Reflection

216 feet. That is the projected increase in Earth’s sea level if all the ice from Earth’s glaciers and mountaintops melt. Cities like New York, Tokyo, London, Shanghai, and Sydney would no longer exist, covered by the endless expanse of polluted water. Four out of five Australians would have to leave their homes, and the entire state of Florida would be no more. In addition to human displacement, many animals would lose their habitats. Not just polar bears and penguins, but many species of fish, birds, and even plants would be forced to move and adapt or go extinct. The beautiful coral reefs that have taken eons to form would be obliterated in the blink of an eye. My piece is a representation of the future to come. The waters are rising and we need to stop it before we get pulled under forever. Soon there will be no going back and our beautiful oceans will turn into polluted wastelands where marine creatures struggle to survive.