Study after study shows that the rate and growth of population is out of control. Therefore, we cannot continue to extract resources at the same pace as we have in the past. It seems that some aspects of climate change are starting to show their heads, from shifting weather predictions to massive storms in the southern United States.
Cornell explained that while changes usually take thousands of year, Cornell was seeing them happen in decades.
According to Cornell, there are changes happening all over the globe to normal temperatures, weather patterns, and even animal population. Students who are concerned about climate change might consider participating in environmental activities on campus.
Green League on campus is an environmental club where students can learn about environmental topics both on and off campus in a healthy and safe atmosphere, where their opinions are valued and where everyone is treated with respect. Mavis Anderson stated that Green League is a club where students can share their knowledge and ideas. Anderson, a first year student majoring in sustainability and environmental conservation, is the president. Because the man-made environment is causing so much damage to our planet, environmental awareness is essential on both a global and community scale.
The Green League also participates on trash pickups, hikes, and natural arts and crafts. This is the place to meet like-minded people who care about the environment. There are many other ways you can get involved on campus. Students who want to get involved in the environment can join the GREEN environmental club, the farm club, or the farm crew. Students who don’t want to be actively involved in the environment but still want to learn more about it are encouraged to join.
Cornell stated that by burning, slashing, and cutting down forests, we lose our ability to photosynthesize carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Not only are we adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, but we are also taking away the Earth’s ability of removing it.
The trees found in tropical rainforests, such as the ones mentioned above are a vital source for oxygen and clean the air of carbon dioxide. Humans add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through the removal and processing of trees.
Shippensburg University participates in the Ten Million Trees campaign to promote clean air and tree-growth. It is planned that 1,000 trees will be planted on campus next spring.
When we think sustainability, we also think about the future. Not only are we concerned about the future of resources, but also how they will be used. Cornell stated that once everyone recognizes the problem, then we can all work together to fix it.
The Green League and other environmental organizations on campus believe that collaboration is the best way for solving problems. Current generations must work together to slow down and stop climate change if they want to keep life as it is now. The environment and many large-scale ecological systems are vital to the functioning of the human world.
