Turning up the Heat

I Believe Global Warming Is Real

Art by Felicia Lankford| VOX Staff

By Vanja Pantic| VOX Staff

My mom and I were stuck in traffic the other day when I noticed defiling, gray smoke seeping through the exhaust pipe of the Hummer in front of us. As the car polluted the air with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, I thought of global warming.

Though there are scientists who argue that global warming is a farce, I agree with those who believe that cars and other pollution caused by humans contribute to global warming. I believe each of us has a part to play in reducing its effects. But first, we need to raise our awareness about the issue.

Global warming is the increase in average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. This increase is harmful because it is negatively affecting climate change, destroying natural habitats, endangering human health and weakening the ozone layer, which protects us from the sun’s rays. 

“Scientists say the earth could warm by an additional 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit during the 21st century if we fail to reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil,” reports the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Web site.

You’re probably thinking this may mean more bathing in the sun, but some scientists believe the steady increase in temperatures is the underlying cause of problems in nature, including droughts, wildfires and other natural disasters.

The Global Warming Argument
Global warming is a very controversial issue. Scientists who don’t believe that global warming is real blame climate changes on natural processes. They argue that changes in temperatures and the environment are natural cycles that have been occurring since the development of Earth.
However reasonable their arguments may seem, scientists who believe that humans are responsible for global warming say previous changes in temperatures have not been as severe as they are now. They reference the drastic increase in natural disasters, among many other things, to say that global warming is a real issue.

During the past few years, many families have been affected by natural disasters in the United States. Last month, wild fires blazed through southern California and consumed more than 2,000 homes, leaving about 500,000 people displaced, according to the LA Times.
Wildfires aren’t the only effects of global warming. As we all know by now, Georgia is facing a huge drought that has caused water restrictions in 61 counties in the state, according to the Atlanta Regional Council’s Web site. Scientists associate global warming with droughts, saying heat waves are the main cause.

Scientists aren’t the only ones torn on the issue of global warming. Christian Gerner-Smidt, a 17-year-old junior at Druid Hills High School, is stuck between the two sides, wondering if global warming is real.
“After watching a BBC documentary, which presented the other side of the argument, it seems as though global warming may be bogus,” he says. “Both arguments are credible – so now it’s more of a personal opinion.”

Wake-Up Call
I believe global warming is real because it is evident that the environment is changing in ways that were previously unknown to us. These extreme changes cannot simply be put off as natural occurrences.
Al Gore’s movie, “An Inconvenient Truth,” also supports the view that global warming is an epidemic we should care about. The movie magnifies many negative things Americans are doing that contribute to global warming.

“The average American generates about 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year from personal transportation, home energy use and from the energy used to produce all of the products and services we consume,” according to climatecrisis.net, the movie’s official Web site. Residents in the United States, though out-numbered by other countries’ populations, are the main contributors to CO2 pollution. As a global leader, we should recognize what we can do to stop this epidemic.  

There are many easy choices teens can make to lessen the effects of global warming on our world.  Arielle Parnes-Katz, president of the Environmental Club at Druid Hills High School, says not enough teens are paying attention to global warming and we need to care more about the problem. “Teens need to be aware of simple solutions, such as recycling and volunteering with organizations like Trees Atlanta.”

Vanja is a Junior at Druid Hills High.