Climate Change: Are we focused enough on it?

Posted on November 28, 2014

A quick look at the federal budget reveals a big disparity between funding allocation.  The amount of federal dollars (taxpayer’s money) being allocated to defense, not that I am against defending our nation, is a bit too high.  Now scroll through this budget report and you can see why this great country is severely lacking in other areas such as education, healthcare, and most importantly today green initiatives.

I present you a little test: you are a scientist and have just discovered that the consequences of global warming that have been theorized, are no longer theories but real.  Given the total current emissions of greenhouse gases, you are able to calculate a rough period of 100 years before the earth as we know it ceases to be as comfortable, if we continue our ways.  Food would be more scarce and famine will be felt by the majority of the earth’s population. Now armed with this discovery, you encounter a dilemma; do you keep this to yourself? Do you enlist the help of other scientists and spread the news? Do you alert the government? And if so, do you have faith in the government?

The fact of the matter is that we have a problem on our hands.  We have had this problem for years. Of course, small measures have been taken to diminish the impact that humans have on the planet, but why haven’t those measures grown? Seems to be that we are defeating ourselves by advocating for more energy efficient and planet friendly measures but then turn around and engage in other measures such as the keystone pipeline.  This pipeline debate recently picking up speed on our home soil brings to light the increasing concern of the American people losing control of their nation.

Planet friendly efforts that have been exercised by the current administration in the White House have faced major criticism.  The most recent being the verbal agreement between President Obama and his Chinese counterpart.  The criticism is not just counter productive but it also does not recognize this is an issue that will affect the generations of the future.  Simple hatred has taken over for common sense among our elected representatives.  The focus on energy has to be one of the main issues starting now and moving forward.  It is up to us the next generations to lead this country.  Putting ourselves in a position that allows us to the issue of global warming.  As most of us have understood the need for individual contribution i.e recycling; we must also be able to understand that the only way to truly see change is for our government to pass legislation that reflect this goal.

The much discussed keystone pipeline legislation that failed to pass Congress will be back. The emphasis on being informed could not be greater than it is now.  An informed and involved Millennial Generation is paramount.  As the will be consequences of climate change will be more severe in our future, we must request from our leaders, a more passionate and progressive attitude when it comes to creating policy and legislation that reduce our carbon footprint.

The facts are there to suggest that our carbon footprint must be reduced.  This issue is not one facing Millennials just in the United States but all Millennials on the planet.  Nations around the globe have become more conscious of the hard truth, and the United States has to follow suit and be a major leader in finding innovative ways to reduce the carbon footprint of mankind.

Below is a video explaining impacts of climate changing hitting us on home soil.