Reflection

Climate change is often described as “a matter of protection.” Many interpret this phrase in the context of environmental conservation, but I possess no maturity to engage with such a profound and significant cause. Having spent my entire childhood in Nagoya, Japan, a city bordered by the vast Pacific Ocean, nothing concerns me but the possibility of my hometown, chained to my fond memories, being submerged by the devastating effects of climate change. Through my exploration of the Ocean Awareness Contest, I gained deeper knowledge about the relationship between global warming and sea level rise; I learned that greenhouse gas emission is the prominent cause of the Earth’s rapid temperature rise, which melts ice glaciers and lifts the sea level. Although I am aware that planting trees can reduce greenhouse gasses, I am like a frog in a well, ignorant of any expertise, yet I indeed feel the UV light burning my skin and the rising temperature squeezing sweat out of me. All this vulnerable frog can do is water saplings with his steamed sweat, hoping that his small act of dedication will one day lift and protect his homeland.