Author: emilysoesilo

As we know, climate change is undoubtedly having a negative effect on our Earth, and in order to prevent permanent damage, we need to take action now. However, how? We contribute to climate change every day, from our electricity usage to the gas we use while driving. If we could change the products we use, we can significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses we contribute. One of the highest users of electricity is lights, as about 10% of electricity usage in a household is used for lighting. 

The most common type of light used is called incandescent lights. Incandescent lights are lit by heating a wire in the bulb so it glows. However, about 90% of the energy generated is heat and less than 5% is light. In addition, they can last about 1,500 hours. Incandescent bulbs consume about 60 watts of electricity.

 A better alternative is fluorescent lights, which are lit by an electric current that reacts with a tube with argon and a small amount of mercury gas, resulting in ultraviolet light that activates a coat of fluorescent light inside the tube making visible light. In comparison to incandescent light, fluorescent uses less electricity and lasts about 10,000 to 15,000 hours meaning less waste as well. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “if every household in America replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL (Fluorescent light), the energy saved would be enough to light 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions from the equivalent of 800,000 cars.”

On top of that, LED lights are even more effective light compared to both incandescent and fluorescent lights but are more expensive. Unlike incandescent and fluorescent lights, LEDs don’t generate most of their energy in heat and are lit by the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material, using about 10 watts of electricity. LED lights can last up to 25,000 to 35,000 hours, two to four times longer than a fluorescent light bulb.

In conclusion, changing something as simple as a light bulb can help prevent further climate change and also reduce waste. One step at a time we can come closer to a better, cleaner future and all it takes is a change of a light bulb.

Work Cited

Edison, Thomas. “CFL vs. LED Lights: Which is the Energy Efficient Light Bulb?” Green America, https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/cfls-vs-leds-better-bulbs. Accessed 12 February 2023.

Climate change is, needless to say, affecting the natural world. According to the NOAA’s 2021 Annual Climate Report, the combined land and ocean temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.14 degrees Fahrenheit per decade since 1880. Increased emissions of greenhouse gasses result in lower quality breathing air and change in overall climate. As a result of of this, thousands of species are suffering. The animals listed are only a handful of animals that are being directly killed because of climate change as every species is affected in some way.

Moose

Due to climate change, temperatures rise resulting in changes in forest species and increase in parasites. Moose are able to live comfortably during the winter and struggle during the summer with their thick skin and fur. As temperature increases, moose get overheated and seek shade to forage. When moose do not eat enough during the summer, they are left with not enough fat for winters. In addition, less body weight means less calf population. 

Temperature increases mean an increase in the parasite population who is now able to sustain life in winters as its not as cold as it was before. Moose are vulnerable to parasites as their immune system weakens due to heat stress. These effects are already showing in Maine where 90% of calves didn’t survive their first year because of winter ticks.

Salmon

Climate change increases the temperature, which results in flooding and overflows of water. In salmon’s habitat severe floods result in increased egg and alevin dying to gravel scour. Salmon migration is based on blooming plankton, the increase of temperature would then affect plankton blooms and the salmon migration cycle, which leads to altering in fish development, activity, growth, migration timing, and survival. Warming temperatures also result in habitat loss and increase death rates for salmon as well as increase in population for those accustomed to warmer temperatures. This includes potential predators and competitors for the salmon. According to the New York Times, “in 2015, unusually warm waters killed an estimated 250,000 sockeye salmon.” The death of salmon will also impact its surrounding ecosystems as at least 138 species rely on the salmon for food in some way. It also directly affects humans as an estimated 16,000 jobs in the commercial and recreational fishing industry depend on salmon.

Sea Turtles

Without the factors of climate change, sea turtles face  many challenges involving numerous threats from humans and predators. However climate change has only increased these challenges, starting with rising sea levels and stronger storms, which destroys habitats and damage to essential coral reefs. Coral reefs are an important food source for turtles and are dying due to unfit temperatures, decreasing food sources for sea turtles. Rising sea levels impact nesting areas for sea turtles and their ability to track down these sites to repeat the cycle. Sea turtle eggs’ gender also depend on the beache’s temperatures, warmer temperatures produce females while cooler temperatures result in males. Due to rising temperatures, there will be a significant increase in female population and decrease in male population, making it harder to find a male to mate with and decrease production of eggs.

In order to prevent the loss of vital species and biodiversity, increased action must be taken now. Each day innocent animals die as an effect of increased carbon emissions and pollution caused by us humans, but this is not yet the worst to come. According to the Nature Conservancy, “To avoid the worst impacts of global warming, we must globally achieve net-zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.” In order to establish this goal and reverse these effects, adjust your daily life such as lowering your heating and cooling as this contributes to the majority  of electricity used at home. Instead of using cars that contribute to carbon emissions, walk, bike, or take public transport. If we start changing our everyday lives we will be closer to a better and brighter future not only for us but for the thousands of animals depending on it.

Works Cited

Fazio, Marie. “Northwest’s Salmon Population May Be Running Out of Time (Published 2021).” The New York Times, 20 January 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/climate/washington-salmon-extinction-climate-change.html. Accessed 3 February 2023.

“Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Climate Change – Sea Turtle Conservancy.” Sea Turtle Conservancy, https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-climate-change/. Accessed 3 February 2023.

Lindsey, Rebecca, and LuAnn Dahlman. “Climate Change: Global Temperature | NOAA Climate.gov.” Climate.gov, 18 January 2023, https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature. Accessed 3 February 2023.

McClintock, James. “Climate Change Facts & FAQs.” The Nature Conservancy, 9 December 2018, https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/climate-change-frequently-asked-questions/. Accessed 3 February 2023.

Miller, Kevin, and Esta Pratt. “Winter ticks wiped out nearly 90% of the moose calves scientists tracked in part of Maine last year.” WBUR, 18 May 2022, https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/05/18/moose-tick-deaths-climate-change. Accessed 3 February 2023.

Rines, Kristine, and Dan Bergeron. “How will climate change affect moose.” UNH Extension, https://extension.unh.edu/sites/default/files/migrated_unmanaged_files/Resource003858_Rep5484.pdf. Accessed 3 February 2023.“Salmon and Trout | Climate Change Resource Center.” USDA Forest Service, https://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/salmon-and-trout. Accessed 3 February 2023.