By Mavis Bates
The earth is heating up. Last year was the hottest year on record, and this probably will be even hotter. We all know that this Winter is abnormally warm. The old song tells us, “Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go. The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh o’er the white and drifted snow.” Thanksgiving Day the temperature was 48 degrees. We have no snow and no sleigh rides would be possible in our current climate. Things are definitely getting hotter!
This warth is a threat to our health. Human-caused climate change is having a huge impact on health and survival around the globe. In 2022, heat waves and record breaking temperatures were recorded on every continent. New data shows that these heat waves are occurring more often due to the human burning of fossil fuels, such coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline. Persons are getting sick and even dying in greater numbers due to these health-threatening high temperatures.
Another threat to our health caused by climate change is the disruption of the natural systems that we count on to support life, including the water we drink and the food we eat. If you’re not worried about climate change and our food supply, we should ask a farmer. In a recent study conducted by Kekst CNC, 71% of farmers in the world agree that climate change is already affecting their ability to produce food and many say that climate change has reduced their crops by more than 25%.
Climate change is disrupting our weather patterns, causing drought, flooding, and other life threatening extreme weather events. Not only do these incidents threaten our health and our very lives, but they cause expensive damage to our infrastructure and put more pressure on our healthcare system, to treat those who have been injured in these events.
All of this offers us a great opportunity to create a better tomorrow for ourselves and generations to come. Our scientists have proven that climate change is being caused by our burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas. We need to shift away from these fuels so we all can thrive. It won’t be easy, but it’s not too hard, either. We all need to support renewable energy such as solar and wind energy, either on our own houses or as solar and wind farms. We can drive less and walk more, support zero-emission public transportation, or buy an electric car. We can make our homes more energy efficient.
Everything we do to bring down our carbon emissions can help slow climate change. A thriving future is in our grasp when we put the health of our people at the center of our transformation to a clear, greener, world.
Much of the information in this article came from a report by The Lancet. You can read the report at http://tinyurl.com/4rtxm6np
Mavis Bates is the District 4 Kane County Board Member.