“The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof…” God is all seeing, all knowing, and all-powerful. However, I can’t imagine that when he created the earth he ever imagined we would destroy it the way we have. Climate change. A very basic definition of Climate Change is, “Any change in global temperatures and precipitation over time due to natural variability or to human activity.” Natural variability is one thing. Human activity is another. We all have what is called a carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is “the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product” (UK Carbon Trust 2008).

REDUCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

What we can do to reduce our carbon footprint.

Factories, the cars we drive, and the food we eat (animal farms that produce meat for consumption produce more green house gases than all of the cars in the world combined) contribute to the release of Greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Our consumptive society is one in which each person creates about 3 ½ pounds of garbage every day. Knowing this, I believe gives us a real reason to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reducing, Reusing and recycling our products means that factories can produce less, which in turn, means that less green house gases are released into the atmosphere.

The recent wake of devastating earthquakes and snowstorms leaves many asking the question, “What’s really going on?” As the atmospheric temperature continues to increase, we will also see an increase in heat waves across the globe. Climate change has been proven to be a contributing factor in all three natural phenomenons.

The End is near or are we just being irresponsible? Some argue climate change isn’t real, but was orchestrated by scientists with a hidden agenda. One thing we can’t argue is that sea levels are rising. The countries most likely to be affected are low-lying coastal areas in parts of the Caribbean, Mexico, and Ecuador. Islands such as the Maldives are at threat to being completely under water one day. And here in the United States of America, New York City, and parts of the Florida coastline would also be negatively affected by a continued rise in sea level.

I believe what we are seeing is a case of, “you reap what you sow.” Driving bigger cars (and driving every where), building bigger houses, clearing land for shopping malls, has taken its toll on our environment, which is taking its toll on our earth, and consequently is taking its toll on our health.

I challenge you to reduce your carbon footprint by walking or riding a bike somewhere this week instead of driving, make one day an all vegetable day, unplug small appliances in your house when you are not using them. All of these changes, though seemingly small, would have a huge impact on our would environment.