At my school especially, I have noticed there has been a mass overconsumption of paper, and that the paper has not even been fully used. This causes unnecessary de-forestation of tress and more garbage (if not recycled) pollution, which leads to more co2 emmision. A step we can take to fix this would be to collect all paper at school every so often and do recyling paper projects, especially in art classes. In the class students would 1) break down the paper to pulp using and reusing water, 2) make a flat or whatever shape intended paper 3) let it dry, for schools to make their own recycled paper, reducing co2 emission and ensuring a full recycling process, rather than "accidental" littering.

Deforestation leads to the loss of biodiversity and contributes to climate change. Many plants and animals will lose their natural habitat. Trees stabilizes soil and regulating water cycles. Removing it raises the risk of flooding. Deforestation is caused by agricultural expansion, urban expansion and infrastructure development. To prevent this from happening the government can create strict laws to protect forests.
Sources:https://forestry.com/environmental-impact/climate-change/devastating-effects-of-deforestation-on-our-environment/

I completely agree, the government needs to act now if we want to prevent the environmental crisis from getting any worse. Governments around the world could implement laws in order to protect the forests. These could include: Making all parks open to the public and unavailable for big corporations to purchase. Banning all open fires during the dry season and not allowing anything that could combust in the area. And putting regulations on how much land each company can own.

Solar panels are good for the environment because they produce energy with no air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions, and they  reduce the need for fossil fuels. This helps not contribute to climate change, improves air quality, saves  water, and reduces the environmental impact associated with extracting and burning fossil fuels.

Solar panels should be the primary source of energy. I remember in 8th grade we watched a documentary about sources of energy and there was one part in particular that I found shocking. If we covered around a fifth of Nevada in just solar panels we could power the whole country with just the sun. I know that there are pros and cons to this, like money, or resources, but in the long run solar panels will be better for the environment. I also know that we can just build so many solar panels in Nevada, but my point is,America is much larger than Nevada which means there is a lot more empty space than just there,spreading out the solar panels would be beneficial for multiple reasons, people might think placing a bunch of solar panels in Nevada would be bad because they want to keep the land free of technology and keep that area a technology free zone and just nature so spreading them out can preserve some of the lands natural beauty, and if you spread the panels out you have a bigger chance of sunlight. Having all the solar panels in one place would be a stupid move,spreading them out gives you a bigger chance of the suns light.

According to the World Nuclear Association, over 40% of CO2 emissions are caused by the burning of fossil fuels for electricity. The effect of electricity on carbon footprinting is immense. Small actions such as forgetting to turn off the lights, resulting in it being left on for hours at a time can devastate energy resources. DarkSky International states that nearly 30% of lighting outside in the US goes to waste partially due to the lack of shielding. To avoid these problems, LED lights should be used because they save energy, especially in cases where light needs to be left on for prolonged periods of time. On top of this, the use of sensors should become more common because sensors have the ability to detect the presence of someone. It will detect movement and turn on, and will go off when there can't sense any movement in the room.

I completely agree with you! The use of LEDs would be a great way to save energy, considering their long life spans and energy efficiency. On top of that containing the excess light would also help the world with it’s light pollution crisis (which is why we can’t see stars that often anymore). The use of sensors is a great idea to save energy, and has been implemented in many locations globally, we could use the same technology to save energy on long roads, and freeways at night with long distance sensors.

A huge chunk of our items be it clothing, sofas, etc. are made of leather. According to Carbonfact and ACS Publications, the process holds multiple chemical and mechanical processes to make them fancy.  From tanning methods, to waste management. This can be reduced by starting to make our own leather clothing, by possibly salvaging some from roadkill, like the millions of deer that die.

visualizing a future without constraints, and understanding that your attitude and belief are more impactful than your current circumstances or intelligence.

I forgot to put my sources:

https://www.carbonfact.com/blog/knowled … bon-impact

I believe that the majority of a person's carbon footprint comes from the usage of gas powered vehicles such as road vehicles (passenger cars and light-duty trucks) and airplanes. It is generally one of the several primary sources, alongside household energy consumption, food/dietary choices, and the consumption of goods and services. Switching to electric Transportation significantly reduces carbon footprint and is crucial for combating climate change as a community. Tailpipe emissions (released from exhaust pipe when fuel is burned) aren't produced when electric vehicles are being operated. Beyond climate benefits, eliminating these tailpipe emissions improves local air quality, leading to overall better health outcomes and less respiratory and cardiovascular problems in the community. Adopting electric modes of transportation (Tesla, Chevrolet Bolt, etc) is a necessary step towards achieving net-zero emissions and preventing the worst impacts of climate change.

The balance between the human race and the well-being of our planet is quite difficult to balance. People need more and more things that are not exactly friendly to the environment and the planet. what can we do to balance the balance? I think we should reduce as much as possible the objects that we don't really need or replace them with others that are better for the environment. I admit that I also buy some things (clothes for example) that are not really useful to me, taking into account that I have so many good things that I could continue to wear. therefore, I will try as much as possible not to spend so much money on things I don't need, but to invest them in things that will also help the planet.

To add on to you’re point I think people should use more recyclable materials that are biodegradable, as well as organize more events for recycling, cleaning and informational ones too because it is very important to learn about how much one piece of plastic can damage the environment, and the ways that our pollution can affect animals and plants. We need to be aware that we are the cause of pollution and that only we can fix pollution and save our planet.

