If you turn on the television in your house right now and flip to the nearest news channel, your TV screen probably looks something like this: palm trees blowing in the wind, water rushing down streets consuming everything in its way, roofs flying off houses and an obscenely large screen displaying the most updated Doppler radar with someone in a suit standing next to it. It’s hurricane season.
This is no ordinary hurricane season, however, as there have already been two hurricanes in a row that have devastated areas of the United States and two more tropical storms are on their way. Hurricane Harvey has left Texas in a state of disarray and Hurricane Irma has left chunks of Florida completely underwater. Why is this year so different? Because the climate is changing—getting warmer and warmer.
According to the NOAA, surface temperatures in the eastern part of the Atlantic were half a degree to a full degree (Celsius) above average this summer. These higher temperatures are what can take your typical, garden variety storm to a supercharged mega-storm.
As a whole, the human population is the main culprit for these rising temperatures. Our constant burning of fossil fuels has had a negative impact on so many areas of the environment, including intensifying tropical storms like Harvey and Irma. It is up to the human population to take action to prevent further damage to the Earth. Even just one person can make all the difference. But where should we start? What can we do? Starting is so simple and we can all do so much.
3 easy things you can start doing TODAY:
- Instead of driving, walk or bike to your destination.
- When you’re grocery shopping, look for products with recyclable packaging.
- Recycle your home’s paper, cardboard, metal and glass.