Evelyn Minchala
Professor Brian Cordell
English Composition I
26 April 2026
Addressing climate change
Not Revised
The climate change in these times has sparked a great deal of discussion due to the causes
that are slowly destroying the planet day by day. The main causes are generally because of us
humans and what we do to our planet as far as manufacturing infrastructure for the society we
currently live in. Things like fracking, the usage of gasoline, and the way we consume and
manage our waste are a few of many things that hurt the environment which ultimately affects
our planets climate. These past few weeks during April are proof of that, but unfortunately, we
are so far gone that it is now normal for us to experience 80-degree weather one day and then the
next day be in the low 40’s. I believe that climate change has become of low importance to us as
a society, and instead we are focusing on how to address the current state of the world and meet
its needs instead of addressing climate change and how to fight it properly without going
backwards in the way we live our lives in 2026.
Fracking is a topic that is absolutely relevant today. With what is going on in Iran and the oil
blockade that is causing worldwide havoc, it is true that oil is a necessity that we cannot live
without in current times. Though we have alternatives like electronic vehicles, we are not at the
point yet where we can instantaneously reach zero emissions to curb the damage we do to our
environment. That being said, oil is necessarry right now which means fracking is necessary. If
that is the case, then the damage we do to our environment by fracking which ultimately affects
our climate is inevitable. What I want to say with this is that it is not a priority for us to include
climate change while also meeting the world's needs, which I believe should be the case. I
believe that by making our environment the number 1 priority, it will directly affect our climate
for the better. There could be agreements made through the UNEP(United Nations Environment
Programme) which could put into action the right steps to reaching zero emissions.
According to UNEP, greenhouse gas emissions are the main problem we are facing today. This
is a direct result of what is currently necessary with my points made on fracking. “Unless
greenhouse gas emissions fall dramatically, warming could pass 2.9 degrees Celsius this century,
which would have catastrophic consequences for the life on this planet.” (“Climate Action”).
This point makes it clear that even though we as United Nations agree that this is the path we are
heading towards, we continue to prioritize the things that continue to hurt our environment. In
order to make it easier to understand how this all connects to climate change, firstly we need to
go over what exactly are greenhouse gases. “Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that
trap heat from the sun-“ (“What Are Greenhouse gases?”). The gases are things like Carbon
Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide, which all have in common our human interaction in the
way they release into the atmosphere. We are fully aware of the cause and effect of what we do
to meet our current needs yet we continue to choose the wrong side. People tend to divide
themselves into two groups when it comes to climate change, one side is sacrifice for a better
future, the other is to live more-so in the moment and worry about those problems later. This
leaves us ultimately divided which is why we can’t find a solution.
Gasoline usage ties into fracking in that it’s something relevant that we need currently, but
because we need to frack to get oil, it is doing double the damage in retrieving it as-well as using
it. Gasoline when used releases CO2 (carbon dioxide), and although we have catalytic converters
to help reduce the amount of pollution in the atmosphere, it still not 100% which slowly damages
what we have been trying to avoid. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla offers a lifestyle with his
vehicles that help eliminate emissions with our vehicles. By purchasing an all electric vehicle,
you are aligning yourself with the group of people that wants to do something the environment
now. This is a direct way to help climate change, and thankfully it’s a plan that actually works
because we have living proof with all the electric vehicles we all see in the streets driving
around. This means we are getting somewhere but unfortunately we are not quite there yet.
There are more actions we could take to fight climate change. According to (“Earth Guard
Mission – Climate act”) These are the 5 steps to fight climate change.
“
Understand & Reduce Energy Consumption
Home energy use is one of the largest contributors to personal carbon footprints. Start by
understanding where your energy goes, then take action: switch to renewable energy sources,
upgrade to energy-efficient appliances, improve home insulation, and eliminate unnecessary
electricity use.
One of the simplest changes you can make is switching from a dryer to air-drying your clothes.
Learn more about saving on energy bills.
2
Adopt Sustainable Transportation
Transportation is the second-largest source of household emissions. Shift to lower-carbon
options: take public transit, bike or walk for short trips, carpool with colleagues, and consider an
electric vehicle for your next car. Even one day per week of alternative transportation
compounds into significant emissions reductions.
3
Support Reforestation & Conservation
Trees are Earth's lungs, sequestering carbon and restoring ecosystems. Plant trees in your yard or
community, donate to reforestation organizations, support local green initiatives, and advocate
for forest protection. Protecting existing forests is as critical as planting new ones.
4
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Waste is a major source of emissions. Cut single-use plastics and disposable products, choose
durable goods, repair rather than replace, recycle properly, and compost organic waste. The most
impactful waste reduction step is consuming less in the first place.
5
Advocate for Policy Change
Individual action is critical, but systemic change is essential. Sign petitions supporting climate
legislation, vote for sustainability-focused leaders, join local environmental movements, and
voice support for renewable energy policies. Policy change amplifies individual actions into
transformative impact.:
” (“Earth Guard Mission – Climate act”)
Sources cited
“Climate Action.” United Nations Environment Programme, 27 Apr. 2026, UNEP Climate
Action (https://www.unep.org/index.php/topics/climate-action)
“What Are Greenhouse Gases?” NASA Science: Climate Kids, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, 27 Apr. 2026,
NASA Greenhouse Gases Page (https://science.nasa.gov/kids/earth/what-are-greenhousegases/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
“Action Steps.” Earth Guard Mission, 2025, www.earthguardmission.com/action-steps/.
Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
“What Is Climate Change?” United Nations, www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climatechange. 27 Apr. 2026