We Need Green

by Max Zeryck
Grant High School
State of Oregon

Scientists agree that increasing numbers of human-caused carbon emissions are causing
global warming. Biodiversity loss is occurring at an alarming rate. Nearly half of the world’s population doesn’t have access to a sanitary source of water. Clearly, something is wrong, and the human race needs to take action as soon as possible. Thus, the United Nations’ Millennium Development goal to ensure environmental sustainability by 2015 is the most significant goal. Global warming is happening right now.

Though some individuals still do not see it as an issue, the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated, “It is very unlikely that the 20th-century warming can be explained by natural causes.”1 Action needs to be taken now. The United States, under George W. Bush, has not taken the initiative on this issue.2 We need to fund research for sustainable energy and reduce carbon emissions in order to meet this important goal. Another target of the U.N.’s goal is to, by 2010, substantially reduce the rate of biodiversity loss occurring at an alarming rate.3 According the BBC, The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment found that “the way society has sourced its food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel over the past 50 years has seriously degraded the environment.”4 The report even goes on to claim that at the current rate, this Millennium Goal cannot be met. This goes to show that it is all the more important—we need to change how we farm, fish and log forests before we devastate the balance of nature beyond repair.

Finally, the statistic that, according to the UN, “almost half of the world’s population face [sic] a scarcity of water,”5 is alarming. Imagine a room with ten thirsty people in it. Now imagine five of them have to compete over one cup of water, and the other five drink freely from a fountain. This is representative of a global problem of water distribution and is one of the most immediately important targets of the seventh Millennium Goal. As you can see, we need to intervene as soon as possible. The delicate ecosystem, the dispersion of water and the future of planet Earth are at risk. The seventh Millennium Goal— ensuring environmental sustainability—is the most important goal to achieve and take action upon as soon as we can.


Sources
1. “Can the Warming of the 20th Century be Explained by Natural Variability?” IPCC
WGI. .
2. “George W. Bush: The Un-science Guy.” AlterNet.
.
3. “Millenium Development Goals.” UN.org.
08_En.pdf#page=40>.
4. “Study highlights global decline.” BBC News.
.
5. “Millenium Development Goals.” UN.org.
08_En.pdf#page=42>.