If you're like me and my friends, you're suffering more than ever from allergies this year -- we can't seem to stop talking about how itchy our eyes are, that frustratingly persistent tickle in our throats, and don't get me started on the cacophony of sneezing when we hang outdoors in what should feel like beautiful spring weather.
I didn't grow up with allergies; I've only experienced them as an adult. There could be a few explanations for why I developed them later in life, but
one proven fact is likely at play --
climate change is making allergy season way, way worse.Sign the petition to demand climate action so allergy seasons don't get any worse!We're having more intense allergy seasons, which means people who are already affected are feeling it even more, and people like me -- who lived in blissful ignorance of allergy symptoms -- have developed allergies from continued exposure to
extremely high pollen counts.Experts say that climate change is not only increasing the amount of pollen in the air; it's also increasing the duration of the pollen season. That's because our warm seasons are growing warmer and longer, and increased levels of carbon in the atmosphere actually signal to plants to create more pollen.
It's the perfect storm for an allergy catastrophe.This season, the internet is flooded with articles about how to mitigate the effects of allergy season -- limit outside time, be mindful of what you plant, consider some doctor-recommended medications.
But until climate change is properly addressed, allergy seasons and symptoms are only going to get worse. 2023 was the hottest year Earth has experienced on record. We cannot keep going the direction we have been -- and there is hope that we are making a turn. Reports say that there is a very high chance that emissions may fall in 2024 if industries and technology continue the progress they've been making -- solar energy is booming, electric vehicle sales are at an all-time high, and governments are actually starting to fulfill climate promises.
But the fact that we are hitting a peak means
emissions are still super high, and even if they're declining, it's not fast enough. One way to help the decrease in emissions get us further is through
carbon sequestration -- the act of using the natural world to absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This can be done in plants and soil (like forests and grasslands), and even in geographical features like underground rock and stone. Our natural world is equipped to deal with carbon dioxide -- but it needs our help to do it at the rate needed.
That's why we're asking that the US Department of the Interior, the government agency tasked with protecting the country's natural resources, invest heavily in carbon sequestration and land conservation programs!
Sign the petition if you want to see a focus on carbon sequestration to combat climate change (and make allergy seasons more bearable for years to come)!