By Lizett Castillo
Eco-friendly changes can be seen in the lives of some College of Southern Nevada students who wish to help combat climate change.
Rise in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, unprecedented rise in temperatures around the world and more frequent natural disasters have made some CSN students want to do their part to help the environment.
According to Association of American Medical Colleges in an article titled “The Rising Health Threats of a Hot Planet” dated Oct. 8, 2019, “The average global temperature has increased by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880. According to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, with nine of the 10 warmest years on record occurring since 2005. Rising greenhouse gas concentrations lead to local and seasonal temperature extremes, changes in precipitation patterns, more intense weather events and rising sea levels that threaten the planet’s food and water sources.”
Elsa Hernandez, CSN student, said climate change is important today because natural disasters are happening way more frequently.
Lizette Aranos, CSN student, said she made many changes in her life to help the planet. Aranos no longer eats meat and uses biodegradable products when possible. Like many students she was concerned about the future. “It is in our best interest to prevent further damage. Taking care of our planet should always be one of our top priorities as a collective unit and as an individual for the sake of ourselves, but I think even more importantly, for the future.”
CSN student Angelina Reyes made big changes in her life this year. For starters, she makes minimal waste and composts food. She no longer uses paper napkins or paper plates and takes her own Tupperware with her to restaurants for her to-go food. She also composts organic substances such as fruits and vegetables to use later as fertilizer. “We have to take action before it’s too late.” Reyes recently attended the climate strike on the Las Vegas Strip Sept. 20. Las Vegas was not the only city taking part in a climate strike that day. It was a worldwide event.
On all three CSN campuses students are seen with reusable water bottles or recycling materials such as plastic or paper though CSN student Daniel Ramirez said, “I don’t think I—or we—do enough.”
Tanya Castillo, CSN student, said, “Climate change is important today because it affects us all. It is happening right now and we are causing it.” She thinks government should, “Create more laws that regulate big companies and their possibly damaging effects on the environment, and have recyclable and composting cans available everywhere.”
Coyote Student News at the College of Southern Nevada 