Cabalag, Arabela

Pedrozo, Yhazmin
Golosino, Gabriel

Political Campaign Speech: Climate Change and Global Warming

Climate change is real, but it is not as bad as you think; because it is worse. Try taking
a look at how most people react when you mention "climate change." Others may believe it is
a political drama designed to divert attention away from more pressing matters, or that it
reminds them of the phrase "environmental sustainability," which causes many people's eyes
to roll over and change the topic, or some may even argue that climate change is inevitable
and that we should never be concerned. So, first and foremost: climate change is more than
just a phrase. It is a dangerous phenomenon as well as a terrible reality.

The increase in global temperature over the last several decades has been clearly
documented. There is a widespread scientific consensus that it can only be explained by one
factor: increases in greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. Climate change is a global
threat that must be addressed, and the consequences of not dealing with it will be
catastrophic. We know how to handle it, but we are not doing so at the moment. The three
most important things we can do are stop the behaviors that cause it, improve our response to
its consequences, and start discussing and analyzing it.

National Geographic defines global warming as the world's greatest environmental

challenge today, and it has created a new crisis known as climate change. It is caused by the
increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere related to human activity.

According to James Bevan (2018), since Earth's formation, there has been naturally
occurring climate change however, none of the natural drivers of climate change, such as the
Sun's output, the Earth's tilt, volcanic activity, or even emission from decaying plants, can
explain the current continuous warming. But there is one factor that can: human-caused
emissions from fossil fuels well over the last two centuries. Moreover, since the beginning of
the industrial era, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by about
30%.

Another unfortunate truth is that global warming is not only happening, but it may be
speeding up. Since 1995, the 20 warmest years on record have all occurred. This decade's
five warmest years have all happened in the 2010s, and the year 2016 was the hottest on
record (Bevan, 2018). While, the worldwide surface temperature in January 2020 was 0.80°C
above pre-industrial levels according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), and more than two degrees Celsius of warming could have
irreversible implications for the planet.

Furthermore, global warming of more than 1.5°C, according to one of the most recent
reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC ), would result in
extraordinary climatic repercussions, such as larger and more violent storms, rain followed by
more lengthy and extreme droughts, and so on. These intense weather events could become
more common and powerful, with irrevocable consequences for the environment.

If we continue to burn fossil fuels without making significant steps to reduce

emissions, Earth's surface temperatures could soar by more than 4 degrees Celsius (7.2
degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century (The Climate Reality Project, 2021).
Temperatures will continue to escalate unless we eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels. As a
result, tropical storms will become more powerful, wildfires will burn more land, heat waves
will get hotter and more prevalent, and farmers will lose crops more often, heightening the
risk of instability, migration, and national security problems all around the globe. In simplest
terms, this would alter the Earth in ways that would jeopardize its ability to sustain a massive
and rising human population. That is why it is critical to remember that the climate crisis
does not begin when we reach 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming; it has already begun, and we
must act now.

Climate change has plenty of other environmental consequences, including melting

glaciers and rising sea levels, ecosystem changes, ocean acidification, and species extinction.
Furthermore, the IPCC projects that if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, the average
sea level of oceans will rise by 82cm by 2100 as a result of melting ice caps. This rise would
have a significant influence on the world's coastal areas.

We have the ability to solve the crisis; all we need is the will to act. Lessening climate
change's consequences entail adjusting our present lifestyle to the existing situations, as well
as lowering and restricting greenhouse gas emissions. Here are a few simple things we can all
do to minimize climate change's impacts:

● Calculate carbon footprint - it is vital to recognize the contributing factors of

greenhouse gases in our daily lives and readjust our lifestyles to limit our carbon
footprint.
● Save energy- when not in use, turn off lights and appliances. LEDs or other low-
energy lights should be used instead of incandescent light bulbs. Improve the energy
efficiency of your home.
● Save water - since water requires energy to produce, the more water you save, the
more energy you end up saving.
● Reduce waste consumption - avoid single-use items and try not to overbuy. Avoid
wasting food and donate or sell unwanted things to give them a second chance at life.
● Make your voice be heard - support the United Nations' Sustainable Development
Goals, or engage in a social movement or initiative that focuses on environmental
activities or gets everyone discussing climate change measures.
● Vote wisely - this is both simple and extremely important; never underestimate the
power of collective action.
 Climate change is not a hoax, and despite our best efforts, we are still not doing enough to
combat it. Because the effects of a changing climate are frequently unnoticed, tackling them
should be at the top of everyone's priority. Perhaps we might rephrase terms like "climate
change" and "global warming" if they have become clichés or cause people to lose interest in
the topic. Let us now discuss what they actually mean, rather than defining it: planet killer,
jeopardized future, death.

Numerous individuals may be unwilling to get out of bed to battle climate change, which
appears to be somewhat non-threatening. But almost everyone would do so to defend their
loved ones, their homes, and their livelihoods, as well as to help build a better world. So this
is what we need to do, first take on the problem together, and double up on our efforts. We
need to start to change the way we see the difference between climate change and global
warming and their effects. We need to take action and start prioritizing what we need to
eliminate, what needs to change, and what we need to adapt to the ever-increasing effects of
climate change and global warming. We have clearly proved that we can influence the
climate during the last two centuries — and we have changed it for the worse by doing the
wrong things. Now let's prove that by doing the right things, we can change it for the better.
References:

Climate Change Speech for Students and Children. (2020, February 19). Toppr. Retrieved
November 9, 2021, from https://www.toppr.com/guides/speech-for-students/climate-change-
speech/

Environment Agency. (2018, September 25). Climate change: Too true to be good. GOV.UK.

Retrieved November 25, 2021, from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/speech-climate-

change-too-true-to-be-good

Global warming in 2021: causes and consequences. (2021, October 11). Retrieved November

25, 2021, from https://climate.selectra.com/en/environment/global-warming

Kerlin, K. (2021, November 9). 18 simple things you can do about climate change. Retrieved

November 25, 2021, from https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/what-can-i-do/18-simple-things-

you-can-do-about-climate-change

The climate crisis in 2021: 5 key facts to know. (2021, September 28). Retrieved November

25, 2021, from https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/climate-crisis-2021-5-key-facts-

know

The Grantham Institute. (n.d.). 9 things you can do about climate change. Retrieved

November 25, 2021, from https://www.imperial.ac.uk/stories/climate-action/