We want to remind you the Earth is now hotter than Harry Styles. Our names are Nikki Nadler and Mackenzie Tammara and we stand together to help preserve our environment.
The future is in our hands. It is our job to clean up messes made by the boomers. They did our Earth an injustice and it is our generation’s job to fix it. Something is in the air and we can promise you it's not love, but rather an excessive amount of CO2.
Climate change is the rising average temperature of Earth's ecosystem, which drives changes in rainfall patterns, extreme weather, and arrivals of seasons. All of these are caused by, you guessed it, humans. Although this might sound very scientific and hard to understand if not aware of what's going on, the logistics are actually quite simple! When the earth’s atmosphere releases energy, the planet cools. When the earth absorbs the sun’s energy, the planet warms. According to, www.energy.gov humans have been burning fossil fuels at an increasing rate since the late 19th century as their main source of energy. Burning fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and gas for electricity, heat, and fuel caused by excessive transportation) releases carbon dioxide, aka CO2, into the atmosphere. CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap the sun’s energy, similar to being trapped under a blanket. Greenhouse gases are vital for our planet to stay warm enough to be inhabitable, but too much of these gases can be extremely dangerous.
According to the World Health Organization, “Climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year” between 2030 and 2050.” The rising temperatures can cause heat stress, strokes, cardiovascular and kidney disease. Air pollution can also result in the declining health of people living with respiratory problems, like asthma. Climate change also aids in rising sea levels. Scientists believe that many island nations and major cities like New York, Miami, Mumbai, and Sydney will be completely underwater. Not only does climate change impact humans but animals are also at very high risk. The ocean absorbs about 25%-33% of fossil fuels. The level of acids in the fossil fuels are increasing which makes it harder for the water to take it in. This can be detrimental to animals with shells or skeletons like oysters, clams, and coral, as well as the fish, birds, and mammals that depend on these animals for food sources. The rising temperature also assists in coral bleaching which will wipe out the homes of 25% of marine life. Climate change is tracked by earth-orbiting satellites, remote meteorological stations, and ocean buoys. Many people say “climate change is a problem for people in the future and is a lifetime away”. This statement is not even remotely correct. The time for change is now.
Earth Uprising is a youth-led climate organization that focuses on educating young people about climate change and the current state of the earth. We work in the Cooper City chapter and allow climate engaged people to collaborate on fun events and exciting meetings. Earth Uprising Cooper City tries to teach people about water conservation, tips towards sustainability, and telling people the effects of plastic usage. South Florida has a direct outlet to helping beaches, the ocean, and a recycling program; it is not difficult in our region to be environmentally friendly.
Sustainable living, simply put, is reducing the amount of natural resources you use. With the climate crisis in full swing, it is our turn to adopt more eco-friendly habits that can reduce someone's carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere. I’m sure many of you are thinking, “How in the world am I supposed to live sustainably?”. But it is way easier than you think. Easy ways to practice sustainable living are to carpool more (after COVID! Stay safe and social distance!) to reduce the amount of pollution from using multiple cars, ditching one use plastic items that will more than likely end up in the home of an animal, fish, or bird, carry your own reusable shopping bag and water bottle, unplugging items when they aren’t in use, use more natural light, donate clothes, boycott fast fashion (fast fashion uses cheap, toxic textile dyes and is the second largest polluter of clean water globally after agriculture), and reduce, reuse, and recycle! We also personally use decomposition notebooks for school that are made of 100% post consumer waste paper and soy ink, pilot pens made of recycled water bottles, and write notes virtually whenever possible.
Being ecologically mindful is a great tip to being environmentally friendly. Being made aware of the life that relies on the area around you as well as the lasting effects of your actions, you can make more conscious decisions as it pertains to the environment. Some easy tips to be eco-friendly and sustainable are to donate old clothes that you may have worn to family members or friends that may be interested as well as your local Goodwill or other thrift stores that accept donations. That will produce less waste than purchasing new clothes. You could also use less water when showering and washing your hands to not be wasteful, promoting the welfare of the planet,
At Earth Uprising Cooper City, we have certainly done our role as a part of educating people on climate change but there is still a long way to go and we cannot feasibly make this change on our own. So far our chapter has come up with entertaining ways to educate people about deforestation, tips towards sustainability, and water conservation.
For more tips, please check out our Instagram @earthuprisingcoopercity
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