Many people are noticing that the cold fall season appears to be approaching later than in previous years. One of the main reasons for this shift is global warming. The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to an exponential rise in temperature. Students at Apex High School can make a big difference in slowing global warming. Small steps add up and can help protect the world for future generations. 

Apex students can contribute to this effort by cutting down on waste, both at school and at home. By setting up recycling bins and composting food scraps, they can ensure less garbage goes to landfills, which releases gases that warm the planet. Finding alternatives for plastic at school shows everyone how using less plastic and trash is better for the Earth.

Eating more sustainable foods and supporting local farmers are other ways in which Apex students can make a difference. By choosing plant-based meals or eating less meat and dairy, they help cut down on foods that use a lot of water and energy to make. Bringing local, in-season foods to school would help local farmers and benefit the environment greatly. Students could also pitch the idea to their provider to shop at the North Carolina State Farmers Public Market, which is full of fresh produce that is sustainably grown.

Apex students can also raise awareness about big companies that leave a large carbon footprint. By learning and sharing facts about how much pollution these companies cause, they can inspire others to support more eco-friendly brands. Writing letters, starting petitions, or even sharing on social media helps bring attention to the need for big companies to reduce their emissions, which would have a huge impact on global warming.

In Apex, North Carolina notable companies that are responsible for most carbon emissions are Duke Energy which ranked #3 in the Percentage of 2021 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Duke Energy is a major supplier of electricity to many homes in NC and has around 1.7 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers on just the coast of NC. Their carbon footprint is approximately 1.3% of greenhouse gas which roughly comes to 79,435,840 metric tons of CO2. Exxonmobil, the second largest gas station chain in NC has the largest carbon footprint out of any other gas station chain in the US with 624 locations in North Carolina alone 5 of them being in Apex. Ranking #9 in the Percentage of 2021 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Their carbon footprint percentage is 0.6% translating to around 38 million metric tons of C02 in the atmosphere.

If this issue doesn’t concern you, then I don’t know what will. As you get older the earth gets hotter, with an increase in acidic ocean water, higher sea levels, and larger changes in precipitation patterns. We have already seen the dire effects of climate change with Hurricane Milton and Helene. As the ocean gets warmer, it creates the perfect environment for tropical depressions which then turn into these catastrophic hurricanes..

Overall, Apex students can make a big impact on slowing global warming by taking small, effective actions. They can contribute to a healthier planet by reducing waste, choosing sustainable foods, and spreading awareness about companies with large carbon footprints. Each effort adds up, helping create a more sustainable future and showing that young people have the power to impact real environmental change.