings. But no matter how much you want to deny its existence, global warming is a reality – and it is happening now.

It is therefore important that we face the issues brought by this phenomenon with determination for our own sake and the sake of the coming generations. In order to achieve this, we need to understand the beginning of all this and know what to do to solve the problem.

What We Can Contribute to Stop Global Warming

The global phenomenon can be frightening, considering its dire consequences but there are ways to stop it. The main point is to conserve our natural resources so we don’t have to demand for more to the point of resource depletion. The following are just helpful tips that can take a step to having a better environment to live in:

• Recycling plastic materials instead of buying new ones
• Using eco-friendly bulbs instead of conventional light bulbs
• Support tree-planting campaigns to compensate for the loss of trees in deforestation
• When appliances are not in use, turn them off
• Advocating the fight against global warming through education
• Support the use of renewable sources of energy

Get the Kids Involved

The younger generations deserve to enjoy a healthy Earth; they should have the privilege of enjoying what the planet has to offer. However, with the threat of global warming, this privilege has been threatened and it is up to the adults to help make the world a better place for them to live in. There is no better way to leave this legacy to future generations than to have them involved in the advocacy.

Educating children and getting them involved is a great idea to help fight this global phenomenon. Kids should be educated about the basic facts of global warming through fun-filled activities and conversations. You can show them what to do to support the cause.

Creativity is key to keep their attention and if you wish to explain global warming, it should be done in a way that will not lose their interest. Science experiments can be a very smart idea in order to get the kids involved and understand the problem.

No Work Is Too Little When It’s All About Saving the Planet

Not all people will appreciate the green lifestyle and the idea of conserving the natural resources but all of this is for the betterment of future generations. The attempt to save the planet will definitely take a lot of work and not all people may be committed to go through that. But every little thing you do to contribute would work when it is all for the benefit of the planet.

Changing one’s lifestyle is not easy to do and some would not find it a very enjoyable thing to do. But in the end, all the efforts to save the planet will pay off and the younger generations will be the ones to enjoy the benefits. The simplest green choice can make a big difference in defending the only planet that is home to the human race – and that is the legacy we are leaving for the future generations.

The Issues We Face With Air and Water Quality

It would truly be disappointing to need your inhaler even if you are just doing a 4-mile run. Study shows that the increase in CO2 levels brought by global warming increased the amount of pollen present in the air, which only means that people allergic to pollen are at great risk. In addition, the air has become dustier since global warming equates to drought, which consequently produces wildfires, and in turn brings in more dust in the air.

The temperatures of the ocean have also risen and will continue to rise if global warming is not put to stop. This would result to a threatened marine life. These are just some of the effects that global warming can have on water and air, which will be briefly discussed in this chapter.

How Does Global Warming Affect the Air You Breathe?

Climate changes from global warming can have a substantial impact on the health of people worldwide. Global warming is responsible for the spread of diseases and reduced quality of air. Carbon dioxide is the main pollutant that contributes to global warming and is emitted from cars, power plants, and airplanes. Other human activities may also be held accountable for its emissions.

As climate changes, seasonal months are expected to fall out of sync. Spring would come early, fall ends late, and there will be heavier rain and snow. Rising levels of carbon dioxide and seasonal changes make a great recipe for pollen to be released into the air. In short, asthmatics will become sicker in the coming years.

The air has been polluted and its quality has been reduced as combination of noxious gases circulates in the atmosphere. On top of that, it becomes easier for diseases and illnesses to be spread, making people more vulnerable to health problems.

How Global Warming Affects Quality of Water

The quality of water is also significantly affected by global warming. If temperatures continue to rise as part of the global warming process, the flow of water, in rivers for instance, decreases. As a result, pollution will be condensed in the river because there will not be enough water to dilute the pollutants. Ultimately, sewage treatment facilities are required to control these pollutants and setting them up can be expensive.

Reduced water quality for the lower species can mean a threat to their survival. When water temperatures rise, it leads to the decrease in the levels of dissolved oxygen – an element needed by aquatic animals. Hence, these animals will be under stress and may fight for survival – that is, if all of them would really survive.

Air and water are both essential for the survival of living things. While different species can adapt to changing environmental conditions, the absence of air and water cannot sustain life and having poor quality of those elements are just as bad. The issues we face with water and air quality today are not restricted to what was pointed out in the aforementioned, but is all the more a reason for people to do their part to make that change.

The Issues We Face on Our Food Today

Global warming has been believed to be beneficial for the food and agricultural industry for quite some time. This is due to the high levels of carbon dioxide from global warming which were once thought to help with photosynthesis for the greeneries, thus, the belief that there will be a boom on the agricultural sector and food supply.

The theory was backed by the fact that there has been a great improvement in barley production in Iceland amidst global warming. But as more research experiments have been conducted, it was revealed that global warming effects on food supply and agriculture are not good at all.

Photosynthesis is necessary for plants to grow and manufacture their own food, but with the drastic increase in temperatures brought about by global warming, these plants will find it hard to survive. In addition, the climate change has brought about weather irregularities, bringing in floods and hurricane – surely, the survival of t will be a total struggle. Furthermore, these plants are primarily used for human consumption and when they are affected by the prevailing high temperatures, food shortage will occur.

How Global Warming Affects Food Supply

It has now been established that global warming can have negative effects on agriculture and ultimately food production. These effects are:

Reduced yield - With global warming, expect that there will be reduced yields of food. High temperatures and drought can bring stress to crops and livestock, making them vulnerable to diseases and affecting their productivity.

Decreased soil arability – with the climate change, higher latitudes will receive the right temperature suitable for growing, only that the soil and nutrients found in these areas are not suitable for growing produce. Alternatively, lower latitude areas are suitable for farming but with the climate change, it becomes a less productive ground.

