We have tackled many concerning phenomena over the past few weeks here, each of them with their own set of problems. This week we are set out to look at one of the more nerve-wracking environmental issues, one which has gained quite a lot of attention in recent years in the media and politics. For those of you wondering when I was going to bring it up, well, here it is: this week we discuss global warming (dun dun dun…).

Global warming is essentially the gradual rise in temperature of the Earth. It takes place mostly due to the greenhouse effect, which is the problem caused by the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trap heat inside their particles by letting in light but keeping the heat in (just like a greenhouse). The more gases like this that are released into the atmosphere, the more heat gets trapped in them. The greenhouse effect is actually something that we need to survive, but not at the levels it is currently reaching. Without the atmosphere containing these gases, the Earth would not be warm enough to inhabit life. So yes, we do need these gases, but definitely not in such high concentrations.

So what exactly does the presence of excess greenhouse gases do to the planet? There are a number of effects that come with this, most of which you have probably heard about. There are the glaciers that are melting (we have all heard campaigns to “save the polar bears”), the sea levels rising, and the wildlife that cannot adapt to a fast changing climate. With global warming also comes more intense weather, which is not such an obvious consequence. Unlike most of our other environmental issues thus far, global warming is one that can be seen in many different ways.

But wait, isn’t natural climate change a thing? If that is what you are thinking, you are not wrong. Volcanic eruptions can cause fluctuations in the earth’s climate. So can large storms, as well as natural variation in solar radiation due to a number of different reasons. So yes, the Earth’s climate does vary from time to time, but the concern here is how much it is varying and the fact that it is not entirely natural. Up until recent years, greenhouse gases that were emitted into the atmosphere were absorbed naturally, but since humans have been releasing more of these gases than ever more recently, the concentration is more than what is typically naturally taken care of. Humans are the cause of the vast majority of global warming, and we need to realize this in order to keep the consequences to a minimum.

With something as huge as global warming, something that will clearly affect the entirety of the planet in the coming years, why is everyone not paying attention to it? There are actually some people who believe that global warming is a hoax, a conspiracy theory, essentially something that is not a real concern, even though 97% of scientists say that it is. There are many reasons that people state for refusing to believe that the Earth is getting warmer. The saddest one in my opinion, which is actually the most popular excuse, is that “it is still really cold outside.” Others include the belief that the variation in temperature is natural, the belief that there is not enough scientific evidence, and the flat out refusal to believe the news because it is all fake. Essentially, the problem here is that as a society, we are not educated enough to fully understand this phenomena. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the first step to solving the problem.

As they say in support groups and other such things, the first step to solving the problem is admitting that you have one (or something to that extent). Above all else, the most important way to combat global warming is to educate the public about it. We are not likely to want to fix what we do not know is broken. So once that occurs, we can move on to other solutions. There is a whole list of things we can do to lessen this problem. The first of which is ensuring that we are putting energy efficient appliances into our homes. For the number of times we use our refrigerators, washing machines, and other household machines, it is important that we make sure we use environmentally friendly ones. Other solutions include using better light bulbs, driving an energy efficient car, and cutting down on the amount of food we waste.

There is not way around it: global warming is a scary issue. One that we really need to keep an eye on. But there is an increase in movement toward a better future for our planet, and as a society all we have to do is stop resisting and work for a brighter (but not warmer) tomorrow.