Global warming is causing our oceans to overheat and is killing off vital coral reefs that: protect our shoreline, provide a habitat to diverse ocean species and support important economic tourism and fishing industries. The burning of oil, gas and coal ("fossil fuels") causes global warming by releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air which traps heat in our atmosphere. Oceans, which cover 70% of the planet, are a crucial climate regulator because they soak up heat trapped in the atmosphere caused by greenhouse gases. Even a seemingly small increase in ocean temperatures can be enough to “transform marine biodiversity, change ocean chemistry, melt glaciers and ice shelves, raise sea levels and fuel extreme weather,” according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Per the United Nations, the fossil fuel industry is responsible for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions. Yet these polluting corporations receive trillions per year in government subsidies and are raking in record profits.
We need to get real about breaking our reliance on cheap oil and gas. I'd love to see governments spend more on investing in renewable energy sources (and start ups!) and reduce the amount of subsidies provided to fossil fuel companies.
A small thing we can do is try and reduce how much plastic we buy - invest in a good stainless steel or glass water bottle; vote to help the earth with your dollar and research where your food/clothes/sporting goods come from. Support companies that do more to protect our oceans and reduce their overall environmental impact.
A medium thing we can do is start a campaign/collect signatures (change.org is a great platform) to reduce government subsidies to fossil fuel companies by supporting efforts to get proposed bills passed like this.
A big thing we can do is develop a new economic model for motivating people and companies to reduce their consumption of oil, gas and coal, while increasing their consumption of renewable energy. Who's up for figuring this out?
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