Public knowledge of climate change is key to making a difference - Virginia Tech Collegiate Times

Public knowledge of climate change is key to making a difference | Opinions | collegiatetimes.com

If you ask most Americans about their opinion on climate change, the majority believe that it’s a big issue. According to the Pew Research Center, 74% of Americans both support the United States’ actions against climate change and the implementation of sustainable practices. This population acknowledges that it is affecting not only the entire world but also their own communities. Despite these statistics, over half of the population do little to prevent climate change. As the world’s climate continues to heat up, it is imperative that the public understands the effects and make changes to decrease them.

Going about your day, it can be hard to recognize the harm being done to the environment. Many believe that their own actions are so minimal they have no effect. They fail to put into perspective the number of people who believe the same. The University of Michigan notes that the average person consumes about 12 kilowatt-hours of electricity every day. To supply this level of energy to millions in the country, the U.S. must rely heavily on natural gas and petroleum. Though it is not always visible, the emissions from these fossil fuels are prevalent in the environment; it can be seen more clearly in cities with a denser population. According to The World Health Organization, emissions cause many health problems due to an increased amount of pollution in the air, water and on land. Higher exposure to these pollutants can lead to illnesses such as pneumonia, lung cancer and heart disease. As the world’s population grows, these emissions and health issues will continue to increase, creating unsafe conditions for generations to come.

The internal health of communities is one of many concerns that arise when discussing climate change. According to the United Nations, rising temperatures, flooding, drought, lack of food and intense storms are a few of the major results of climate change. In cities and towns at sea level, flooding is especially a threat. Cities like Boston, Massachusetts deal with this issue regularly. The City of Boston provides flood maps along with preparation tactics for community members. The city experiences storm surges from intense weather, and these patterns have become increasingly consistent over the past century. While places like Boston are flooding, others are experiencing drought.

Maria Amaya, a postdoctoral associate in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Virginia Tech, describes the effects of flooding and drought on the country.

“I think people are moving away from the coastlines,” Amaya said. “These places don't have a lot of water to begin with. I think there’s a lot of uncertainty in terms of how to handle that.”

Amaya’s research focuses heavily on the relationship between humans and water in areas that experience extreme drought and flooding. In many of the western states such as Nevada, Arizona and California, drought has been plaguing communities. The National Integrated Drought Information System states that 17.3% of this western region of the U.S. is experiencing drought. Irregular rainfall, lack of groundwater and extreme weather have all had a massive impact on this issue. Another pressing matter concerns the ecosystems throughout the United States. Many places along the East Coast rely on the aquatic ecosystems to provide income. The fishing industry has suffered greatly due to the increasing temperature of the water. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, human activity is a big proponent of this increased temperature. The more greenhouse gasses burned, the higher the overall temperature becomes. Knowing the devastating effects of fossil fuels and other unrenewable resources, the United States and the rest of the world should prioritize implementing cleaner energy. Nuclear, solar, wind and hydropower energy are a few of the many developing clean energy sources. Utilizing renewable sources is crucial for the health of the planet and the people.

The many effects of climate change can seem very overwhelming and too large to tackle on an individual level. It can be hard to get involved, especially with a lack of knowledge on the topic of climate and sustainability. The first step to making a difference is becoming informed about the local, state and national effects of climate change. Reading articles and statistics pertaining to these impacts makes all the difference. Understanding what sustainability is and how to become more sustainable is a step in the right direction. One person is all it takes to start the movement; once people begin making changes, others will follow.

“It's important for the general public to understand more about sustainability,” Amaya said. “Part of the process of reaching a sustainable society would be seeing how the public and the communities in general respond or change to the environment.”

Researchers and specialists like Amaya develop findings from human-environment interactions and make recommendations for how to practice sustainability at a personal level. Depending on where you live, sustainability can look different. Move for Hunger notes some universal practices that can be done at home. Being conscious of personal energy use, keeping a garden and upcycling are a few of the ways to practice sustainability.

“Different decisions and different actions influence the environment in different ways,” Amaya said. “Being conscious of the decisions made in terms of how much water you're using, how much energy you’re consuming, is one step in that direction.”

Climate change is an enormous issue not only in the U.S., but around the world. Though it might seem a daunting task, society should be doing much more to prevent drastic weather changes and pollution. You don’t have to be a climate expert to get involved; start small and do what you can to be more aware of what is happening around you. Without the Earth, we have no home. We need to do the best we can to protect it.