With the 2016 presidential election rapidly approaching, it is important to carefully consider the policies of the candidates. One issue in particular that has an incontrovertible impact on every citizen of the United States is that of climate change. While there is a great deal of dissent surrounding the matter, there can be no doubt that climate change is occurring. According to data researched and compiled by NASA, the current carbon dioxide level of 400 parts per million is higher than at any other point within the past 650,000 years.
It is true that there have been cycles of climate change at points throughout history, and the current rise in carbon dioxide levels does not in itself explicitly point to human activity being the cause. Ninety-seven percent of the world’s leading climate scientists agree, however, that the human production of greenhouse gases is causing and even exacerbating this latest cycle of change in the environment
Human industry has been steadily pouring harmful gases in the environment. The production of greenhouse gases has risen at an alarming rate that directly corresponds to the increasing use of fossil fuels. The role of humans in climate change has been scientifically proven many times over. At the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change a panel of 1,300 independent climate experts concluded that there is a 90 percent certainty that the current climate change is being caused by human activities, according to NASA.
The issue of climate change is one that affects every person, regardless of political sides or agendas. Yet despite all of the evidence, some continue to cling to their delusions regarding climate change.
It is imperative for everyone voting in the 2016 election to carefully consider who is truly the best choice to elect to the presidential office. Climate change is one of most dangerous problems to face modern times and to elect a person such as Cruz or Trump, or any other candidate that steadily refuses to accept scientific evidence, would be to lose any chance at preserving the planet for future generations.
Chandler Jackson
Bayfield
