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YIKES! Arctic’s Oldest, Thickest Sea Ice Just Broke for the First Time … Here’s What We Need to Do

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Estelle Rayburn is a freelance writer and blogger living and thriving in Philadelphia, PA. She... Read More

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Try as you might, it’s virtually impossible to deny that Climate change is real when you look at what has begun happening in the Arctic this summer. For the first time in recorded history, the thickest, most ancient sea ice in the region has started to crack, thereby opening waters off the north coast of Greenland, which are typically frozen solid all year round.

This never-before-seen phenomenon has scientists shocked and worried, especially since the area where ice is now breaking and melting was projected to be the most resistant to rising global temperatures given its great thickness and how deeply frozen it usually is, even in the summer.

As Thomas Lavergne, a scientist at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, reportedly said, “I cannot tell how long this open water patch will remain open, but even if it closes in a few days from now, the harm will be done: the thick old sea ice will have been pushed away from the coast, to an area where it will melt more easily.”

This alarming occurrence, which scientific experts believe is likely taking place due to a Climate change-related heatwave that brought unusually warm winds to the Northern Hemisphere, demonstrates just how difficult it is to predict and prepare for the extensive effects of global warming. Still, one thing is for certain: Thinning sea ice is only just the beginning of how Climate change will impact our planet and our lives in the coming years.

The good news is, we still have a chance to turn things around! While we, unfortunately, can’t reverse most of the damage that’s already been done, we CAN help limit further negative environmental impacts. But if we want to do so, it’s of paramount importance that we act fast!

Eating a plant-based diet is one highly effective way in which we can lower our carbon footprint and, in turn, aid in the fight against Climate change. Can ditching meat and dairy actually make that much of a change, you ask? Absolutely!

As a matter of fact, by following a plant-based diet, you can cut your carbon footprint in half and save around 200,000 gallons of water annually! Plus, plant-centered eating has the power to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a major driver of Global warming.

According to a recent study, if a nation of 320 million people ate a plant-based diet, it would cut greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by around 28 percent. So just imagine the huge positive impact it would have if everyone in the world fueled themselves with plants instead of animal products!

As the concerning situation in the Arctic shows, we can’t afford to wait any longer to change our diets if we want to avoid a climate disaster in the near future. To learn more about how you can help be part of the solution to Global warming simply by being conscious about what you put on your plate, check out the #EatForThePlanet book!

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  1. Dear One Green Planet,

    I frequently take a bus to Key Biscayne\’s library located near the N.O.A.A . complex on Virginia Key, Miami. I often meet a scientist who works there and frequently engage him in conversations regarding global warming. These are his thoughts on the matter: "Global warming is just part of the Earth\’s cyclical weather pattern, and the Earth has been warmer in the past, including the polar caps." I then asked him: "What is global warming ?". His response: "It\’s called weather." I then ask him what if we\’re wrong and global warming is occurring. Essentially he gives me the same response. According to his knowledge and historical records the data does not suggest on a scientific basis that we are on a trajectory indicative of global warming. Do you know were the public can obtain NOAA\’s official statement on Global Warming ? Thanks.