School – Caesar Rodney High School

Essay Topic – Youth Climate Action

Raising Awareness for Global Warming  

Global warming is a phrase we have all heard before, but do we truly understand its impact? We see it on signs that say “save the polar bears,” or on the news with melting glaciers. But many people don’t realize the cause and that we can do things to slow this process down, such as focusing on environmental issues, educating ourselves, and warning the people we know. 

Well, what is global warming? “Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature” (National Geographic Society). So it’s been going on even longer than we could observe. Although, human activities have increased the pace of global warming through the greenhouse effect. This effect occurs when sunlight passes through the atmosphere and gets trapped because of the greenhouse gases in the air; this sunlight heats the planet. These greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are produced naturally through things such as volcanoes or plant decay, but more importantly, through human sources. 

Additionally, research has shown that “Since 1750, atmospheric concentrations of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O have increased by 149%, 262%, and 123%” (University of Michigan). The more that humans develop, invent, and change, the more greenhouse gases we produce. Consequently, “Transportation was 28% of 2021 greenhouse gas emissions – The transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuels for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes” (EPA). Now, how do these statistics relate to global warming and climate change? It shows that the way humans do things in their everyday lives harms the planet; releasing greenhouse gases just by driving to school or taking a fun trip on a cruise. 

Although greenhouse gases are the largest cause of global warming, everything in our environment goes together. Other environmental issues go towards increasing the process of global warming and climate change as well, such as pollution. For example, 80% of water pollution is caused by humans through industrial waste. This polluted water kills aquatic plants, such as algae. These aquatic plants use photosynthesis, which uses carbon dioxide in the air and sunlight to produce energy to grow. Without aquatic plants that are being killed by pollution, the carbon dioxide that humans keep producing isn’t being taken out of the environment. So it’s being trapped in the atmosphere, contributing to the warming of the planet. 

Another environmental issue that many are worried about is deforestation, which is also a major contributor to the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. According to the United Nations, “each year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed” (UN). Since trees go through photosynthesis, they have a lot of stored carbon. When we cut down large areas of forestation, the carbon that is being stored is released into the atmosphere. Contributing to the greenhouse effect while also damaging the environment in the area. 

Now, all these strong issues seem impossible to tackle and prevent. But we as a community can do things to slow down these processes, as we’re the main contributors to these issues. Even though small things like turning off the lights when you leave a room or reducing your time in the shower don’t seem like they will do much, all of these small things will add up. One of the greatest things we can do as the youth of our generation is to spread the word. Although it seems like you’re just a small piece of this huge puzzle of a world, we have to remember we are all in this together. At any age, we can get involved in our communities to do our part. Address the problems when you can, educate yourself and the people you know, and become an advocate for our planet. You can always learn more about environmental issues such as climate change, and there are always people willing to listen. You can share issues and 

solutions with your teachers, family, friends, and community members. Warn them of the risks, and push them to support environmental causes. And if you don’t enjoy putting yourself out there like that, you can always do small things to contribute to the solution. Things such as eating healthier foods and trying to ride your bike instead of driving help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into our atmosphere. 

Even though it seems impossible to fix these big issues that have been going on forever, we must remember that it isn’t about fixing the problem. Instead, what we have to worry about is how we, as a community, can contribute to helping reduce the factors that worsen these issues. All it takes is one small step to start a chain reaction, and soon enough, we’ll be looking at a happier, healthier planet. So, remember to educate yourself and others, and do your part to take care of our planet. 

National Geographic Society. “Global Warming”. National Geographic, 14 Dec. 2022, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/global-warming. 

Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan. 2021. “Greenhouse Gases Factsheet.” Pub. No. CSS05-21. 

EPA. “Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” United States Environmental Protection Agency,

13 April 2023, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gasemissions#:~:text=Transportation%2

0(28%25%20of%202021%20greenhouse,ships%2C%20trains%2C%20and%20 planes. 

“Causes and Effects of Climate Change”. United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes-effects-climate-change.