The effects of climate change are more rampant than ever in today’s modern world. It is regarded as the world’s most pressing issue, as it is the cause of ice melting, negative effects on wildlife and their habitats, droughts, higher sea levels and much more. Although every year may seem important in halting the Earth’s rising temperatures, 2020 is especially a crucial year for the future state of our planet. 

2020 has been deemed the year to make a difference with powerful, coordinated action and we have a lot of work to do. The bright side is that, due to the constant destruction caused by climate change, six out of ten people are now either “alarmed” or “concerned” about our certain situation, a number that has doubled in the past five years. Climate activists including Greta Thunberg, a teenage girl from Sweden, continue to spark movements around the globe. Over 500 international companies have committed to set climate goals backed up by science. Also, the biggest pact to fix climate change, the Paris Climate Agreement, has been signed by many countries and is a set of milestones that will be taking place over a span of five years. While the U.S. has backed out of the agreement, some states and U.S. companies have committed to seeing it through. If we are not able to reach the targets, then reducing the global temperature increase below 2.7º F will not be possible.

Climate change requires a major coordination of worldwide efforts, which will not be easy. For instance, a significant obstacle is the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, as the U.S. is one of the top producers of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. 

As we approach the 2020 deadlines for climate targets, it’s now our turn as U.S. citizens to be more conscious of our environment, reduce carbon emissions and help others do so, as well. With everyone’s aid, we can make 2020 the year we finally take back our planet from the hands of global warming.