Improving Our Climate

Global warming is affecting the planet in many ways, from melting ice caps and glaciers to extending seasons in some places. In the article “Climate Change and The Campus” by The Programs for Deliberative Democracy, Deirde Benjamin Grarity, and Margaret Stephens, the authors speak about the issues of climate change. They also speak about the actions Community College of Philadelphia has made to become more sustainable. Ways we could address the problem of climate change are by expanding the mitigation of green roofs at CCP, as well as improving the recycling program, spreading the word more, and also installing wind turbines.

The overall main idea of “The Issue; Climate Change”, which is the first section of CCC, is the science of climate change, and also the mitigation and adaption strategies. The authors explain that not only is climate change a problem in the USA, but it is also a worldwide problem that is a detriment to our living. The authors also spoke about the science of climate change and that scientists believe humans are the major cause of climate change because most human actions cause carbon footprints. They also spoke about the two strategies that could reduce climate change which are the mitigation and adaptation strategies. The mitigation strategies help ease climate change through actions taken by the communities, while in order to amend climate change other may use adaption strategies.

 In the section “What do we do at CCP?” the authors discuss the mitigations used at the Community College of Philadelphia to help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released. Green roofs, heat recovery systems, geothermal heating, and passive solar are four mitigations used at CCP to decrease our carbon footprint. All four mitigations slow down climate change in different ways, such as changing a roof to a green roof. A green roof is a roof that has a garden for many purposes such as providing insulation. Whereas the heat recovery systems do not provide insulation they do need less amounts of energy to warm and cool air, so the result is CCP uses less fossil fuel by placing the heating and cooling vents besides one another. While geothermal heating also need less amounts of energy to warm and cool air, they execute the mission in a different way by placing water filled pipes underground; which helps lower the carbon footprint. The fourth mitigation used by CCP is passive solar. Passive solar requires architects to place windows and doors in places which will help heat the area in the winter, or cool the area in the summer, which causes less energy to be used. 

All four mitigations are great methods to decrease climate change although the method Community College of Philadelphia should expand is green roofs. In the article the authors wrote, “The benefits of a green roof are endless.” By expanding that mitigation, not only would the unused roofs be used, but they would also be used to help reduce our climate change. With the addition of green roofs, students would be able to have a nice atmosphere to hang out. After testing the roofs for drainage, the structure would then be covered with growing medium.  Students would then be given a chance to help sustain the environment by using the opportunity by helping plant greenery. As students take place in the event they will have a chance to not only become involved in helping the school but also the climate.

CCP could also address the problem of climate change by improving the recycling program. Day by day our earth suffers more and more from small actions like littering. This action could be resolved by simply recycling. Recycling is an important gift because over time the amount of waste created is increasing, and with the power of recycling, CCP could make a massive impact on our planet. CCP must act now and strengthen recycling at the campus before it is too late by placing recycling bins in every class. Thus, even the slightest actions like amended recycling will result in major differences such as less oil being used.

  An additional way we could address the problem of climate change is by spreading the word. By bringing awareness we are getting the public’s attention and educating them on the reality of what’s really happening to our planet. We must not only educate ourselves but also educate people around us of the effects of climate change. For that reason, we must provide information sessions and much more to overcome this problem. We must come together to notify people and expose the truth. With people being naive to the truth, no effort will be put into helping our planet. Hence, the first step toward success is awareness.

  Finally, we could address the problem of climate change by installing wind turbines. Although other sources of electricity require fuel in processing plants, wind energy generates electricity through wind and is free. Wind turbines do not pollute our planet’s air or water, and for that reason they are resourceful. Wind turbines are a successful way to produce electricity. Therefore, not only is wind energy free, but it is also an unpolluting energy source that supplies electricity.

  In order to address the problem of climate change we should expand the mitigation of green roofs at CCP, as well as improving the recycling program, spreading the word more, and also installing wind turbines. Climate change is not something that will happen in the future because it is already occurring. Climate change is worsening and needs to be a priority to everyone, or our planet will become more polluted. Climate change is affecting our planet by melting ice caps and glaciers, but as the climate worsens, our planet becomes affected and polluted with oils and gases, which results in our planet becoming hotter in some seasons than usual. In conclusion, climate change must be approached now before it too late.

Work Cited

Campus Conversation: Climate Change and the Campus. Discussion Guide for Student
Deliberations. Ed. Deirdre Benjamin Garrity and Margaret Stephens. Philadelphia: Community College of Philadelphia, 2012