I completely agree! I often buy new items without considering what I already have and how my purchases will affect the planet. I feel it is important to pay attention to the packaging of items and minimize our purchases of plastic or other packaging materials that are harmful to our planet. It would also be great for communities to continue to transition from plastic products to more paper products. In addition, it is essential to enforce recycling and composting policies to limit the amount of waste dumped on land, making its way to our ocean, polluting the water, and hurting marine animals. We definitely need to be more conscious of our daily actions and their effects. Has your community taken any effective steps to further protect and heal our planet? Do you have any other ideas on how to do so?

I also agree very strongly marlow. It is important to recycle as much as possible.My community hasn't done this but i have researched a lot on cleaning plastics.One project I found interesting was an organization called The Ocean cleanup, It took a net attached to two tug boats that collect plastics in ocean hotspots . Although this form of cleaning is effective i feel it is not as sustainable as other projects due to a boat being driven around the ocean a lot which could effect the marine ecosystems as well as effect the carbon footprint.A great way to clean up in your community without needing many tools is to organize ocean and river clean ups, river clean ups are very important because our world only uses 1% of the 71% of water on earth and it is getting limited everyday due to waste in our fresh water.

As demand for new products such as clothing and technology increase, carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emission follows, and even through beach cleanups and ocean cleanups and efforts to recycle plastics, metals, and rare earth minerals, our efforts to combat climate change do little to reduce climate change itself. While investing in the planting of new trees and ecosystems is an effective way to combat climate change and absorb some of the greenhouse gas emissions from the Earth's atmosphere, companies and government entities can do more to invest in ways to absorb CO2 through new technologies and developments. Much like how new inventions grant are given through the NIH (U.S. National Institute of Health) and government organizations, the UN and other national entities could use some of its own funding to develop a CO2 and greenhouse gas emission invention team composed of internationally-recognized and accomplished resources to develop new materials and processes that could help to temporarily or permanently absorb greenhouse gas emissions. One example of developments of inventions to combat the production of carbon-dioxide is Stanford University's creation of a new carbon-dioxide trapping material in their laboratory. In late February of this year, Stanford chemists were able to revolutionize a new process to permanently sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide using common minerals and materials. With the creation of new dedicated carbon-dioxide fighting invention teams, will the United States and other countries around the world be able to reach its goal of net-zero and 2 degrees Celsius over the next 100 years?

You make a great point about how our habits affect the planet. Reducing unnecessary purchases and choosing eco friendly alternatives is a strong step toward restoring balance between human needs and environmental health. By being mindful of what we buy and supporting sustainable products, we can all play a part in protecting the Earth’s resources for future generations.

I think you make a good point. What a lot of people forget when they buy clothes is that the materials in clothes require energy to grow, process and assemble into our items. The problem is that in countries in the modern world, people find clothes for not so expensive, making them more likely to spend on a whim rather than necessity. An example of this is that you don’t really need more than 2 pairs of shoes, just one for regular wear and one for formal occasions.

I agree with your statement. That us humans needs to be aware of the environment around us and how we are affecting it in today's society. What you said is good to spend less on extra clothing you don't need and things that you don't really use a lot and spend it on more eco- friendly causes. Even if its smaller actions like recycling and choosing sustainable products this can have an impact on this planet.

I agree with your statement I also think you make a good point when you said " I think we should reduce as much as possible the objects that we don't really need or replace them with others that are better for the environment." but I have one question? What can we change to make cloths and other things more safe for the planet and more affordably for the community.

Individually, we can drive less, switch to renewable energy, reduce meat consumption, conserve energy, and minimize waste. Communities can promote local food, organize clean-up events, advocate for public transport, plant trees, and educate others. Nationally, governments should invest in renewable energy, enhance public transport, and enforce stricter environmental regulations. Globally, international cooperation, developing technology, and assistance for climate adaptation is crucial for widespread emissions reductions and reducing climate impacts.

I totally agree with you, Aarush- especially on the topic of educating others about how they can reduce their carbon footprint. Many people do not know what their carbon footprint is, let what the phrase "carbon footprint" means.

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One the main causes of water scarcity is climate change and pollution. As the population increases, the demand for water rises. Most the water is used for irrigation and drinking. Pollution caused by factories creates unsafe drinking water. Contaminants such as heavy metals pose severe risks to biodiversity and human health. Irrigation relies on water to support crop production. Challenges in irrigating crops, can lead to food shortages and increased food prices. Agriculture use approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals.
Sources: https://www.worldwaterweek.org/news/und … -solutions

Due to the world developing and technology rapidly expanding we have technologies that help us make our cars electric or if you don’t want an electric car you could buy a hybrid car that is safe for the environment and releases less carbon than normal cars while saving gas and not having to recharge it.

I completely agree with you that hybrids and electric cars are better than traditional gasoline cars because they offer improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and reduced operating costs. Hybrids achieve this by combining a gas engine with an electric motor, while EVs rely on electricity, producing zero tailpipe emissions.

As humans become more and more numerous, requiring more and more technology to survive via farming machines, factories, and electronic devices, it brings more and more pollution to our biosphere. One thing is starting to become clear, every human that is born means more carbon to deal with. The implications are disturbing; that reaching a net-0 carbon goal might just mean getting rid of humans, after all, 2000 years ago when we had less tech and less population the climate wasn’t much of concern. My question is simple, shall we or our planet die?

I think that as time goes on, we will find a way in order to avoid us dying and the planet dying. But I think that your question is too big to ask and there is really no correct answer. All we can do is try and lower our own carbon footprint to save the planet.