We need to stop climate change, because greenhouse gases are overheating the Earth. In cold places glaciers are breaking and melting so sea levels are rising so more floods can happen. Climate change also affects rainfall, because warm air holds more water than cold air and there will be more rainfall. More rainfall is a problem because more floods will happen and floods get higher.
In hot places, the water is evaporating quicker so living organisms are dying because they can’t get enough water for drinking or fishing. A drought is when the ground dries up and there is no water for organisms. Climate change makes more droughts because more heat waves means more droughts. A drought is a problem because organisms can’t get water and a drought can cause a famine. A famine is a lack of food so bad that people are dying.
Climate change also can increase wildfires. A warming climate makes shorter winters and longer, hotter summers. Dead trees dry out like kindling. They catch fire quickly and spread fire faster. When carbon dioxide (CO2 ) is in the ocean water, it forms a kind of acid that makes the coral bleach and die.
Climate has changed before. It changed in the beginning of the world and in the Ice Age. Climate change now is different because the temperatures are rising faster than they have in the past, so organisms haven’t had time to change.
Fossil fuels are coal, oil, and gas. Fossil fuels make greenhouse gases from factories, power plants, trains, airplanes, and cars. Burning fossil fuels sends out greenhouse gases like CO2 into the air. We need trees because trees give us oxygen and trees take in CO2. Rain forests are important because all of the cut down trees release great amounts of CO2 and no longer give off oxygen.
Greenhouse gases are like a warm jacket because they keep the heat in. We need some greenhouse gases because we don’t want our planet too cold or too hot. CO2 is a problem because there is too much of it. The difference between pollution and greenhouse gases is that pollution is like dirt or trash and greenhouse gases are like a warm jacket.
We need ice and snow to keep the Earth cool because the snow and ice are white so they act like a mirror bouncing sunlight off so it cools the planet. When ice and snow melt, the dark ground and sea soak up the energy and the temperatures rise, which makes more ice and snow melt. It’s a cycle. Also, permafrost melts, methane escapes, temperatures rise and so more permafrost melts. Methane is a stronger greenhouse gas.
Does everyone want to stop climate change? No, because people want transportation, food, and stuff. Some people think climate change is a lie.
All people need to work together to change the world. Some ways to help stop climate change are:
•  The United States should go back into the Paris Climate Accord. The Paris Climate Accord is an agreement of 200 countries that would take steps to slow climate change and limit greenhouse gases.
•  Use renewable energy like solar panels and wind and water turbines because it makes less greenhouse gas and we might run out of fossil fuels.
•  Use a carbon tax, which is money companies have to pay to release dangerous emissions.
•  Get electric cars and buses.
•  Walk, bike, scooter, take the bus, ride the train or carpool with a friend.
•  Get LED lights because they use less power and run longer.
•  Turn off lights when you leave a room.
•  Buy less stuff.
•  Get hand-me-downs or buy used stuff.
•Lower your water heater temperature.
•  Don’t watch screens as much.
•  Use fans instead of air conditioners.
•  Use appliances that use less energy.
•  Don’t waste heat or water.
•  Plant trees.
•  Donate money to organizations that help the rainforest.
Please, please, please help to stop climate change. I need our world for a long time because I’m only eight.
Cadence Baker Rouse
Middlebury