Climate change is a disastrous impact that threatens our planet. We have ourselves to blame for these drastic effects on Earth’s climate. Why? Because we are extracting and burning fossil fuels which leads to releasing toxic chemicals into the air. This causes an increase of greenhouse gases that trap solar radiation from the Sun. As the atmosphere heats up, storms get stronger, heat waves worsen, summers last longer than they should and snowy winters have become rare. These are some of the consequences we’re dealing with all because of our dependance on fossil fuels which not only harm our world but it’s nonrenewable. By the time they run out, the effects will be irreversible. I have experienced climate change here in New York City.
When I was little, walking to school during winter was tough. There was snow covering the streets that made walking almost impossible. Snow used to arrive as early as mid-November and by the time December came, there was snow everywhere. Years later I noticed that snow was becoming rare. It began to arrive during late December and later in mid-January. Now snow has become nonexistent and the closest thing we get is rain. According to an article from the New York Times, New York is approaching its longest streak of days without snowfall, according to the National Weather Service. Since March 9, 2022, it has been 320 days without snow and the record, which was set in 2020, was 332 days between Jan. 18-Dec. 15. The air in New York City is getting warmer which is preventing the formation of snow. Even if we stop releasing greenhouse gases, the effects of climate change will continue into the next century.
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