Dear Future President,

I’m going to write my letter to you about the devastating effects global warming is continuing to have on our world and lives. There’s probably tons of letters more passionate, better written, about subjects possibly more pressing than this, but I’m going to try and get my feelings across to you. Because maybe, just maybe, this might make a change, at least start a chain reaction in someone's mind. It’s better than sitting back and writing nothing at all.

It literally blows my mind how people, especially in places of authority and power, refuse to acknowledge the facts of what we’re doing to our earth. Look at the changes in our climate and temperature, we’re destroying nature, and it looks like we’re not on the track to stop. I understand that things like oil, and other fossil fuels that contribute to pollution are tied to money and play important parts in our society, but that’s no excuse. This is a serious issue, and postponing it will literally lead to our death.

According to NRDC.org global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants. Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2), other air pollutants and greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere. Normally this radiation would leak into space, but these fossil fuels can stay on our earth and in our atmosphere for years to centuries, continually heating the planet. This is called the greenhouse effect and these are the main contributing factors to what is going on in our actual natural environment.

Our world is getting a lot hotter, and doing it faster than ever recorded. This heat has a major effect on the nature of this planet. More than long hot spells in summer and no snow in winter, but our earth is heating up so fast it’s being related to prehistoric times by National Geographic. Right now carbon is pouring into the atmosphere faster than at any time in the past 66 million years—according to a new analysis of the geologic record. What should be the most worrying is that when the planet was last heating up this fast, 55.8 million years ago, it caused massive changes in where plants and animals lived, rapid evolution of some species, and extinction of others. Imagine the effect it is having on the species of today- or don’t, because I have the facts.

According to the Huffington Post species are dying at an alarming rate thanks to humans, including species of Black Rhinos, Tigers, and Seals. One of the reasons the animals are dying is loss of habitat. Our pollution is killing their space to thrive and survive. Our Great Barrier Reef can hardly hold life anymore, and according to Wikipedia, Earth's total forest area continues to decrease at about 13 million hectares per year. This is a very serious problem, because if other animals can’t survive how can we continue to?

According to Sfgate.com there are 4 major steps we as regular people can do to reduce global warming. One, reduce fossil fuel use. Burning fossil fuels increases the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Two, plant Trees, because carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas, planting trees and other plants can slow or stop global warming. Three, reduce waste. And four, conserve water. These steps are simple enough for the people of the world, but we all know the Government can have a bigger say than we do. You can make well thought out laws and regulations to start saving and protecting this earth that we need. There are sacrifices larger fossil fuel companies and others can make, even if they lose money, it was a sacrifice worth making, and we’ve taken it too much for granted.

Sincerely,

Sarah S.