“Do you think new technology can solve climate change?” I asked my father, a solar energy specialist who taught me this phenomenon is real, not an elaborate hoax fabricated by politicians or interest groups. “There’s no magic fix to stop climate change, but many solutions could be implemented today” he responded. “The bottom line is that global collective actions for a healthy planet are needed to slow climate change; however, since each country has different values, interests, objectives, and circumstances, it’s not easy to form a plan for unified global action to tackle climate change.” His words stayed with me, stimulating hopes and fears about the future.
As a child, I had a vivid imagination. I would think about the end of the world and my own death. Climate change in particular captured my attention. Seeing the news on TV about the ongoing increase in global temperatures worried me. Exaggerated thoughts, such as the temperature becoming too hot and roasting us all alive, came into my mind. Growing up, climate change had a profound impact on me, affecting not just my environment but also my mental health—although I did not realize it then.
Today, as a more knowledgeable person, I have set aside these naive thoughts. However, the effect climate change has on my daily life is still great. Comparing my community today to photos from many years ago, I can clearly see a lot of little changes over time. In my city, Henderson, which is near Las Vegas in Nevada, water shortages have become a problem. The increase in temperature caused by climate change affects the water cycle, which can lead to droughts and water shortages (ClimateCheck, n.d.). Since the water supply was scarce, especially in a desert, my city took measures by replacing “unnecessary” things that use water. One of these things was the trees and bushes that adorned my community park. Once, the city was filled with lovely trees and plants; now, they have been slowly removed. This eliminates habitats for lizards, who have been local to the city longer than anyone has. The sidewalks, which were bordered by green trees and grasses, are now lined with red rocks and pebbles (City of Henderson, n.d.). My community’s landmarks and interior have become duller, drier, and more desolate, which has a negative effect on my moods.
Summer is the season beloved by every kid. After finishing a long school year, they dream of hanging out with friends, going to parties, playing sports, and more. However, the increase in temperature makes summer harder to enjoy. Playing outdoors is rare these days as climate change intensifies. Constant industrial activity, deforestation, and other human endeavors emit greenhouse gases, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, which causes extreme temperatures (National Geographic, n.d.). This dangerous situation can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as exhaustion and heat stroke, which are common as people experience intense sunlight and high temperatures when they go outside (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). Similarly, outdoor activities are difficult for me. Playing basketball is one of my biggest passions; however, the scorching sun makes the sport hard to enjoy. As I dribble across the court, my breath and footsteps get heavier. My eyes and mind feel weighed down like I have not slept for days. Every time I go outside, breathing seems to dry up my body. Exhaustion from playing sports is normal, but I have to take breaks every few minutes because of the heat.
When you think of summer, you also picture the beach with people boating, sun bathing, swimming in the shallows, and riding waves. The beach, which consisted of clams and gentle waves, is slowly seeing dangerous animals approaching. When I spent my summer vacation at my grandparents’ house in South Korea, I would find jellyfish on the shore, which made me question their presence when they normally live deep underwater. Due to the increasing temperatures resulting from climate change, some deep sea animals are moving to shallower depths to find suitable temperatures. Climate-driven changes can directly affect the health and condition of these animals. They can also impact the availability of habitat and prey wildlife rely on to survive and reproduce (NOAA Fisheries, 2023). Shark sightings are also becoming more frequent due to the shift in their habitat. According to the International Shark Attack File 2023 shark attack report, there were 69 confirmed unprovoked bites, a number slightly higher than the most recent 2018–2022 average of 63 unprovoked annual cases globally. While such attacks are still rare, they can be deadly. In 2023, 10 fatalities occurred from shark attacks worldwide (Florida Museum, n.d.).
Climate change has impacted and will continue to impact air quality as well. In many areas of the United States, climate change is expected to worsen harmful ground-level ozone, increase people’s exposure to allergens, such as pollen, and contribute to worsening air quality (U.S. EPA, n.d.). Breathing ground-level ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma (Iowa Department of Natural Resources, n.d.). Living in Las Vegas Valley, one of the worst areas for asthma (National Jewish Health, n.d.), my elder brother had always been interested in air pollution and atmospheric science. Recognizing the urgent need for action, especially after watching my struggle with respiratory issues, he and I wondered how we could help me and others in my situation. So, we started Air Awareness Alert (https://wonnyou8.wixsite.com/website), an organization that raises awareness about Las Vegas air quality, and developed a real-time air-quality app to help people with respiratory diseases choose the optimal time for outdoor activities.
This project started with a simple but earnest wish to avoid inhaling air pollutants that could irritate my airways and cause wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, as well as chest pain and tightness. However, with the support and participation of our friends and teachers, we decided to expand this project beyond Las Vegas (https://www.instagram.com/airawarenessalert/). As humanity’s desire to assist those we love has helped foster the development of the modern world, we were happy to see our humble ideas for me build empathy with the people around us. They were able to combine their wisdom and experience on a project that benefits our local community and possibly establish a shared network for adjacent communities. We not only successfully created our Air Awareness Alert app that notifies people when the air quality is poor but also amassed more than 700 Instagram followers to help spread awareness about air-related issues.
I agree with my dad that dealing with climate change is very tough because everyone’s situation in this complex world is different. For instance, food and a place to sleep are more important than recycling for the unhoused. And replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy would be a huge financial burden for less economically developed countries. However, climate change cannot be ignored because it is affecting people’s health, daily lives, and the environment. There are many technologies, such as renewable energy, that can battle climate change. The main problem is that many people do not comprehend why they should go out of their way for renewable energy when cheaper but environmentally harmful energy exists. Additionally, most people do not realize that climate change impacts many different aspects of their lives and the world. I believe that the most impactful solution is to raise awareness about the seriousness of climate change and inspire everyone to take actions, however small, to combat it. Small actions that each of us take will eventually have a big impact, so how about we take action to make the world a better place?
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