Today’s generation faces a challenge many others have ignored, but we can’t for much longer. The destruction of our finite natural resources has risen to a point where by the advent of the next century, average global temperatures will have risen nearly 10 degrees.

To put that into perspective, when the globe was just 5-9 degrees cooler at the end of the last ice age, the entirety of the northeast global United States was covered in ice. Just a change in 4 degrees will result in longer droughts, bigger storms, and higher sea levels. Ocean levels are already rising over a tenth of an inch each year, twice as fast as they have been in the past century. By 2100, ocean levels will have risen several feet, swallowing many islands and causing flooding that will affect the millions of people that live near coastal cities.

Ocean levels and temperatures are rising due to the increased emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. The sunlight that hits the earth is normally reflected back into space, but carbon dioxide acts as a blanket and traps the sunlight in Earth’s atmosphere, heating the planet. Added with the effect of the destruction of plants that take in carbon dioxide, and the melting of the poles that reflect sunlight, and the Earth is entering a dangerous domino effect. With no change in our current carbon dioxide emissions, the Earth may become a superheated planet like Venus from the runaway greenhouse effect.

Opponents of global warming will point to it being the natural cycle of the Earth. However, the 40% increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is something that would only occur over several million years in a natural setting. The sun is not the cause either, as the sun’s energy production has remained stable since 1750. If it was cold today, how could there be global warming? This is a statement many people use to dismiss global warming. Local weather is different from a general trend. Local weather may vary greatly. But when looking at the big picture, you can see a trend that proves the earth is warming.

Even though we’ve already started this effect, we can take steps to reverse it by replanting the thousands of acres of forests we’ve destroyed, reducing the use of fossil fuels, and switching to cleaner energy forms. This would cost trillions of dollars, but that is merely a fraction of the cost in damages that would happen if we let global warming run its’ course.

Even here at Judson, there is a way students and faculty can help. Riding the bus or bike to school will help lessen your carbon footprint, recycling will help save our natural resources and reducing the use of water and electricity are all small steps that can make a big difference.