The planet we live on is, quite literally, on fire. A growing, uncontrollable fire we call global warming. An effective way to extinguish the fire cannot be found, instead, it seems people are adding wood to the fire. Gas emissions and air pollution are at an all-time high meaning our planet is warming faster than ever before. 2024 was the warmest year on record, global temperatures passed 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century baseline.
Previously, the US passed a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that most recently aimed to reduce the county’s greenhouse gas emissions by 61–66% in 2035, compared to the 2005 levels. This NDC was updated to this 61-66% goal, on December 19, 2024.
Another measure that was passed was The Paris Agreement. An international treaty, which almost all countries are a part of, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. It was adopted in 2015 by almost all the countries in the world, along with the United States. In his 2017-2021 presidential term, Donald Trump ceased participation, but in Joe Biden’s following term, he rejoined the agreement.
These attempts to improve global warming in the US were, once again, short-lived. Donald Trump started his second term as president, and not long after his inauguration, on January 20, 2025, he pulled out of the Paris Agreement and ceased all participation in the NDC and the US contributions to the Green Climate Fund. The withdrawal will take effect one year after the US issued that statement. No other country made the same decision to leave and as of today, the only countries not part of the Paris Agreement are Iran, Libya, and Yemen.
The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will reportedly result in 3 billion tons of additional carbon dioxide emissions per year. Carbon dioxide emissions are the major contributor to global warming and climate change. Madison Matthews, an environmental science teacher at Green Level High School, is an expert on global warming.
“Global warming is too simple of a phrase for it, because it’s more than just warmer temperatures, it’s disrupting the climate. The circulation patterns of the ocean and the atmosphere are being disrupted,” says Matthews.
This climate change she describes is not only an extreme problem, but it will have extreme effects. The warming of the earth and the oceans causes a chain reaction in the whole weather system.
Matthews explains, “As the ocean gets warmer and warmer air is starting to rise and that warm air tends to be wetter, so at the equator we’re starting to see an excess of heat. And because that’s where a lot of global climate patterns start, it’s throwing off circulation that normally we could count on to keep climate in check.”
There are numerous effects of these changes in global climate. Places everywhere are already seeing these changes, everyday lives are changing.
“So now we’re starting to see more extreme weather, places that used to count on seasonal rain are now experiencing more extreme droughts. And that extreme weather, or extreme drought makes us more vulnerable to things like wildfires.” Says Matthews.
What does all of this mean for our future? We can already see changes occur with California battling endless wildfires. People everywhere else are looking at California, and praying it’s not their community that is affected next. But how can you know climate change’s effects aren’t going to start affecting your own life?
“We’re going to keep seeing these natural disasters like the wildfires or Hurricane Helene start hitting more and more areas, more people will start to be affected by a disaster that’s ultimately caused by climate change.” Says Mrs. Matthews, “I saw a quote online, it’s like, ‘we’re going to keep seeing these disasters come closer and closer on our phone screens until they’re here around us until they strike our community’.”
There’s no doubt that unless things change, everyone will need to be prepared for these disasters and unusual weather. Extreme weather is becoming more and more common, if these disasters are hitting closer to our hometowns, people and businesses need to be prepared for damage to their buildings or land.
“It’s scary to have your home burnt down or a hurricane strike your mountain town but it’s almost going to become our new normal. It used to be that there would be hurricane season every year but there weren’t any big bad hurricanes every year. But we will start seeing that each year has a bunch of these crazy, destructive hurricanes.” Says Matthews.
All of this negativity is definitely instilling fear in many people around the world. The massive damage that’s already been done to our climate makes it seem like an uphill battle to escape the terrors of climate change. Instead of waiting for change to magically happen, individual people may look for ways to help mitigate the damages.
“Obviously, individual people are not the main thing that’s driving climate change. We can all do our part, even just to reform our communities,” Mrs. Matthews explains, “Start planting native species in our backyard to protect habitat and protect pollinators, grow your own food and combat food insecurity, try to limit your own emissions. Maybe take trains instead of planes, use cars with good fuel efficiency, walk places, carpool, the same old things you always hear. Us driving to school or work doesn’t immediately cause climate change but if all of us start cutting back, it will have some impact.”
Even if this won’t fix the problem straight up, it can make an impact or encourage others to fix their attitude to start fighting climate change. There is a way to dig ourselves out of this hole, there is a way to stop these impending dangers. The most important part is realizing that a change can happen and starts in every American’s heart.
“Attitude is important,” remarks Matthews, “Finding a balance between anger and wanting action, and wanting to protect ourselves, and hope. Because if we all just give up and have a “climate doom” perspective, we’ve just accepted our fate when we can still turn things around.”
Urging Americans to stop this negative, “doom” attitude that many have in regards to climate change, is not going to help solve it. Everyone needs to come together with one goal to actually make a difference. Together, we can work to stop this warming of the planet and put out the fires ignited all over the world.
