I would like to bring to the attention of the community the issue of burning fossil fuels for electricity, gas and heat; they have bad repercussions for the environment.
When we drive instead of walk, don’t turn the lights off if we leave a room, or another “small” mistake, we are burning more fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons, into the atmosphere.
This has many negative impacts. People should reduce the amount of fossil fuels they burn because global warming causes coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is when corals release algae containing their color and most of their food (zooxanthellae).
Coral bleaching occurs when the water and air become too hot, putting stress on coral. Scientists found this has affected at least 50 percent of the Great Barrier Reef, the largest reef in the world.
As more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, more gas is dissolving into the ocean making acidity levels rise. The more acidic the water is, the harder it is for the plants to build structures.
Coral reefs are home to over a million aquatic species. They provide food and protection to people who are near coastal cities, and employ many people due to the tourism based around reefs.
Humans burn fossil fuels constantly. In our lives it’s almost impossible to avoid these things, but you can make a difference by turning the lights off when you leave a room, taking public transportation, and walking across town versus driving.
If everyone turns off two lights for an hour each day, in one year we could save 5 million kilowatts of electricity. Next time you leave your house or room, turn off the lights.
Ruby McElhone Yates, 13
Easthampton