by Emma Yu, VoFG CI Child Ambassador for the SDGs

Climate change is one of the most important issues facing our world today, affecting people, animals, and ecosystems across the globe. In this essay, Emma, an 11-year-old student living in California, explores why climate change matters and why it is important for everyone to take action. As a Youth Ambassador for the past two years, Emma has worked to promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and is passionate about making a positive difference in her community and beyond. Drawing on her interests in sustainable development and global citizenship, she shares her ideas and hopes for a more sustainable future.

Global Climate Change

You are at the beach on a hot summer day. This summer is hotter than summers in the past. It is so hot that you are forced to stay under a beach umbrella. Then, you remember your trip to Disney World last year. You remember hearing the loudspeakers at Disney World say, “The park is closing due to a hurricane. Please leave the park immediately.” You might think, “What is causing this?” Global climate change is responsible. The main contributing factors to global climate change are greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) and deforestation. These are all products of human activity.

Greenhouse Gases: Out of Balance

For thousands of years, the Earth had a good balance of greenhouse gases. The most important greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). However, humans have used fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas and have expanded dairy and cattle farming. As a result, this balance has been disrupted. Consequently, there is 30% more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there was 150 years ago.

In the past, we had a healthy atmosphere because animals absorbed oxygen and released carbon dioxide. This was balanced by plants, which absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. When we burn fossil fuels, we also release carbon dioxide. Therefore, when you are driving a gas-powered car, flying in a plane, or heating your house, you are releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Additionally, not recycling properly can add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Plastic water bottles can release carbon dioxide and methane if they are not recycled properly. This is yet another reason to use sustainable products and recycle properly.

Many people might find this strange, but cheeseburgers also impact global climate change. Cheeseburgers, or any kind of beef, contribute to global warming because beef comes from cows. When cows and other farm animals digest their food, they release gas through burping and passing gas. This gas is methane (CH₄), a greenhouse gas. Americans alone eat an average of 50 billion cheeseburgers a year. That is not only a lot of cheeseburgers, but also a lot of cows. Dairy cows also produce methane. There are about 9 million dairy cows and about 33 million beef cattle slaughtered each year. Each of these cows produces approximately 220 pounds of methane per year.

Deforestation

Deforestation is also a contributor to global climate change. Trees are a very important part of the carbon cycle. They help balance carbon dioxide and oxygen, and they help build carbon back into the soil. Deforestation occurs when forests are cut down to make way for housing or agriculture.

Furthermore, 80% of the world’s animal species can be found in tropical rainforests. Deforestation not only causes global warming but also threatens extinction. In addition, tree roots help prevent erosion and landslides. Civilization could be severely impacted due to excessive deforestation. Over time, the world has lost roughly 30 million acres of trees due to deforestation, which is roughly the size of New York State. When trees are cut down, they also release some of the carbon dioxide they are storing. Sometimes, wildfires—often the result of human activity—can cause deforestation. Farmers also contribute to deforestation when they clear trees to make room for crops and cattle.

Conclusion

Ultimately, greenhouse gases are causing the Earth to warm. The effects include more extreme weather and heat, which can displace both animals and people. After reading this, hopefully you can contribute to helping stop global climate change. A few ways to help include carpooling to school, riding in an electric-powered car, or eating less meat. These are only a small portion of the many ways people can help stop global climate change.

**Emma Yu**
VoFG Child Ambassador for the SDGs

Emma Yu is a thoughtful and compassionate girl from California, USA, whose passion for philanthropy and social justice shines through in everything she does. She cares deeply about global issues such as poverty eradication, gender equality, access to quality education, peacebuilding, and protecting our planet. Emma believes that even the smallest actions, especially those taken by children, can make a meaningful difference in the world.

Bibliography

Bow, James. Earth’s Climate Change Carbon Dioxide Overload. New York, New York: