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. Ensure
to be energy efficient at 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/