People from across the globe have felt drastic weather changes compared to the years prior. In the Annual 2024 Global Climate reported that 2024 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850, which emphasizes the ongoing impact of climate change. The term climate change and weather is often misused. To clarify, weather is atmospheric conditions we experience every day such as wind, cloudiness or humidity. In contrast, climate change refers to long-term changes in weather patterns over extended periods, being decades or longer. Extreme weather cases and the overall global warming intensity that has occurred during 2024 are indicators of climate change. It’s becoming increasingly alarming that people have been deliberately ignoring these drastic changes on our planet.
Whether it was the fires in Los Angeles, the heavy floods and landslides in Nepal, or Hurricane Milton striking Florida, these devastating events largely go unnoticed by people who weren’t directly affected. Especially in the U.S., some argue that little to no action has been taken with international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol. In the United Nations of Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol is an agreement that was adopted in 1997, and currently has 192 parties participating. It wants industrialized countries and economies to limit and reduce greenhouse gases emissions with the agreed countries. According to The U.S View’s Fact Sheet of Kyoto Protocol, the United States signed the Kyoto Protocol at the United Nations in 1998, but the agreement could not become binding with the US without the approval of the Senate. Since then, no action on the Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by the US due to America’s belief that it would limit sovereignty, and that it would not protect the environment.
Similarly, stated in the United Nations website, The Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 is a treaty aimed at reducing climate change. Adopted by 196 Parties, and its goal is to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. It also aims to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which has unfortunately been surpassed as of 2025. This agreement required countries to set and achieve their own national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Referred to in the World 101 From Council of Foreign Relations, President Obama joined the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement through an executive agreement that was withdrawn by President Donald Trump twice during his first term, and now second term in 2025. These actions were confusing to the public regarding the urgency and importance of addressing climate change, inadvertently suggesting that this issue isn’t a priority for the United States.
As executive orders are being penned in the White House, the clear signs of climate change have been shown throughout 2024. Droughts for example are currently overstepping into winter in Los Angeles, which has then destroyed 6,837 homes and other structures. Climate change leads to increased temperatures, which causes more evaporation of water from soil and water bodies. This reduces the amount of moisture available in the environment. According to the BBC, the reason for this increase in temperature is the widespread burning of coal, oil and gas has driven billions of planet-warming gases into the atmosphere. This is comparable to a wrappable blanket– these gases have driven up the temperature by around 1.2 celsius. As stated in the UN Environment Programme, with higher temperatures there is more energy in the Earth’s system. This also creates higher ocean water and air temperatures which increases evaporation which turns into heavy cloud formation. This is what causes extreme flooding that was experienced in Nepal, causing more than 200 people killed and thousands of houses damaged in Kathmandu Valley. The extreme winds of Hurricane Milton have cost $34 billion dollars in damages according to CNN New York.
Despite this, the United States has not declared a national state of urgency regarding these climate changes. A national state of urgency would have the government implementing immediate measures, such as stricter emissions regulations, investments in renewable energy, and widespread public awareness campaigns. Although discussions of concepts on how to address climate change have been discussed for a long time, there has been no urgent action in place to address the roots of climate change, which is that of the fossil fuel industry. When the public is mourning about the effects of climate change, they often fail to realize that their own lifestyles significantly contribute to climate change.
This lack of self-awareness is closely tied to an interesting concept called “Climate Denial,” as discussed by Maya Kattler-Gold and Kari Marie Norgaard on Seaside Sustainability. People believe either that the Earth’s increase in warming isn’t true, or try to give it different interpretations, for example the warming is due to a natural cycle in Earth’s climate. Scientist Nicole Mortillaro on Psychology Today said there is a general unease touching large expensive government projects, “people whose livelihood is dependent on…the oil industry.”
This reluctance to embrace change holds weight on people’s perception of sticking to what they are used to, and what dominates other alternatives. In the article by Environmental and Energy Institute (EESI), it explains that the fossil fuel industry has been powering the economy by 80 percent above other industries. This has become harder to overcome also within mainstream politics. As of 2025, Donald Trump has pledged his support for increased fossil fuel production with his campaign slogan, “Drill, Baby, Drill.” According to NPR, this move reverses climate policies and regulations aimed at reducing U.S. carbon emissions.
If the Earth continues to warm, the extreme weather events we are experiencing now will become the norm. We are living in an environmental crisis, and it needs to be addressed. Pew’s Research Center has many solutions that are costly, but effective, to the overall longevity to our Earth’s climate. Surveying 10,957 U.S. adults, over 63 percent believe that global climate change is affecting their local community in 2020, which had increased with the disasters as of 2024. The most popular votes of over 80 percent believe that planting about a trillion trees would be beneficial, absorbing carbon emissions, and providing a tax, and restrictions for corporations based on their carbon emissions.
The most popular alternative and keen investment is using sunlight to generate electricity. According to BKV Energy, solar energy is both renewable and massively available. It can reduce the reliance of fossil fuels and reduce energy costs for consumers in the long run. Even simpler solutions, small changes within households can leave a stronger impact. The United Nations recommended taking public transportation, or biking can reduce greenhouse gas emissions instead of relying on vehicles burning diesel or gasoline. Switching to LED light bulbs to decrease the amount of electricity powered by coal, or gas. Also, washing laundry with cold water, or hanging things to dry instead of using a dryer. Even with influential voices from the White House increasingly dismissing the reality of climate change, it’s now more important than ever for individuals to take responsibility and make these changes. Relying solely on government action would cause more harm with their support for more fossil fuel use. We can use these tactics one by one and day by day to continue to strive on a livable Earth, which is how it’s meant to be now and for future generations to come.
