Climate change – Teen Observer Archive

July 11, 2019July 11, 2019

Climate change causing anxiety

Some people interviewed this month in Washington, D.C. said climate change and its potential impacts make them anxious, and many believe more people need to see it as a major issue and concern, especially young people.

Nicole Narvaez says climate change needs to be taken more seriously.

“I’m anxious about it,” Narvaez said. “It will especially be more of a concern later on for younger generations.”

Debby Hanks also expressed her worry about climate change and its urgency.

“I see it as a big issue,” Hanks said. “Climate change is an ongoing conversation in society but it’s definitely one that needs more attention from people. The world’s burning down.”

In a 2011 article published in American Psychologist, authors Thomas Doherty and Susan Clayton said the psychological effects of climate change are serious for many people, writing: “Global climate change is likely to have significant negative effects on mental health and well-being.”

According to Doherty and Clayton, climate change-related impacts occur among people who may have experienced psychological trauma, extreme weather event and natural disasters, resulting in harm to their state of mental health. Indirect impacts include guilt, despair and grief about what the authors wrote is a growing risk to species.

Psychological impacts through virtual media representations are especially prone to people of younger generations, as teens tend to be heavily engrossed in social media nowadays and are more likely to be affected. A national survey conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication mentions that 56% of Americans said that they hear about global warming in the media at least once a month.

According to a 2017 mental health report published by the American Psychological Association, the psychological effects of climate change are just as devastating as the physical ones.

“Although the psychological impacts of climate change may not be obvious, they are no less serious because they can lead to disorders, such as depression, antisocial behavior, and suicide,” the study noted.

Kristin Cotts understands.

“My husband works in the energy industry, so that’s what comes to mind when I think of climate change,” Cotts said. “Much has to be done to keep this planet habitable.”

Medical journal, The Lancet, states that, “climate change will have many effects on health over the coming decades.”

According to the Yale study, 69% of Americans say that they are at least “somewhat worried” about climate change, 53% feel disgusted and 51% feel helpless about climate change.

Dawn Ellis said climate change doesn’t make her anxious, but she thinks future generations likely are concerned.

“Would it be a top concern for the people of younger generations?” Ellis said. “In a hundred years, maybe.”

June 27, 2019June 28, 2019

Climate change ‘urgent’ issue for Gen Z voters in 2020

Generation Z–those born between 1997 and 2012–voters interviewed this month in Washington, D.C. said climate change is the single biggest issue that will decide their votes in the 2020 election.

The older members of Generation Z cast 4.5 million ballots in the 2018 midterm election, representing 4% of all votes, according to the Pew Research Center. By 2020, their impact could be even more powerful, when they are projected to comprise 10% of eligible voters.

“It’s time to wake up,” Ryan Cullen Barto, 20, said of younger generations facing the 2020 election.

These young voices see the upcoming election as an opportunity for change, and climate change is something they see as urgent.

Nadia Nazar, the 17-year-old co-founder of thisiszerohour.org, is very passionate about encouraging Gen Z to use their power to vote next year. She wants a great president, but also someone who will be a leader on climate change, and she believes young people need to understand what’s at stake.

“You’re voting for your life and for the sake of this country,” said Nazar, who lives in Baltimore. It “is important for our generation.”

Citizens Climate Lobby, a grassroots environmental organization, tweeted Thursday morning, the day after the first Democratic Presidential primary debate, that: “Last night’s disappointing treatment of #climatechange at the #DemocraticDebates underscores the need for a separate debate on the issue.”

climate tweet — A grassroots environmental organization wants a separate debate dedicated to climate change. (Photo courtesy of Twitter)

Meanwhile, younger citizens who still will be too young to cast a ballot next year say when they can vote, climate change is their main and overarching concern.

Not being able to vote next year, Annelise Bittenbender, 16, from Leesburg, Virginia, worries that her voice won’t be heard.

“I think it could potentially make or break the rest of what’s going to go on in the world,” Bittenbender said of climate change.

“This election could potentially make or break our earth so me not being able to vote stresses me out ’cause I just wanna try to help as much as I can but not actually having a say is difficult,” Bittenbender continued.

The scientific community agrees overwhelmingly “climate change is real,” according to one statement on the NASA website.

