Utter destruction. That is what thousands in California have faced as recent wildfires swept through the Los Angeles area, decimating homes and impacting many. These wildfires seem to be caused by none other than human-induced climate change.

About the Fire

On Tuesday, January 7th, what were two small blazes exploded in size, powered by strong winds and dry conditions. As of Saturday evening, the Palisades Fire is over 35.4 square miles— a land size half that of Washington DC. Meanwhile, the second largest fire, the Eaton Fire, has covered over 22 square miles. Both fires are only 11 and 15 percent contained, respectively.

The devastation is evident— 11 people have already been killed and a dozen are missing. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed and more than 153,000 people are under evacuation alerts. Additionally, the fires have caused power outages all over the Los Angeles area.

Image Credit: Daniel Lincoln from Unsplash

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The Cause

The culprit of this destruction? Humans. How? Climate change.

In recent years, wildfires have become larger and more intense, due to the rising temperatures caused by climate change.

Cars, factories, and heating are some of the few examples of things that burn fossil fuels, like oil, coal, and natural gas. This activity releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. These gases almost act as a countershield, trapping the energy and heat from the sun, thus raising temperatures. This process leads to global warming and climate change.

Image Credit: Anne Nygard from Unsplash

When most people hear “climate change”, they think of something that will occur in the next hundred years or so. But what most don't realize is that climate change is real and it is happening all over the world right now. Take the United States for example, where every region is battling with one or more forces of nature— snowfall, hurricanes, flooding tornados, and, of course, wildfires.

How You Can Help

Below are a few ways that you, as a teen, can help this cause.

For the California fires specifically:

1. Donate money, food, or other items to trustworthy organizations to help those in need from the fire. Some organizations you can donate to include the California Fire Foundation, the California Community Foundation, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
2. Volunteer at shelters to help those impacted by the fire.

To reduce the impact of climate change:

1. Carpool with your friends. A typical car emits 4.6 metric tons per year, which can be avoided by simply carpooling with one or more friends.
2. Be sustainable. Only use as much as you need. For example, I try to be sustainable by taking shorter showers or unplugging all my cords at night.
3. Pass a sustainability plan. Call your friends and peers and try to get your local or state government to pass laws that decrease the use of fossil fuels.
4. Find your water and carbon footprint. Use this water calculator and carbon footprint calculator to calculate your footprint, and then use the above strategies to reduce it!

Small actions can lead to a big change. Hopefully, this article has inspired you to reduce our impact on the environment and take action!