What is climate change and how can we stop it?
CLIMATE change continues to be one of the world's most popular topics when it comes to politics.
If the world does not act now, by 2100, scientists predict that the Earth will not be the same.
What is climate change?
is associated with two things, global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns.
While some don't believe in it, scientists have long provided substantial evidence including global temperature rising, warming oceans, shrinking icecaps, extreme weather events and more.
Climate change is relatively caused by human activities and changes in technology.
How can we stop climate change?
Over the years, activists have been fighting for change in hopes that it can be stopped before it's too late.
The 2015 Paris climate agreement was signed in an effort to reduce climate change and limit warming to 34.7 degree fahrenheit, meaning that by 2050, there are net-zero emissions.
Some of the ways to stop climate change include:
Eating less meat and dairy
One of the ways you can help stop climate change is by changing dietary habits and cutting back on your intake of meat and dairy products.
Meat and dairy account for an estimated 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The 2015 agreement states that that balanced diets featuring plant-based and sustainably produced animal-sourced food “present major opportunities for adaptation and mitigation while generating significant co-benefits in terms of human health.”
Scientists estimate that if people change their diets, by 2050, it could create millions of square miles of land and reduce global CO2 emissions by up to eight billion tons per year.
Cutting back on flying
Another way you can help eliminate climate change is by reducing the amount of times you fly.
Planes are dependent on fossil fuels and the emissions from flights end up staying in the atmosphere trigging atmospheric effects that result in warming the planet even more.
An estimated 2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation alone but if you reduce the amount you fly it will help the problem overall.
For those who must fly, the recommends a few things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint including:
- Flying economy
- Taking direct, non-stop flights
- Taking daytime flights
- Choosing airlines that offer more efficient planes
- Offsetting your flights
Reducing your energy use and bills
Another way that scientists recommend ending climate change is by reducing energy use.
By reducing your energy bills, it will reduce air and water pollutions and conserve more natural resources, creating a healthier living environment.
The less power that is consumed means that the amount of toxic fumes released by power plants is lower.
Some ways of reducing your energy use and bills include:
- Installing solar panels
- Using energy efficient appliances
- Insulating your home
- Replace light bulbs with more energy efficient ones
- Update to smart power strips
Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle
Driving fuel efficient cars such as all-electric or hybrids will automatically lower ones carbon footprint because they won't be using as much gas meaning the amount of emissions released are decreased.
In a effort to help with this, United States President signed an executive order in August of 2021 saying that half of all new vehicles being sold in 2030 should be electric.
“On average, a hybrid car can emit 46 percent less greenhouse gas than a regular vehicle. By combining the electric battery with traditional fuels, such cars can be an attractive option for consumers who want to start the energy transition without taking risks,” energy industry analyst Matthias Alleckna said via
While Biden's order is not legally binding, it was created in an effort to align with the Paris agreement.
Respecting and protecting green spaces
Green spaces are known for filtering pollutants and dust from their air along with producing more oxygen and lower temperatures in urban areas.
Protecting green spaces is important to the climate change fight because the more green spaces there are, the more benefits they will produce.
According to the , ways people can help respect and protect green spaces include:
- Taking care of your grass
- Choosing flowers and plants based off area’s climate and soil
- Prune and maintain your flowers, plants and shrubs
- Compost
- Plant a tree
Cutting consumption and waste
Pollution is one of the highest problems associated with climate change.
The Nature Conservancy reports that ways people can reduce waste include:
- Using a reusable bottle or cup
- Using reusable grocery bags
- Recycling
- Composting
- Avoid single-use food and drink containers
- Shop at local farmers markets
more from climate change
What is the 2015 Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015 and signed in April of 2016 with a goal to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The international treaty, which covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance, was signed by 175 parties.
When Donald Trump was president of the US, he in November of 2020 but when Biden went into office, he signed an executive order to on his first day in office.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at