By: Tessa Lake-Goldstein

Over recent years we’ve seen a rise in abnormalities surrounding our environment and current climate. These subtle temperature changes cascade into dramatic changes in our weather patterns, which directly affect the atmosphere we surround ourselves in.

 Scientists have been worried about the implications of global warming for years. But, when those human-induced changes finally catch up with us, it adds a sense of urgency and realism to the otherwise prophetic ideology.

 This specific thought process has entered the minds of thousands of humans, in the 2021-2022 winter months. In fact, 6 in 10 U.S adults say they are worried about climate change, leaving the majority of individuals grieving the loss of a worldwide effort to inflict change. 

Specifically, looking at this most recent winter in America has shown how common occurrences are actually a red flag for our future. The sharp ideological divide in our constantly polarized society contributes to a gridlocked stance on action for change.

 Pew Research Center says, “While 67% of conservatives in the U.S. say the country is doing a good job, only 26% of liberals agree.” If we cannot create a unified opinion on the future of Earth, we cannot enact the change and initiative we need to explain the extreme weather in recent months. 

There are things like the Paris Climate Accord, a committee put in place to help hinder the consequences of rising carbon emissions, excessive fossil fuel usage, melting ice caps, etc. However, it’s seen as a political movement rather than a universal movement for the betterment of Earth and her health. 

The Pew Research Center also said, “Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say the opposite: that international action to address climate change will mostly harm the domestic economy (63% vs. 11%, respectively).” Emphasizing the idea that political parties divided based on climate change negatively affects the real-world conditions we live in. 

“U.S. average temperature has increased by 1.3°F to 1.9°F”, leaving a .5 margin for growth in temperature due to human inflicted reactions. The average rate of increase has doubled in the past 20 years, causing the dramatic contrast between 48 degree winter weeks and 19 degree winter weeks. We saw a period of time in December when temperatures didn’t dip below 60 degrees. 

All of this is due to the warming winter effects of climate change. The Washington Post said, “From 1952 to 2011, winter shrank by at least 2.1 days per decade on average.” Despite what our avid groundhog predictor Phil says, winter is not lasting for three more weeks, rather getting progressively shorter! 

The surprisingly warm temperatures are due to this idea of false springs, when global temperature increases in short bouts, causing organisms to mistake their environment for livable temperatures, only to be killed later when those warm temperatures recede. 

Remember when Texas, of all places, fell victim to an intense snow storm? That was due to climate change! Polar air spilled South, unable to use their natural resources like ice caps to trap the colder molecules. That evidently spread to states like Texas, causing detrimental damage to places not equipped to handle these extremes. 

Climate change is a real and pressing issue evident in every part of the world. It is our responsibility to enact change and put forth efforts to consciously hinder the effects we inflicted.

To contact this writer, email Muse Newspaper at musebsa@bsfa.org.