1a). different perspectives on climate change

Environment   Aug 1, 2017 by Tracy Cherotich

To understand how students view climate change differently, we first need to begin by understanding what climate change is. Climate is termed as the average weather of a particular place. Our ecosystems are strongly influenced by the climate of the area. Climate change, is the rise in average scientific temperatures on Earth. Many have come to a consensus that is primarily due to the use of human fossil fuels which releases carbon dioxide and other green house gases into the atmosphere.

Students in different parts of the world are affected by climate change differently therefore view it from different perspectives. Below is an excerpt from an interview carried out using two students.

Question 1. What do you understand by the term climate change?

Student 1:I didn't really understand what climate change was until beginning of this year. All I know is the text book definition which says, climate change is the rise or drop of average temperatures of an area.

Student 2:I don't really know much about climate change and quite frankly care. I don't really think it will affect me as my family is extremely wealthy and they can provide everything

Question 2: Do you think you have been affected directly by the effects of climate change?

Student 1: Yes. Here in Kenya, the dry season was only supposed to last from December to January but this year it stretched out all the way till nearly the first week of March, a whole extra month! The short rains were set too begin immediately after that but, the dry season continued to stretch out. Farmers from different parts of Kenya had already prepared their farms in anticipation of the rain. We waited, we saw rain clouds, it got cold but still no rain. It was just an in between stage. The rains came in April but only lasted 2 weeks. Right now we are in June at a time where it's supposed to be cold but now, it is dry with temperatures of 27 degrees. Before this year, I had no direct experience of the effects of climate change, I thought it to be a myth created by the West. I did some research late last week and now I know its effects and I believe without any intervention were slowly destroying our Eco systems.

Student 2: Personally I don't think there is anything I could blame climate change for apart from the droughts we saw, which I didn't exactly feel as all our food is imported. I think climate change may also cause longer days but I don't care, as long as it's giving me a warmer July then why is it a bad thing?

Question 3: What do you think are other effects of climate change?

Student 1: Sadly because I don't have much exposure to technology as others I only know quite a few (laughs). I know it's causing ice to melt in the arctics which increases sea levels. I also know that there are more heat waves which causes increasingly more droughts.

Student 2:Not really sure. I guess I'll probably go check after we finish here.

It is very important for us to see the different students perspectives because we get to educate; those who are unfamiliar with the term and alert them on its various causes and effects like student 2 ,and through other students like student 1 hopefully make a change.

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