Major Environmental Issues

         The Environment is constantly experiencing destruction and transformations.   Cars and factories release greenhouse gasses into the air, and forests are being cut down. In many sections of the world, people are behind on cures for diseases. Also, people often talk about how the polar ice caps are melting and the ozone layer depleting. Even the government has played a tremendous role in the altering of the environment.  These environmental controversies affect everyone, but most people are oblivious to the changes taking place.  I grew up in a setting where pollution, disease, and other problems were huge issues.  I do multiple things to make myself more environmentally friendly. I walk to the restaurants and other stores instead of driving because I live close to many of them. I also ride my bike when I go to my friends' houses. When I need to travel somewhere and many people are going, I carpool with my friends. I recycle any papers and plastic items, and I reuse water bottles instead of buying more water. I take short showers and I do not leave the facet on when I am brushing my teeth.  Even though I do all of these exemplary things, I have become aware that there are much larger factors around the world that have affected the environment. Millions of people nation-wide are wondering what the most important contribution would be to improve the environment.
      There are many different perspectives about what the most important change could be to improve environmental destruction.  Some people believe that nothing can be done to change the environment.  They believe that since the environment is nature, and nature is out of human control, that nothing can be done to alter the patterns of the environment.  I, however, do not agree with this.  There are many ways in which people can help improve the environment, like recycling, using less fossil fuels, etc.  I do understand why people may believe that "fixing" the environment is impossible, since nature is not made by humans, however, every individual is fully capable of making some kind of impact on nature, either positively or negatively. Which option the individual chooses is completely up to him/her. I know fully well that people cannot alter the environment completely, but small changes will make a difference.  
           Another idea that people believe the most important contribution is to the environment is global warming.  The name global warming is given to the phenomenon where there is an increase in the temperature of the Earth’s surface. This is usually due to the collection of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide and methane in the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases trap excess heat and light from the sun that would otherwise escape back into space. Global warming has many affects on the earth's natural environment. Due to the slowly rising temperature on earth, polar ice caps are melting. In addition to the ice caps melting, the sea temperature is also rising. This is causing the widespread death of various types of marine life such as algae and plankton.  The changes in the earth’s atmosphere are also contributing to changes in weather patterns. This means that both droughts and floods will become more likely as rainfall patterns are altered. It also means that the likelihood of hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, hail and acid rain will increase.  All of these changes that occur because of global warming have something in common: they are completely out of human's control.  I do know that there are things people can do to improve global warming, like preserving a tree to conserve Carbon Dioxide, buying energy efficient products, and driving less.  However, these activities that humans can do are not likely to make much of a difference for the planet.  People do not typically have time to plant trees, energy efficient products are expensive, and people often have no choice but to drive long distances.  
              Staying on the topic of human activities helping the environment, some people believe that humans are the primary source of the world's environmental issues.  Indeed, humans have many contributions to these issues, such as hunting, farming, oil, fertilizer, sewage disposal, toxic man-made chemicals, and solid garbage.  However, all of these issues are capable of being regulated, and many of these detrimental activities are essential for people to carry out their everyday lives. There can be restrictions on hunting, and there already are rules, like how you cannot hunt groundhogs until the season between September 1 and March 9.  Likewise, time periods of hunting can be narrowed by the government.
            Which brings me to another reason that is the main contribution to the environment: the government. Without a doubt, the government has many organizations that aim to protect the environment, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Earth System Governance Project, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  The UN has created many projects aiming to improve the environment, like the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.  However, there is a large lack of participation in these projects from the United States and other countries, which many people feel is disrespectful towards citizens and nature. The loss of biodiversity in an ecosystem has a direct correlation with the health and well-being of the humans in that area. By choosing not to participate in this convention, the United States is showing a remarkable lack of vision for the future in this country and choosing not to promote sustainability.  As a young teenager, I am disappointed  of the insolence the United States government displays in their lack of participation in this important conference.  I feel honored that I was born and raised in the United States and express my concerns because I care very deeply. I wish for my children to enjoy the natural beauty that I grew up with in the woods of North Carolina and have a planet that is not completely destroyed by resource extraction and development.  Citizens cannot control global warming, nor can they affect the actions people are making around the world, however, they can issue a call of action to the government. The government, unlike citizens, have power - and a remarkable amount of it.  They have the power to influence American citizens to preserve and conserve the environment.  If the government makes this a priority for our country, then not only will the government itself improve the environment, but they will influence the people to improve it as well, thus improving global warming.  Many people believe that there are no ways of contacting the government, or being able to alter their policies, however, there certainly are.  These are just some of the examples in which the people can speak out to the government: political parties or individual politicians, lobbying decision makers in government, voluntary organizations, community groups, public opinion, public consultations, and the media.  If enough people take control of this situation and discuss the issues to people of the government, a change is sure to occur for the better.
            In conclusion, people should opt for the best choice of making the greatest difference in the environment: influencing the government.  Through the power of the people, citizens of the United States can issue a call to action, and together, they can spark excellence.




Works Cited:

Cordato, Roy. "The Impossibility of Harming the Environment." : The Freeman : Foundation for    Economic Education. The Freeman, 7 Sept. 2012. Web. 13 Dec. 2012. <http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-impossibility-of-harming-the-environment/>.

Gillis, Justin. "Damaging the Earth to Feed Its People." Green Damaging the Earth to Feed Its                      People Comments. The New York Times, 4 June 2012. Web. 13 Dec. 2012.          <http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/04/damaging-the-earth-to-feed-its-people/>.

Shah, Anup. "Climate Change and Global Warming." Globalissues.org. N.p., 2 Dec. 2012. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. <http://www.globalissues.org/issue/178/climate-change-and-global-warming>.