California Wildfires and the Climate Crisis

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A wildfire in the hills of California. Over 10,000 acres of land have been devastated by the fires. | PA Images

Caliyah Newsome, Staff Writer

In recent years we’ve all seen the rise in wildfires in the state of California. According to Scientific American, forests in these states could experience an increase of more 78% of area burned by 2050. Climate change and pollution is a prime factor in the cause of these fires. In order for these fires to calm down, we must learn how climate change affects us and we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It is important that everyone understands the dangers of climate change and these forest fires. First, climate change brings higher temperatures and more droughts, which makes it easier for fires to start and spread. With California being the most polluted state in the United States, temperatures there rise much faster than anywhere else. That’s why these fires start so easily in that area. Wildfires can negatively affect the people near them. They can cause health conditions in the lungs and cause many to have to evacuate their homes. 

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions people can consider using renewable energy. Things like solar panels, natural gas, geothermal energy, and electric powered cars. Yes, these things can be expensive but they are so important in terms of the huge climate crisis we are experiencing. This is something that we have got to take seriously and something that we can’t pretend isn’t there. Climate change is real and the wildfires are just one of the things that are a negative result of it. Let’s start caring about the planet we live on because, without a healthy Earth, how can we continue to live our lives?