Need for Irrigation – In some parts of the world, crop production will depend on rain. However, since the rise in temperature makes rain absent most of the time; the need for irrigation becomes the next option. As a result, there will be more expenses to take care of and water access will also become a problem.

More Pests – Pests, fungi, and weeds tend to thrive better in warmer temperatures and under high levels of CO2. New pests may be introduced in different regions as environmental temperature and humidity changes. For instance, pests thriving in low-latitude areas may migrate to higher latitudes.

Effects on Fisheries – fisheries are already affected by pollution, global warming, and overexploitation. The changes in water temperatures in oceans, lakes, and rivers, coupled with rise of sea level and melting ice can have a great impact on different species of fish. For instance, they become more vulnerable to diseases in warmer waters. For some species of fish, they are fortunate enough to have adapted to the change by migrating to high latitude, but for others, like freshwater species, there is no other option.

Food shortage is a serious threat to society since man relies mainly on food for survival. The future of the global food supply will depend on how different societies can handle to the changes brought about by global warming.

The Issues We Face on Waste Today

Solid waste is considered garbage produced in our homes, offices, and industrial companies. The production of solid waste and its toxicity is increasing. Most of the products we buy from the market contain harmful chemicals, and when these products are combined with other chemical products, your health and our environment are at risk. There are different waste facilities for every nation including incinerators and landfills.

Humans Contribute Too Much Waste

The human race is responsible for more than 30% of the world’s generated waste. Just imagine how much household garbage you throw out every day. You tend to throw out trash of different kinds each day. It is in the form of paper (white paper, magazines, tissues), plastic (food container, bag of chips, medicine bottles), glass (food jars, beer bottles), food (vegetable peels, leftovers), and so much more - it is for certain that you can still think of a lot more examples.

In addition to the solid waste coming from your home, there are also pieces of trash lying out on the streets; those that come from the commercial sector such as restaurants, hospitals, and shops; the industrial companies, manufacturers, and the agricultural sector.

In the United States, about 220 billion tons of garbage per year is being produced as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. While statistics for the entire planet are not readily available, just consider that the U.S. comprises 4% of the world population – that will simply tell you that it is a LOT.

The Toxic Nature of Waste

Government regulations on the chemical industry are not that stringent, which results to the manufacture of products that may contain harmful, untested chemicals. These products are consumed and eventually thrown away. There are still chemicals known to be harmful (such as BPA in plastic toys) that are still used due to poor regulation. The toxic nature of waste intensifies the problem and people do not really have a clear solution for the problem.

Packaging is definitely a serious contributor of solid waste and that a huge percentage of waste products come from packaging, which is made of plastic. Plastic does not biodegrade and it does not disappear even for centuries – and that will seriously wreak havoc in our environment. Imagine the lifespan of a plastic material and the fact that a lot of trashes thrown away are made of plastic – it is definitely concerning.

How Garbage Pollution Affects the Environment

Garbage pollution affects the environment in many ways. For one, the chemicals that are present in the waste are harmful to the environment and all living species. Garbage pollution is also a source of bacterial diseases. Uncontrolled trash problem can also radiate into something more serious like having the garbage find their way into rivers and streams, polluting the waterways and harming aquatic life.

The long-term effects brought about by trash problem are not easily reversible especially when chemicals are involved. While there are several campaigns and projects that aim to solve trash problems, it still helps if you make small contributions to prevent the problem from becoming worse.

The Issues We Face With Natural Resources Today

Life on Earth depends on the availability of the world’s natural resources, which includes water, energy, materials, and fertile land. However, the human population is growing at an overwhelmingly rapid rate, also increasing the rate at which these resources are consumed.

The climate is changing; freshwater reserves and our forests are diminishing; there are only a few land areas that remain fertile and different animal and plant species are threatened to extinction. If we want life to continue on this planet, we need to change our lifestyles and do what we can to preserve our natural resources.

The Issues with Natural Resources Depletion

Everything found in nature that can be turned into a product for consumption is a natural resource. The modern technology can do so much in the name of convenience but it is incapable of making trees. However, technology can modify these resources and as it is trying to take over the world, the rate at which these resources are depleted has increased dramatically.

It is important to understand that not all the resources found in nature are unlimited. But somehow, its depletion is inevitable due to the lifestyle we lead. Increasing demands due to population explosion, human greed, and neglect all lead to the loss of these precious gifts of nature.

Below are some of the common problems concerning our natural resources:

The quality of land worldwide is not as pure as it was a hundred years ago. Forests have been cleared out and have been replaced with agricultural lands and residential lots. Vast agricultural lands deplete more nutrients in oil much faster than the rate at which they are replaced. Fertile lands are decreasing, while consumption and demand continue to rise.

Our waters today are polluted as a result of waste products coming from industrial sites. Water pollution brings on several negative consequences. One is forcing the closure of beaches due to poor quality of water. Another is that fish may become unsafe for consumption. The potable water in your area could be contaminated with harmful microorganisms that can cause serious health problems.

The ocean is also at stake especially with the growing problems of global warming. The ability of the ocean to replenish fish population cannot keep up with the rate of consumption. On top of that, the climate change has also affected productivity of marine life.

The lush forests are threatened with continued deforestation to satisfy the economic needs of many nations. Biodiversity is greatly affected as the consequences are suffered by species that thrive in the forest, which could eventually lead to their extinction.

One Planet to Save

The human population takes up 30% of the Earth’s resources and our planet may not seem to keep up with the high demand. This leads to deforestation, polluted air and water, degraded soils, and the dramatic decrease of different plant and animal species. The problem intensifies as the human population and rate of consumption continue to increase and. If nothing changes, it is likely that this only one planet we have may not be able to sustain life.