Cool It: The Climate Change Challenge

Our planet is getting warmer. We are experiencing more severe storms and droughts, as well as shrinking glaciers and polar ice caps. Right here in Connecticut scientists say the big lobster die off in Long Island Sound may be the result of climate change, and sugar maple trees may be gone from the state within 15 years because of warmer winters. Scientists predict more and bigger changes are on their way, unless we take action. Click here to learn more about how climate change is affecting Connecticut.

What’s the Cause?

Scientists agree that the major cause of climate change is human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil, which emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat near the earth’s surface and are causing the atmosphere and the oceans to get warmer. We don’t know exactly what the long-term impact of this global warming will be or how soon changes will happen, but most of the changes, like rising sea levels and severe weather patterns will not be good for humans or most other living things.

What Can We Do?

There is no easy solution to global climate change. All of us contribute to the problem by using energy produced by fossil fuels, and its difficult to give up the good things this energy provides. Energy also fuels our global economy and political leaders are reluctant to take actions that might hurt the economy or cost jobs. But, if we don’t act we could face a global catastrophe. It’s a tough challenge. But every challenge brings opportunity.

A few years back when we were talking about establishing a competition for kids on climate change, we spoke of the desire to "institutionalize"awareness and solutions through the competition. I'm sure there are many ways to define "institutionalize" and we might all define it differently, but I had a recent experience that counts as institutionalizing in my book. I was at EO Smith High School graduation last week. In the principal's speech, he highlighted the many individuals in the class of 2008 who had made a difference and then he went on to mention the sports teams and academic awards, including accomplishments of the Cool It team. The senior class president made the concluding speech of the evening, much along the same lines. In the list of class accomplishments, he also mentioned the Cool It team.

Nothing more than the mention of the Cool It team in either case, but I guess that's the point. When Cool It gets mentioned in the same list as making it to the states in tennis or placing in the robotics competition, and there is no further explanation needed, you know that it's been acknowledged, embraced, respected, and institutionalized.

We ARE making a difference. Keep up the great work.

~ Lynn Stoddard, CT Department of Environmental Protection Climate Change and Energy Team

Climate Change is a Problem

What’s the Cause?

What Can We Do?

It's time to Cool It! Here's how...