The majority of the time when we hear the term “global warming” or “climate change,” we think of it as a future problem. Yet the effects of our irreversible actions have already started taking a toll on Earth. 

One of the most recent examples of global warming directly impacting us is Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Kirk, which have already done immense damage to the Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. These storms weren’t just early-coming hurricanes, they have become the standard for tropical storms. 

Hurricane Milton’s wind speed intensified from 60 mph to more than 180 mph in 24 hours. How did these hurricanes become so dangerous  so quickly?  The hotter the temperature of the air, the stronger the intensity of the storm. Our emissions of greenhouse gases are the catalysts for the heating up of our atmosphere. When industrialization started impacting the atmosphere back in the 1800s, scientists discovered that when we burn fossil fuels and overuse coal, it releases mass amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Even if all human emissions of greenhouse gases were halted immediately, Earth’s temperature would continue to rise for several more decades. This ongoing warming would result from ocean currents gradually releasing the excess heat stored in deep ocean layers back into the atmosphere. Experts estimate that additional warming from this “hidden” heat is unlikely to surpass 0.9°F (0.5°C). 

If human influences stopped, natural processes would gradually begin removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, allowing global temperatures to slowly decline over time. This all happens over an extended period, and results wouldn’t be immediate but are sure to happen eventually. One major renewable resource that could replace the need for fossil fuels are windmills, which can be used to preserve water and generate electricity. Wind energy reduces pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which can harm air quality and public health overall.