I visited New Zealand last year. My family and I had an amazing time touring different beautiful and unique spots of nature. There was, however, one part of this trip that was particularly memorable to me. Out of the many wonders and breathtaking landscapes I saw, what I remembered the most was a glacier. It was not even big, it was quite small really. Why is this relevant? Well, here is the catch: the glacier had not always been small. A sign on the viewing platform presented a faded photo of a time not too many years ago where the glacier was much bigger. The information read that the glacier had receded greatly since the first photo, and was still receding today. Rising temperatures due to global warming had caused this.

Why is this important? Is it not just a tourist spot meant for hiking and aesthetic purposes? But of course, it’s more than that. Global warming has been an issue for many, many years now. Although there are some who work hard to try and reduce this, the majority of us on earth just are not doing enough. Oceans have risen 8 inches since 1880 and continue to rise gradually but significantly even today. It is projected that global sea levels will rise another 1-4 feet by the 22nd century (2100) alone. The gorgeous and historically rich city of Venice is also expected to sink as early as the 22nd century (2100) if the current rate of global warming is not curbed. This would displace thousands of people and families, the historical relevance and beauty of Venice would be lost to humanity. Global temperatures are rising and ice is melting. Not only do we lose glaciers, but we and many other species also lose tons of ice in the Antartic. Animal species such as polar bears lose their homes to the sea. Penguins die from collapsing ice cliffs. Sea-life is being globally impacted by plastic pollution. Turtles and fish are choking on our carelessly discarded plastic.

In this day and age, we take too much for granted. There is a perceived distance we all experience with problems that do not immediately affect us. Everyone hearing this is guilty of something that damages our environment unnecessarily. I am too. I remember in middle school I’d go to the same coffee shop every week with friends; we would order our drinks in their signature plastic cups with straws. From the cafeteria, I purchased food in plastic bags and discarded them to general waste once I was done. Our school did not have many recycling bins, or if more were hidden away somewhere, they were not easily accessible. Most of us use cars, planes, and more. Have you ever checked your carbon footprint and how aspects of your daily life affect that? But we need to remember that however little we directly see of them, our actions have consequences. These consequences will affect our children, animals, even our own future. The consequences will damage the world, our home. We need to alter our ways as much as we can, and it all starts with you.