Most of the world was watching as on November 9th Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton went head to head as the United States voted for who they wanted to be their next president. Shockingly the reality TV star won the majority vote over a highly qualified candidate. This was the monumental icing on the cake of hot discussion around the world. In his life time, especially in the last year leading up to becoming the president elect, Trump has said some controversial things and still won in spite of this. Amongst is comments on women, LGBT people, black people, latinos and non-americans he has also stated that he does not believe in climate change.
While his discriminative comments should be the forefront of conversation when it comes to the president elect statements about climate change like this cannot be ignored. This is a very dangerous belief to have for a person about to be one of the most powerful men on the planet, as said planet can only suffer. Once he is president Trump will not only have the power to change certain laws and regulations that will have a strong negative affect on the climate but he will also have the ability to change the beliefs of many of the millions of followers who voted for him. Arguably the latter is a lot worse due to the damage that amount of people could cause if they disregard global warming.
The disbelief of global warming did not start with Donald Trump of course. Many individuals both famous and not have and still do express believes that global warming isn’t happening. In the age of the internet these individuals can share these beliefs and influence others. While everyone has a right to an opinion the facts are undeniable and here are some of them:
- There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than at any point in the last 800,000 years.
- Since 1870, global sea levels have risen by about 8 inches.
- Global warming puts coral reefs in danger as the ocean warms, scientist fear that coral reefs will not be able to adapt quickly enough to the resulting changing conditions, and bleaching incidents and diseases will increase. This is backed up by the recent news on the great barrier reef dying.
These examples are only a few of the countless facts that prove the devastating effects that we are causing to the one and only planet we have and to deny them as a member of our population is irresponsible let alone someone who is in a position of such power. However there are things, as global warming aware individuals, we can do. Of course continuing to be conscious of our carbon footprint is the first step but the power of social media is the best tool when it comes to reducing the number of those denying global warming. While some like Trump are simply in denial others may just be ignorant to the topic. Education allow those to understand what climate change is and how we can prevent it. Social media allows us to educate on a mass level and by reaching so many people it has a bigger impact on the planet.
So while changing the mind of Donald Trump may be impossible, reducing the number of people who agree with him on the subject of climate change is possible.
How can you help?
www.bornfree.org.uk
www.wwf.org.uk