Our harmful effects on Earth keep mounting

Earth Day will not be a happy day for our Earth. Our Earth’s temperature is rising. The oceans are filling with plastic. We are ignoring our future. But while the Earth is having problems, we are removing many of our environmental regulations intended to protect the planet. We are reducing the size of lands set aside to protect the environment. We are rewriting and removing 100 of years of environmental law.

Many species are being driven to destruction. Changes in temperatures are impacting animals from polar bears to migratory birds. We are losing species before we know their value. At the same time, we are seeing increases carbon and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Our oceans are becoming acidic because of too much carbon in the atmosphere. This is impacting corals and other skeletal animals. We may not have oysters, crabs, lobsters, corals and shrimp if we continue our current path.

We in South Florida are more at risk. Evidence that Greenland’s glaciers are melting at a faster rate could significantly raise our sea levels. Right now, the oceans are picking up much of the increased carbon. Levels of carbon that we now see have raised ocean levels 100 feet during past geologic periods. By absorbing carbon, the oceans are protecting us, but this may not last indefinitely.

There is also extensive noise pollution that is harming fish and marine mammals. Offshore seismic blasts used to prospect for oil have the potential to kill 100,000 marine animals, including dolphins and whales.

What we need to do? Reduce fossil fuel use with more electric vehicles, more solar and more energy conservation.

We also need to restore our native tree canopy. South Florida originally had significant native tree canopy. Current tree ordinances permit the removal of too many native trees, impacting climate and migrating birds.