In our current world and especially in 2020, it seems like there is a never-ending list of issues that arise. While this may be true, there is one issue that has always existed but is constantly swept under the rug — it is a predicament that could make our world comparable to Venus and uninhabitable for any type of intelligent life. The issue in question, as you may have guessed, is of course climate change.

In an article written by Phoebe Keane at the BBC, she interviews former Exxon employee Martin Hoffert. Hoffert was among the first scientists to produce an estimate on the long term effects of climate change caused by mankind. In his time at Exxon, Hoffert noticed some inconsistencies in public statements made by his company and is quoted as saying, “They (Exxon) were saying things that were contradicting their own world-class research groups.” The conclusion from his statement is undeniably that big oil companies understand that what they do has dire consequences for the environment. 

To be fair, while to many this is a crisis, there are still those who choose to deny it. This may be due to ignorance, or because action to combat climate change is devastating to their bottom line. Regardless, the science is there. In 2018, the UN released a study that deduced that the effects of climate change will be irreversible by 2030. This is a result of many factors, yet oil drilling is a gargantuan contributor. The process, also known as fracking, releases high amounts of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. This is because the CO2 released into the air is trapped in the atmosphere and increases the global temperature. The issue with oil companies dodging these facts is that they are continually pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere while their own scientists tell them of the consequences. We, as Salesians, as youth, and as human beings, have an obligation to each other to do whatever we can to fight this enemy, and we need to act quickly in order to defend our planet.