by George P. Nassos
In 1988 James Hansen, then Director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, testified before Congress that the atmosphere is getting warmer. For the past two centuries the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere was about 280 parts per million (ppm). Since the industrial revolution, however, the concentration started to increase and was about 320 ppm in 1988. He warned Congress that if it increases above 350 ppm, we will be in trouble. He was correct. This year, 2026, is on track to being the warmest year ever, and will probably be surpassed by 2027. Already France has hit 112°F, the highest ever and England was 102°F. breaking its previous record of 96°F.
The warming of the atmosphere has caused an increase in droughts and wildfires, an increase in melting of glaciers and icebergs, and a resulting increase in the ocean sea level as well as the surface temperature. The acidity level of the ocean is also increasing, causing a negative impact on biodiversity and also an impact on species relying on calcium carbonate for production of seashells.
A question we need to ask ourselves is what is being done about it. If we look at the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), the U.S. is not doing very well at all. Germanwatch, an environmental organization in Bonn, Germany, evaluates and ranks the 63 countries and the EU that contribute over 90% of the carbon emissions. The ranking is based on GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy generated, energy consumption, and climate policy. The United States is ranked number 62 with only Iran and Saudi Arabia performing worse. Although China is currently the biggest emitter of GHG, the U.S. has emitted the largest total quantity to date, yet we are doing among the least about it of anyone.
Another major environmental issue is the overconsumption of our global natural resources. Humanity is currently consuming resources at a rate that exceeds the Earth’s regenerative capacity. In 2025, Earth Overshoot Day—the date when humanity has used up the planet’s annual resource budget—fell on July 24, indicating that we are using 1.78 Earths’ worth of resources each year. The sad thing about this issue is that it continues to worsen every year. If the entire world consumed at the same rate as the United States, Earth Overshoot Day would be on March 13. A major cause of the large consumption of resources is excessive waste, about 30% of what is produced. In the developed world, people purchase more food products than are consumed, and the stores order more products than they really need so they don’t run out and disappoint their customers. In the developing countries, waste is also about 30% but this is due to insufficient infrastructure to secure their produce.
I have talked about water being a major environmental issue, and it is also getting worse. The lack of water is increasing partially because of the development of data centers that require large quantities of water for cooling. And depending on the source of electrical power for the data centers, there may also be an increase in water consumption. The location of the planned data centers is in general where there is plenty of vacant land, and usually that is where there is a lack of water. A good example is Arizona where there are 138 data centers planned, and the state needs more water already.
Global population growth contributes to each of these environmental issues. Although the growth rate has declined, we are currently at about 8.3 billion people and adding about 70 million per year.
What has created this major problem? A great quote by the late Jane Goodall says it all:
“Humans are the most intellectual creatures to ever walk the planet, but not intelligent enough because they are destroying their only home.”
We need to take action to minimize the depletion of our planet. I only wish I had the answer to this problem. I don’t but I will continue to seek the answer. Please join me!