"Even though Physics was not my strongest point, I still remember Newton’s third law of motion which can be applied to our daily lives:
"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”
Apparently President Trump must not have been taught by my Physics teacher; otherwise he would surely remember this law or risk a good whooping"
Every person who went through a high-school in Nigeria which required students to live in the boarding-house remembers the euphoria of becoming a senior student. It meant less bullying (Since you got to do the bullying now) In my case it meant I had more junior students under my care to do my chores and my bidding, and even more importantly it meant, I could stop wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts and finally put on long sleeves and trousers. But this euphoria was short-lived when you learnt you had to take all Sciences, Social-Sciences and Arts courses in your first year of senior high school and pass all atleast with a C-grade, or risk repeating the class and becoming mates with the juniors you bullied. The consequences of this was best imagined. I still wonder how I scaled through…
Even though Physics was not my strongest point, I still remember Newton’s third law of motion which can be applied to our daily lives:
“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”
Apparently President Trump must not have been taught by my Physics teacher; otherwise he would surely remember this law or risk a good whooping. On June 1, 2017. President Donald Trump ignored scientific and research-based facts and confirmed rumors to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, thereby undoing one of the more significant deeds of his Predecessor in office.
I’m not a United States citizen so how does the current White house administration’s decision affect me? (I nor be U.S pikin how Trump decision take affect me?)
Yes. No thanks to the mediocrity, corruption and buffoonery prevalent at the helm of affairs in this Country, we still have to grapple with issues like conflict and food-scarcity. However here are a few, amongst many ways unchecked Climate changes are bound to affect you.
- The United States is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and it’s emission reduction pledge accounts for a fifth of the global emissions to be avoided by 2030. Climate Interactive states that failure by the United States to abide by the Paris agreement could warm the globe by an additional 0.3C by 2100. The guardian further states this “would push the global temperature rise, well above2C ‘’ This would further cause sea level to rise, which would set off a string of natural disasters and result in the displacement of millions of persons, the creation of humanitarian situations and the loss of ecosystems such as coral reefs. Already Scientists have released images which depicts a giant crack in one of Antarctica’s largest ice shelves. The ice-shelf which is slightly over a thousand foot thick is estimated to be roughly the size of Delaware in the United States, it's breaking off and melting has huge implications. Large water bodies are expected to absorb considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, unfortunately, rising water temperatures, and carbon dioxide concentrations are increasing the acidity of carbon sinks such as Oceans. This impacts living organisms in such water bodies negatively and decreases it's ability to act as a carbon sink.
Food.
Rising temperatures would not only set off a string of disasters and culminate in humanitarian situations around the globe but would adversely affect the ability of the environment to replenish depleted soil nutrients. This could threaten food security and agricultural activity on a scale previously unknown to man. The ability of the environment to replenish depleted nutrients is highly relevant in conserving biodiversity and habitats. Hopefully we realize sooner than later; we cannot eat currency notes.
Air.
Numerous studies posit that if climate conditions continue to deteriorate, by the turn of the century over half of the global population will be subjected to increasingly stagnant and pungent, hot atmospheric conditions. Now this is not a condition, I would want my offspring to live in, neither should you. Get to work!
Let’s have an adult conversation on Climate Change.
Regardless of your citizenship or affiliations, we are all global citizens of planet earth, and here are a few things we can do to save our planet, protect our future and safeguard the future of generations yet unborn, rather than whining and pointing fingers.
i. Enact State legislations.
Donald Trump might have pulled out of the Paris agreement, but States within the U.S still have a say. Already Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York has made public his intention to commit New York City to the Paris deal. Get your grit on and press your respective State administrations to commit to the Paris agreement and enact State legislation mandating corporations and businesses to abide by it. It’s time young people got more involved in Politics and stop people who do not have to bear the brunt of any decisions made from making them. Citizens of signatory States to the agreement can lobby and creatively find means to pressure their Governments to ensure compliance with the agreement, while those whose governments still hold out can find ways to push for an adoption.
ii. Spread the word.
As the aphorism goes: Out of sight; out of mind. The consequences of climate change are too dire to be ignored. As noted by Greentumble “It is a sobering thought that only 5% one of the most biodiverse and unique ecosystems in the world (Australia ‘s Great Barrier Reef)will still be intact in 2050”
iii. Play your part.
As Millennials, we do not have a soft landing prepared for us by generations past, neither have we the luxury of selfless governments making brilliant policies, but we probably have it better than aliens within the Millennial bracket in Mars, so we have no excuse. We could each play our part by supporting businesses and foundations that promote sustainable development, be energy and resource efficient, plant trees as often as possible, adopt sustainable and ‘planet-healthy’ habits and create as much awareness as possible on this issue.
Small by small says the little mouse; together little changes to our habits and routine can stop climate change and hopefully even reverse its effects. But we can never know if we never really try.
