Protecting the Environment & Fighting Climate Change

Prayer and the belief in a supernatural, all-powerful being won't stop the destruction of the environment or the advancement of climate change. Only science and action will!

The scientific evidence that climate change is real and is driven by human activity is indisputable (see the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report for details):

• The ten hottest years on record have all occurred since 1998. The years 2016 and 2020 are the two hottest years to date.
• Over the past century, sea levels have risen about 6 inches and the rise in sea level is accelerating.
• Artic sea ice coverage has diminished each year for the past three decades.
• Ocean temperatures have been rising over the past 20 years, damaging coral reefs and threatening marine ecosystems.
• Glaciers are melting at an accelerating rate.
• Climate changes have caused hurricanes to slow down over the past half century, increasing rainfall and storm surge.
• Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity.

Check this link for more detail: https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/.

Climate change is driven by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), coupled with human population growth.

• Greehouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane are largely responsible for global warming.
• The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 50% since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 1800s.
• The human population, which reached 1 billion at the beginning of the 19th century, now stands at 7.6 billion and is expected to rise to 9.8 billion by 2050. Human population growth is driving the increase in the burning of fossil fuels and the generation of greehouse gases linked to agriculture.

The impacts of global warming, climate change and the continued growth in human population include:

• Continued rise in sea levels and increased coastal flooding.
• More destructive hurricanes and other storms.
• Longer and more destructive wildfire seasons.
• More frequent and intense heat waves.
• More severe droughts in some areas and greater flooding in others.
• Diminishing supplies of ground water in many areas.
• Increased destruction of coral reefs and marine habitats in our oceans.
• Increasing threats to agricultural production and food supplies.
• Increased threats to human health from the spread of disease carrying insects and an increase in polluted air as atmospheric temperatures continue to climb.
• Plants and animals, which are already experiencing the 6th mass extinction in the history of the planet, will experience further increases in their rates of extinction.

What you can do to combat climate change:

• 1. Estimate your own carbon footprint.
• 2. Recycle and reduce food waste.
• 3. Repair vs. buying new.
• 4. Convert to a higher mileage or electric vehicle.
• 5. Eat less meat.
• 6. Install solar panels on your home.
• 7. Use walking, cycling and public transporation in lieu of your car.
• 8. Fly less.
• 9. Contact government officials and business leaders to voice your concern and call for action.