President Barack Obama visited Alaska in early September to call attention to the global effects of climate change. Allowing oil and gas industries to extract all of Alaska’s fossil fuels have not only destroyed Alaska’s wilderness, but will lead to worse climate disruption around the world. If global warming is to be limited, new fossil fuel resources cannot continue to be made in the Arctic.
In 2015 alone, five million acres have been burned by wildfires. Allowing oil and gas industries to extract Alaska’s abundant fossil fuel reserves have led to these environmental catastrophes. Obama reported that Alaska’s temperature has increased three degrees Fahrenheit in the last sixty years.
A number of U.S. citizens are under the impression that the government is not doing enough to clean up the mess in Alaska.
“I feel like they're not doing enough because there are a lot of people who still question if this is a real issue,” Newtown High School English teacher Sayward Parsons said.
Obama’s trip to Alaska was a step forward in reducing the effects climate change in America. Since his arrival, Obama has reinforced the Clean Power Plan.
The Clean Power Plan was adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in August to establish unique emission rate goals for each rate in order to reduce carbon emissions.
However, from another perspective, it must be made aware that global warming is a real, pressing issue that could threaten the climate of the entire world.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction. We’re taking steps to help the environment, but I don’t know if it’s enough. At least they’re talking about it and doing things,” NHS English teacher Kathy Swift said.
If the effects of global climate change are to be reversed, then the development of new fossil fuel resources in the Arctic cannot continue. Obama ignored this fact by allowing the Shell Oil Company to proceed with drilling the Chukchi Sea this summer. In this project, there is a seventy-five percent chance of a major spill.
“We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it,” Obama posted on twitter almost a year ago.
In fact, what can be done to stop the effects of climate change is the main topic of discussion regarding this worldwide issue.
“We still have a lot of polluting factories and you have to take a car in the U.S. Mass transportation could cut down pollution,” NHS sophomore Bryce Doherty said.
There are a wide variety of opinions regarding which strategy for reducing climate change worldwide is the most effective.
“Hybrid cars are a possibility. Solar power is becoming more popular and people are getting more comfortable with it. Wind is not as practical,” Swift said.
While there are alternate, cheaper and more environmentally friendly methods to power cars and houses, progress is no quick process. By using the situation in Alaska to represent countless places worldwide, Obama is leading the movement to end global climate change. Even so, this issue is yet to be resolved.