My Take on Climate Change

The topic of climate change has become more relevant in recent years; so, what exactly is climate change? Climate change often refers to the significant, long-term shifts in weather patterns and average temperature, often occurring at a regional or global scale. These long-term shifts come with additional changes to our environment, such as an increased rate of natural disasters. The process of climate change has been further increased mainly due to human impact (although this is mainly from large companies and corporations, not from the average person). Severe droughts and flooding are some examples of climate change having a larger impact on society as a whole. Currently, climate change has been and continues to negatively impact multiple regions.

As the topic of climate change has become more prevalent throughout the years, solutions to combat it have been brought to light. Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, or fully electric cars are often the first things mentioned when considering alternatives to non-renewable energy. Personally, I believe that nuclear energy and renewable fuels are some answers to climate change. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable fuels—as the name indicates—are derived from renewable resources such as biodiesel or methane, significantly reducing greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels while being sustainable since it’s sourced from a renewable material. This also allows current machinery, such as gas-powered cars, to remain usable instead of being turned into scrap. Nuclear energy often gets a bad initial impression due to its association with nuclear warfare, despite being one of the more controlled, safely managed, and eco-friendly sources of energy. Additionally, unlike solar and wind energy, nuclear energy does not need to rely on specific weather conditions in order to operate and can run 24/7 compared to intermittent renewables. It also requires less land than solar or wind to operate efficiently. These are just a few reasons as to why I view nuclear energy in a more positive light compared to alternative renewable options.

As someone who has lived in the Northeast region of the United States for their entire life, I have seen climate change affect the region in a number of ways. The average temperature has risen by a few degrees, which is felt during the summer, or when it is warmer than usual in the late fall. This also causes the region to often have later winters that last longer than anticipated. Flooding is more prevalent as well, with the average sea level rising, directly impacting public infrastructure such as transportation. For example, subway infrastructure flooding due to an ability to withstand heavy rain. This is one of the many ways climate change has impacted the region.