A highly controversial issue, global climate change has irked scientists and Americans for over a century. Although many scientists have proven that global warming is a threat to humanity, studies such as the 2014 Gallup poll, find that “one in four Americans — the “Cool Skeptics” — are not worried about global warming much or at all.” (Saad, One in Four in U.S. Are Solidly Skeptical of Global Warming) While vastly concerning to scientists, the topic of global climate change provides noticeably less trepidation among the American public. Perhaps the main reason is, not that the issue has ceased to concern but rather that the American people do not understand the implications, the causes, and the effects of global warming. This unawareness is what we should seek to obliviate. Should the American people become familiar with signs of global warming, should they come to see how slightly altered daily decisions could eventually stop global climate change, “Cool Skeptics” regime would be terminated.

            Furthermore, as the Union of Concerned Scientists writes, “Climate change is happening. It’s caused primarily by the burning of oil, gas, and coal. If we do nothing, the world will become significantly less habitable.” An exceedingly simple statement, it fulfills the purpose of summarizing the causes and effects of global climate change. However, we see that the solution discussed by the UCS, “all the sources of heat-trapping emissions (such as burning fossil fuels) must come in balance with all the processes that remove heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere (such as the growth of forests),” does not help raise public awareness. Quite on the contrary, the solution provides a long-term goal, a goal which not only Americans but all the peoples of the world must unite to achieve. A typical middle-class American reading the UCS’s article in an oil powered car, in a coal powered factory, or in a house with a gas-powered air conditioning system, could not be less concerned. While the majority of Americans do not acquire the fiscal means to purchase a solar-powered house or an electric automobile, the effectivity of long-term goals, such as that presented by UCS, remains woefully low.

Moreover, we see the need of spreading awareness of global warming in misconceptions among Americans such as that presented by OpenStax College in Climate and the Effects of Global Climate Change, when the author states, “A common misconception about global climate change is that a specific weather event occurring in a particular region is evidence of global climate change.” Clearly, while the American public remains ignorant of specific concrete evidence of global warming, while they are not presented with feasible short term goals, it is unsurprising that they should not be quite as concerned about climate change as are scientists.

            In conclusion, we see that the evidence provided by many scientific institutions are largely abstract to the average American citizen who may not have the capability of a first-hand experience of the studies provided by scientists. While, for over a century, scientists have carefully followed the scientific process to reach a conclusion that leaves little room for doubt, the American people have yet to become solidly undivided on the danger global warming poses to humanity. Should we remain divided, the long-term goal of replacing all burning of fossil fuels remains impractical.

• Ayah Gouda