The contents of the August 9th U.N. climate report revealed many worrisome facts about the state of our planet, but there is still more that can be done to help repair some of the damage.

A recent climate report was published and it stated that without a doubt human interference is the cause of global warming. Over the next 30 years the extreme weather conditions we have been experiencing such as major droughts, heatwaves, and floods will progressively worsen.

“I read that some of the effects of climate change were irreversible. It was scary to think that we aren’t able to do much, but it was also a wake-up call for all of us since we know that our planet is worsening at a rapid pace” Junior Jasmine Rodriguez, Co-President of Green Pledge, said, “It kind of sparked something in me. I already knew it was urgent, but this was a red warning for all of us on the planet.”

While the report revealed many devastating truths there is still hope that some damage can be repaired. The best possible outcome will be the product of cutting carbon emissions massively. In April of 2021, President Biden pledged to cut U.S. greenhouse emissions by 50 percent before 2030.

Even though lawmakers are working to get the planet back on track, there is still a responsibility that citizens have to uphold.

Some ways people can contribute to the stop of global warming include recycling more, using less hot water, driving less, avoiding products with a lot of excess packaging, unplugging electronics when they are not in use, and finding sustainably sourced products. 

“Students can help the climate crisis by informing themselves about climate change and why it’s so important to do our part” said Rodriguez, “Every single person should contribute to the improvement of  our planet as much as possible and as often as they can because that’s when we can really make a big difference.”

While the ability to make serious changes and improve our planet is in the hands of world leaders, students can still contribute and do their part. Small things still matter whether it’s conserving energy and water use or making sustainable switches with products.