Axel Perales

Ms. Gardner
English 10H/Per. 4
29 November 2016
Dear Mr. President-Elect,
I am Axel Perales, an honors student in Petaluma, California, and I would like to address to you a concern
widely shared here in my home state. Climate change has become a most dire problem for us, for the
droughts here have caused the deaths of 102 million trees (62 million in this year) and the enforcement of
water restrictions, as reported by EcoWatch. Because of the restrictions, my family and I couldnt water
the lawn often and we could barely use the dishwater. Moreover, when I was younger I used to see the
hills heading from Petaluma to Marin in pure greennow I only see them in its dry, yellow complexion.
Climate change doesn't only impact us Californians; it impacts the entire world. According to 350.org, a
non-profit organization against climate change, roughly half of the Arctics sea ice went missing (some
scientists estimate that the total volume of summer sea ice loss may be as high as 80%) in the summer of
2012.
Wonder why parts of Latin America and the U.S. are facing multiple cases of the Zika virus? Since
mosquitoes favor warmer climates, they are spreading to multiple new places and are becoming more
abundant, consequently transmitting viruses like malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus through their bite,
as explained by the CDC.
Finally, in China and parts of Japan, the air is engulfed by smog from the greenhouse gas emissions. CNN
reported that 46 days of heavy air pollution occurred last year and people were forced to wear safety
masks. Thus, its clear that no matter where you go, climate change affects
everything and everyone.
The science towards this complication is simple. First, greenhouse gas industries release their emissions
into the atmosphere, which warm it up by capturing heat. The heat is then radiated back down towards the
surface, where different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of solar radiation; for instance, the
equator receives the most heat, while the poles receive the least. Because theres an instability between
the rates of removing and creating carbon dioxide, temperatures are hotter than they should be, thus
melting the Arctic poles. The melting of the poles increases the sea levels, which creates the threat of
massive, dangerous floodings. If the emission of fossil fuels continue at this current rate, many of the
worlds cities, island nations, and farmlands will go underwater.
Hence, its up to you, Mr. President-Elect, among other world leaders to take action and end this globally
life-threatening epidemic. Currently, two ppm (parts per million) of carbon dioxide are
being released into

the air each year, and were already way over the 350 ppm limit. What needs to primarily happen to
resolve this complication is that most, if not all, greenhouse gas industries must be eradicated and
replaced with renewable wind and solar energy.

While coal energy may be the cheapest option, and oil is easily transportable, and natural gas causes less
air pollution, and nuclear power produces more energy, each of these options come with their own lethal
consequences towards the planet. With coal, a lot of carbon dioxide and sulfur is released, causing air
pollution and acid rain; with oil, you have the risk of oil spills on the ocean, like what happened at the
Gulf of Mexico in 2010; with natural gas, frackinga technique used for drilling the productuses
poisonous chemicals like carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals); and with nuclear power, Im certain
you dont want another Chernobyl repeat. Renewable energy is the best option because, according to the
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), it provides more jobs since its more labor-intensive, improves
public health and environmental quality, conveys to be less prone to large-scale failure, attains stable,
affordable costs, and consists of little to no global warming emissions.
Nobody said ending climate change was going to be easy. Nobody said sacrifices werent going to be
made. Nobody said this problem was going to be resolved in the snap of the fingers. However, Mr.
President-Elect, we must tend to this epidemic imperatively, for we are running out of time to mend the
very damages we ourselves have imposed upon this planet. Since Im still young, if this problem isnt
resolved soon I may not have a future, to say the least. Thus, I ask of you to be our Superman and carry
us to where we need to be. Be the fertilizer that will help the rose that is our future blossom into one that
is glamorous, clean, and extraordinary. Ponder not so much how the environment can help you, but how
you can help the environment.
Look towards the future, sir, and help restore balance in nature.
From,
Axel Perales