Are you confused lately about what to wear every morning? I know I am. I typically look outside my window and try to figure out what the theme of the day is; sweatpants, shorts, leggings, etc. But the temperature this fall is all scattered.

Climate change has taken a toll on the world, and we are seeing the effects of it right here on campus. 

As a runner, it can be very confusing to try and figure out what the day is going to be like. During this October, it has gotten to the point where the weather hangs at around 60 degrees and quickly rises to upwards of 75 degrees. 

As a New Jerseyan, I and many others know this is unnatural. And as years pass, the temperatures just keep on rising.

Now I am still wearing shorts, almost hitting the middle of October. 

These conditions are very concerning and we, as college students, should be aware of the earth’s condition and see how we can help. 

In an article titled “Climate Change: Global Temperature” by NOAA Climate it explains that, “According to the 2023 Global Climate Report from NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, every month of 2023 ranked among the 7 warmest for that month, and the months in the second half of the year (June-December) were each their hottest on record.”

I know that we can all see the change of weather patterns. There are a variety of people wearing shorts, and then there are a variety of people adhering to the season’s guidelines by wearing sweatpants or hoodies. 

The change in weather can also be extremely frustrating because this is how college students– a demographic whose main form of transportation is walking get sick. This is excluding the millions of other Americans who walk to get around, those who are also exposed to the extreme changes in weather.

The increase in greenhouse gas emissions is one of many reasons why temperatures have been rising throughout the decades. Waste and pollution are direct causes of climate change. 

Even more worrisome, the result of higher temperatures can be wildfires or extreme heat waves, which can be dangerous for everyone worldwide. Yet this too we have seen the results of since 1983, with a whopping number 70,000 fires per year since then according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to Earth.org, “Extreme temperatures are expected to increase even more than average temperatures across the US, and heatwaves much like the one experienced in June 2021 but will become more common by the end of the century.”

I have realized that throughout the summers and fall, the temperatures are drastically changing. Last winter I never needed to buy a coat because the temperatures were not as cold as they used to be (except for the one very surprising day that it snowed!)

We as Rowan University students should make a change and help as much as we can. Just recycling is a great way to start helping the environment. Some other ways to help the earth is by reducing food waste, conserving energy, and using reusable bags. 

A tip from Our Endangered World: “make it your duty to share with people around you about different daily actions they can do at home, at the workplace, or in schools that can help save the environment. The little efforts you make to inspire others could have a mass chain reaction if everyone joins in.”

Globally, the earth is changing and so are we. Climate change is an imperative issue that college students should not only be aware of, but also care about.

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