The planet is hurting. It’s too obvious for everyone to see yet many of us turn a blind eye to these drastic environmental changes that are happening everywhere. Even other species on the planet are suffering and many have been completely wiped off from the face of the planet never to be seen again after becoming extinct. However, we are too obsessed with the latest trends and with social media that we rarely give the time of day for these more pressing environmental issues.

Environmental protection and conservation are a must because it is our responsibility as the most superior species on the planet (and the ones that also caused the most destruction). Earth is our only home. We haven’t fully explored yet the possibility of living in another planet nor even found one that is as hospitable as ours. Then, there’s climate change that makes life more challenging for many of us. The heat is trapped on the planet and it is affecting major weather systems and has sped up the melting of polar caps, for instance, which can decimate many island nations in a few year’s time.

Predictions for a planet affected by climate change can sound like they’re ripped from a doomsday novel: stronger hurricanes, intense heat waves, rising sea levels and the disappearance of ice in the Arctic.

And scientists have seen some of those changes already taking place, according to NASA.

Climate change — as well as other environmental issues like deforestation and wildlife extinction — have the potential to be scary for children. The implications of climate change can contribute to stress, depression and anxiety for everyone, but especially for kids, according to a study released this year by the American.

(Via: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/22/climate-change-predictions-can-scary-kids-what-can-you-say/335505001/)

It is true that we may be the reason to our own undoing yet we can still prevent that from happening because we still have time left. In your own little way, you can do something that will benefit the world in the long run even if it is just turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, recycling your trash, using less light at night or using public transport instead of taking your own car to work every day.

We need to move beyond thinking about the environment—our land, water and air—only as a source of inputs for the food system. Instead we need to recognize that global environmental changes can diminish yields, reduce the amount of food we produce, and affect how nutritious it is and where we produce it.

But just how does the experience of change prompt food systems actors and institutions to work toward solutions?

Weather extremes and environmental shocks, for instance, will likely occur more frequently in the future. In California, the multi-year drought and recent lifting of the drought emergency after a heavy rain and snow year has had a cascade of lingering effects, calling for greater management of both extremes and making water conservation “a way of life” by executive order. The four objectives of California’s new management plan include educational and policy nudges such as using water more wisely, eliminating water waste, strengthening local drought resilience and water holding capacity, and improving agricultural water use efficiency and drought planning.

(Via: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/feeding-a-hot-hungry-planet/)

Sustainability is the goal but we are a long way from there now. The world’s population is growing but the resources are receding. How will we be able to grow food if the water supply is dwindling? People will get hungry and many will die that’s for sure. Moreover, natural calamities are also worsening because of climate change.

As global temperatures continue to rise, the consequences of climate change are becoming more apparent. Scientists can collect data on the rates at which ecosystems are changing to gain insight into the effects of climate change, and then apply their findings to infer what ecosystems may look like in the future. However, this can be an incredibly daunting task for a scientist, considering the dynamic nature of the environment. On-the-ground observation alone is not always enough to effectively monitor a given environment’s rate of change–this is where drones come in.

Drones have become increasingly popular for recreational use, but entertainment is not their only application. Some organizations use drone technology as a resource for conservation efforts. Drone expert and main editor of the blog MyDroneLab Jack Brown has identified several organizations that are working to monitor climate change impacts with drones.

Maldives: mapping sea level rise

Sea level rise is the everyday reality for this island nation. Citizens must consider the risk of flooding every day. A project to create a 3D map of the Maldives was initiated by an agency within the United Nations Development Programme who joined forces with DJI, a leading drone manufacturer. Using drones, they were able to map the island nation in a few months, a task that would normally have taken years. Time is of the essence in the Maldives, where 80{de482eb4182815e4397bda7e9c10d3fd88d8e09da808395d54f8dd885ae330e2} of the islands are threatened with submersion.

(Via: https://www.islandconservation.org/drones-climate-change-science/)

Saving the world should be everyone’s responsibility. We pale in comparison to the wrath of nature once it strikes. We don’t want the time to come when the world is no longer hospitable for mankind. There is a lot of work involved for us to salvage what’s left of nature and there are basically two ways to doing it. First is to take an active part in environmental conservation efforts such as tree planting and second is to avoid doing unfriendly environmental practices like wasting energy and polluting the environment. There is more work left to be done, so we should all unite for this common cause for the common good.

One thought on “It’s Not Yet Too Late To Save The Environment”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *