By Theresa Ficazzola Last week, Pope Francis made his first trip to the U.S. His speeches touched on many topics, including climate change. He even praised President Obama for his efforts to curb the tide of global warming.
The Pope’s climate change message started in June when he released a 184-page papal encyclical outlining his hopes to address climate change. Basically, he said that people have exploited the earth and its natural resources and profited from her riches, but now it’s time to take corrective action.
The NY Times quoted Pope Francis as writing, “Climate change is a global problem with grave implications; environmental, social, economic, political… It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.”
The Pope continues, “All is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start.”
Everyone has a role to play with respect to climate change—both in what you’re taking or abusing from the earth and the steps you’re taking to save the planet and its vast resources. You can make a new start, too, and help save the planet by going solar.
Some Facts
Climate change is real. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a 95% certainty that human activity is responsible for global warming. Here are just a few statistics:
- The IPCC also reports that carbon dioxide levels are at an “unprecedented” level, not seen for the past 800,000 years.
- As of 2014, 2013 tied with 2009 and 2006 for the seventh warmest year since 1880, according to NASA scientists. With the exception of 1998, the 10 warmest years in the 134-year record have all occurred since 2000, with 2010 and 2005 ranking as the warmest years on record.
- Glaciers in the Himalayas, Greenland, Antarctica and Alaska are melting due to this warming, which is then raising global sea levels. As reported in the NY Times, Antarctica lost 160 billion metric tons of ice a year from 2010 – 2013.
- The west coast and mid-west are experiencing drought conditions and out of control wildfires that are destroying acres of land and everything that lives there.
- Plant, insect, animal and ocean habitats are being lost, and many cannot be replaced.
- As reported in the NY Times, wheat, corn and rice are basic staple food sources for most people – and the many animals we rely on, for food. However, a 3.6 degree increase in the world’s temperature will result in a fairly significant decline in these crops in the future.
- And since everything on the planet is connected to each other, the domino effect of what is being lost or altered is having far reaching and long lasting negative implications for the earth.
The Plan
While scientists debate whether or not it’s too late to make a difference, we certainly can’t give up hope that what we do individually can collectively add up to a healthier, cleaner, and safer planet for ourselves and future generations. Pope Francis believes it’s possible. And so should you.
One of the biggest factors contributing to global warming is the burning of fossil fuels. A September 28 article in the NY Times noted that many countries have committed to making changes to stop greenhouse gas emissions, which results from burning fossil fuels. This will be discussed at length at a global climate change conference in Paris in December.
If more people committed to alternative energy sources, such as the solar panels being installed by SI Solar, there could be a lot more positive changes for the environment. In fact, more and more people are discovering the economical and clean power of solar for their homes and businesses.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. Solar industry achieved another record year in 2014, growing by 34% over 2013 to install nearly 7,000 megawatts (MW) of solar electric capacity. The SEIA also reports that the solar capacity currently installed in the U.S. can be expected to offset 16.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Why not join the solar power revolution yourself and help stop greenhouse gas emissions, curb global warming and do your part to prevent climate change? Getting solar panels for your home is easy, affordable and hassle-free. To obtain a free quote, contact SI Solar today.