Among those statements, the American Geophysical Union wrote: “Human‐induced climate change requires urgent action. Humanity is the major influence on the global climate change observed over the past 50 years. Rapid societal responses can significantly lessen negative outcomes.”

Generation Z’s youngest members may not be able to vote next year, but they already are organizing and fighting to be heard about climate change.

Ethan Vandivier, 13, already is an advisory board member for Young Voice for the Planet. He spoke on a panel at American University on June 20, noting that the next election is going to determine not just leadership, but will frame debates and policy solutions for climate change.

“For new people who are trying to get involved, voting is very important,” Vandivier said. “That’s how you start. That’s where you start.”

June 26, 2019June 26, 2019

DC residents take small steps to be more eco friendly

People interviewed this month in Washington, D.C. have taken action to be more eco-friendly in order to avoid future environmental damages.

Ben Davis, 22, a rising senior at American University, discussed how the he fights for more structural change in the environment. Differing from his previous years, he concluded how he recycles and composts more due to the growing attention in the media.

“Though it costs more, it will be worth it in the long run,” said Davis, who identifies as an environmentalist.

According to NASA’s global climate change website, “the extent of climate change effects on individual regions will vary over time and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to mitigate or adapt to change.”

Ryan Barto, 20, a rising junior at American University, wants to continue spreading the word about climate change.

“Most people, for example, don’t know that bottle caps cannot be recycled,” Barto said.

Bins in Seattle. (Photo by Joe Mabel and courtesy of Creative Commons)

In his workplace, The Davenport Coffee Lounge at American University’s School of International Service, he pointed out that they no longer use plastic straws.

“I try to do fun little eco projects, because re-useable items tend to be costly,” Barto said.

Jessica Simms, 38, who lives in England, does all in her power to be more eco friendly, even if it requires the extra effort. Simms makes her changes by using public transportation.

“If people were educated and knew how cheap and easy it was, there would be a greater difference,” Simms stated.

Louisa Frieling, 22, an American University senior, recycles regularly at home and informs others that climate change is an issue.

Frieling stated that there is an easier and cheaper access to things such as plastic water bottles as opposed to a re-useable one.

“I wish it was cheaper to be more environmentally friendly,” Frieling said.

Kathleen Kearmey, 46, said she tries to be mindful and do little things to help.

“I read a new study saying how predictions for climate change are far worse than shown to the people,” Kearmey said.

“We need someone in a position of leadership to do something soon, because as individuals we cannot do enough,” she continued.

Charles Mulford, 68, stated how the garbage companies “pushed” recycling. Having a separate bin, and a different day dedicated to recycling, forced people like Mulford to recycle.

Richard Clrik, 83, stated “recycling comes automatically when you live in the city.”

June 24, 2019June 27, 2019

Weather changes in DC might be related to climate change

The weather has been erratic this past month, inconveniencing Washington, D.C. residents.

The weather has been ranging from the low nighties to the low seventies over the past few weeks.

Nadia Trowers, 34, a resident from the area has also noticed the weather pattern.

“It changes from sunny, which is what I like, to cloudy which I don’t like,” Trowers said.

Fanta Aw, vice president of Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence at American University, said she is concerned about how the weather is affecting American people.

“When we watch television, we see flooding in some parts of the country,” Aw said. “We see drought. It’s definitely going to have an impact.”

She believes that this erratic weather is caused by climate change, which is further exasperated by the U.S.’s unsustainable habits.

According to a recent National Climate Assessment, “U.S. average temperature has increased by 1.3 degrees to 1.9 degrees since 1895, and most of this increase has occurred since 1970.”

A storm on its way captured from the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. overlooking the Washington Monument. (Photo by Ethan Lindsey courtesy of Creative Commons)

As a result, seasons are warmer than average and cold weather is becoming more sporadic. Warmer air temperatures are also a catalyst for other issues caused by climate change such as: increased water temperatures, higher flood risks, rising sea levels, alerted precipitation and stronger storms.

Aw, who has a doctorate in sociology, is also concerned about how climate change will affect farmers because it could negatively impact their jobs and puts agriculture at risk.

A research paper published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America indicates that the yield from corn crops will decrease if global warming continues in its current trajectory.

Intellectuals are not the only ones who believe that the change in weather is caused by global warming.

Cevester Green, 46, interviewed in Tenleytown recently, said he thinks global warming is to blame.

“It’s like global warming, man,” Green said.