People often construct this question to find out how others think. To be asked where you see yourself in 10 years is a very common question to be asked at a job interview. However, as is common with most aspects of our society, people are focused on themselves rather than their environment. Yeah sure you want a house with a partner and three kids in 10 years time, but will that even be possible with the drastic damage which is being inflicted to our planet?
Countries have stepped up, at this moment more theoretically than physically. The world leaders have committed to several plans in order to prevent the current affairs regarding environmental issues, which will be irreversible by 2050, from growing any further. The expiry date of Earth does not mean the planet will suddenly end on the turn of January 1st 2050, the UN has detailed the catastrophic change our planet will go through and stated this would be observed in just 10 years time. To bypass the significant change in climate the world must half all greenhouse gas emissions.
So, what does this mean for our planet as we approach 2030? Well there are two possibilities. We either succeed in cutting all greenhouse gases by 50% or we don’t and suffer the deadly consequences. If the former is achieved then our planet will look very different. Walking down a street will feel like you’ve just entered a whole forrest as it is likely the plantation of trees will quadruple. Say goodbye petrolheads to your glorified Mustang as you will be forced to ride an electric car, or even, god forbid, cycle? Maybe, just maybe the dreams of millions and a certain Elon Musk may be achieved - humans on Mars? To reduce our destruction on Earth space travel is looking like a very plausible solution, and, with huge strides being made, a near reality.
On the other hand, our planet could look very different to this. You may think that if none of these changes occur then our planet won’t look much different. If only this was the case. The first noticeable change will be the air - it will be humid and heavy, those with breathing difficulties will struggle even more. Face masks have been made a commonality in recent times, those who are not fond of them may have to get used to them very quickly. If we don’t reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our planet the air will become toxic and masks may be the only solution which will allow us to go outside. In just 10 years various parts of the globe will become inhabitable for human life. This will create further social problems. Go back to the street filled with trees, if change does not happen those trees will be replaced with apartment blocks as our population, along with migration, increases. Without progressive and consistent change our planet will be on the verge of destruction in 10 years time. Now is not the time to dwell on what is to come, it is the time to act for a better, more stable tomorrow.
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