The top scientists of the country have concluded the bone chilling fact that the “Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as a result of human activities.” This National Climate assessment was released on Black Friday and included many other horrifying facts. It is an impressive document of 1,600 pages containing decades of work from over 300 authors.

Many people believe Black Friday is an abnormal day to release such an important document and rightfully so. The report was initially set to be released in December at a scientific conference in Washington D.C. The time of its release was changed without an explanation. Many speculators believe it was a strategic switch. It is said that the Trump Administration released the report on November 23rd so it would be buried under the media of Black Friday and overlooked by busy shoppers. There are many quotes that contradict statements previously made by President Trump.

The document contained many statements regarding natural disasters. The report stated, “Global climate is changing rapidly compared to the pace of natural variations in climate that have occurred throughout Earth’s history.”  It says that natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, and heat waves are going to continue to get worse. 16 of the 17 hottest years on record have occurred since the year 2000. The report’s authors state that they are certain that climate change poses a severe threat to Americans’ health, as well as the country’s infrastructure and resources.  Not only will climate change affect the Earth itself, but it will also affect the well-being of humanity.

Aside from all of the depressing statistics and our seemingly bleak future, there is a lot we can do to prevent climate change.  When we asked Mrs. Lafrance, an expert on all things involving the environment, what her view on the matter was, her response was truly eye opening. She states “all evidence points to humans emitting greenhouse gases as the cause of climate change.” Some easy changes we can make include, walking, biking, or using public transportation instead of driving, in addition to buying food and other products with reusable or recyclable packaging. Other things we can do to help include replacing outdated home appliances, buying a fuel efficient car, and insulating your home. We must begin to make changes now, before it’s too late. Mrs. LaFrance exclaimed, “In a selfish way this is going to cause humans a lot of suffering.  It’s going to cost billions of dollars every year, and that number is only going to go up. It’s eventually going to cost way more than it would cost to change our ways right now.” No matter how small you think your impact is, every little change you make can help to support a more eco-friendly future.

From planting a tree, to turning off your lights when you leave the room, to buying a whole new car; Everything counts. It’s not too late to reverse the effects climate change, however, now is the only time to start making a difference.