As the world's youth, we have a moral obligation to solve the issue of global warming.
And unlike some other world problems -- such as war, disease or poverty -- it's a problem we teens can start solving today.
Our actions directly affect the environment in which we live and the decisions me make must have a low impact for the world to be able to sustain us.
With a growing economy since the Industrial Revolution, carbon emissions are skyrocketing. Most people don't understand the negative impacts they cause in their everyday lives through traveling, commuting, using energy and buying things. Besides the economy, the human population is growing exponentially. The human population, now at about 6.5 billion, is expected to exceed 9 billion by the year 2050.
Think about the toll this will take on the environment. Although we currently have no solution to the booming human population, we do have control over our personal effects on the environment. We're ignorant of the damage we're creating, in part, because we live in a "consumer society." We are constantly pressured to earn more, buy more, consume more, and live the most comfortable lives possible.
Is there a limit? Absolutely.
The world cannot support all of our endeavors. If everyone on Earth lived like the average American, we would need 5.3 planets to sustain us, by one estimate.
If we continue at the current rate of consumption, carbon emissions, and land exploitation, the world will have much less to offer in the near future.
Let's not allow the actions of past generations to jeopardize our lives or those of our children. Let's not be yet another generation of careless consumers. Let's take responsibility for our actions and decrease our impact. The world needs more environmentally conscious people so that our efforts aren't outweighed by those who couldn't care less.
Collectively, we can have a significant effect on the environment and can allow our future children to enjoy the amazing world we live in today. Conservation is key.
Small changes in our daily routines can add up to make a big difference. The most important things you can do are to get informed on current environmental issues, act on what you know and then educate others on how they can decrease their negative impacts on the world.