A Heating Problem

Duane Paul Murphy
Class of 2019
Politics

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference is happening in the French metropolis of Paris, the Pew Research Center recently published a survey that 45% of Americans believe that climate change is a very serious problem, 41% of Americans believe that climate change is harming people now, and 30% of Americans are very concerned that climate change will harm them personally.The rest of the participants are not concerned or have no general knowledge of the issues.

Due to this study and contemporary political discourse over anthropologic climate change, I have one simplistic, humane message to those who either deny climate or who are unware of the issue: it’s time for the United States of America to wake up and faces the facts.

Here are the facts: According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), global seal level rose about 2 feet or more in the last century and is accelerating at a faster rate throughout the 21st century and beyond 2100 based on present and past satellite data and costal tide gauge records. The Environmental Research Letters released a consensus report from more than 12,000 peer-reviewed climate science papers and concluded that 97% of world scientists believe that climate change is real and man-made and real. These numbers, figures, statistics, and data sets are not part of a politically motivated conspiracy, it is pure fact. As matter of new record, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and his office are investing non-renewable energy companies such as Exxon Mobil basically knew about the scientific causes as well as the scientific effects of global climate change and lied or withdrew information to their investors or consumers.

Based on this information, it quite obvious that oil and natural gas companies are creating a politically motivated climate change conspiracy to cover up their great conspiracy to deny climate change. We as the common man need to hold these companies and governments accountable for what they have done to our only known habitable planet in the entire known universe. It is time to see that greenhouse gases, most them emitted by human beings, are the reasons why global temperatures and sea levels are rising to epic, almost apocalyptic proportions.

We need to stand for the billions of people around the world who live in costal and arid areas for their rights to a clean, healthy environment for their existence and economy. We need to stand up for new renewable technologies such as bladeless windmills, solar panel materials that absorb more sunlight, and nuclear fusion. As a millennial, I believe with passion and hope that our generation and future generations can end this environmental catastrophe from becoming a permanent crisis on Earth. If we fail to act on this situation being discussed in Paris, France on a global stage, we will be at the point of no return to normalcy or stability. Wake up and step up for our mother, gracious planet Earth for the people.