Worcester Preparatory School, 9th grade

Differences We Can Make for the World

I can change the world. I can help change it. One person can change a lot in their community, and it can be the simplest of things. Getting the Earth to become what it used to be environmentally, would be extremely beneficial, but exceedingly challenging. It can be as simple as walking or biking to where you would like to go, instead of using cars that run off of gasoline, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This also can help your body. It needs that fresh air through its lungs, and to walk through nature, because someday, it may all be gone. But we need to prevent that. We need to help this ecosystem that is dying. 

Electricity plays a tremendous part in climate change because it is powered by coal, oil, and gas. You can use less energy by lowering your heating or cooling, switching to LED bulbs, washing your clothes with cold water, and even hanging things to dry instead of using your dryer. Just the tiniest of changes could make a huge difference in your community. You can also conserve energy by not turning on the lights in the morning when the sun can shine through. Instead of putting these artificial lights, use what mother nature has given you, with that bright ball of gas. 

In other options, you can add things to help this planet. Planting a tree is one of the best ways to strengthen the environment. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Trees act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Planting trees not only helps our environment but also helps the inhabitants around them. Trees provide habitats for various species of animals and plants. Their roots prevent soil erosion and filter pollutants from water sources, giving them cleaner waterways. Most importantly, trees release oxygen into the atmosphere, which is essential for the survival of all living things. By planting trees, we not only combat climate change but also enhance ecosystems, promote cleaner air and water, and foster a healthier planet for current and future generations.

A unique and efficient way of helping the ecosystem could be Direct Air Capture (DAC) Technology. This helps capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, which can reduce greenhouse gas concentrations, especially in sectors where emissions are difficult to eliminate early. You might be wondering where you would store the carbon dioxide. Luckily, it can be injected deep underground into geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs. This prevents the carbon dioxide from re-entering the atmosphere and helps lighten climate change by permanently removing it from the carbon cycle. This has already been created, and America is aware of it, but it is rarely used. 

This should be changed, and this technology should be supported by the government wanting to make the world better. They need to make announcements about DAC and what it can do. If people have the resources to do it, they should, but they are not aware of it, and time is running out before what happens to our ecosystem becomes irreversible.

Ways that I can raise awareness throughout my school could be through clubs, which we do have, like the environmental club. We can create meetings and volunteer work, like planting a garden, picking up trash and recycling off the road or ground, and making new inventions to help our environment gain its strength back. You can do a prep rally and talk about what is happening on our planet. Putting up signs throughout the schools and reminders to turn lights off when you’re leaving somewhere, or throwing the right things in the recycling, and anything else that can benefit our world. 

We will not be bystanders to the ravages of climate change. We will be change-makers and the guardians of our planet’s future. This is our moment. It’s our turn to make a difference. So many people walked so we could run for this opportunity. So let us seize it together, for the sake of our planet, and all the things who live on it.