Global Warming Is Rising, and Help Is Needed

Why does this matter?

Although Global Warming rates were always considerably high, the introduction of Artificial Intelligence or AI has introduced a massive new hurdle for climate goals to overcome. Based on the data collected in 2023, these voracious Large Language Models, or LLMs consumed approximately 4.4% of all U.S. electricity. Research by Penn State Professor Mahmut Kandemir, this high demand could leap up to 12% or higher by the year 2028 (Kandemir). This surge is concerning in particular due to the fact that it surpasses the transition to renewable energy and instead forces a continued reliance on fossil fuels to keep the grid stable.

This dependence on fossil fuels accelerates climate shifts, leaving the responsibility of protecting animals and their habitat on human shoulders.

What is Coral?

Most people are under the impression that coral is a plant, but it is in fact an animal. The life of a coral begins from the polyp, which bands together with other polyps to create a large architectural structure. Using only 1% of the oceans in the world but utilized as housing by over 4,000 different species of fish and other marine life, Coral reefs are home to 25% of Earth’s marine population (What are Corals?). 

Belonging to a group of animals called Cnidaria which are distinguished by their unique trait of stinging tentacles, coral is the cousin of animals such as sea anemones and jellyfish. Corals have a one way mouth, in which they insert their food, digest it, and excrete it out the same way that it went in.

What are the effects of Global Warming on Coral?

Coral exists with a narrow thermal niche; and exceeding these temperatures would ruin the interdependent relationship that exists between coral and the marine life taking advantage of it. 

When ocean temperatures rise, so does the ‘stress level’ of a coral. This pushes them into releasing the colorful algae residing in their bodies. The algae is what gives coral its bright colors, but is an important food source as well (What are Corals?). This process is also known as bleaching, since it strips coral of color, leaving behind a stark white as though bleached. 

Who will its disappearance affect?

Without these beautiful reefs, animals depending on coral would cease to exist, and this would affect humans too. Over five hundred million people worldwide rely on coral ecosystems for fish. Local fishing industries would suffer greatly and so would the economy of that area. Reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia get their names from their ability to filter out shockwaves, and their removal would mean threatening the safety of those living near those areas (5 Creatures That Prey on Living Coral).

Many animals also rely on coral as a food source, such as the parrotfish, which snacks on the polyp heads, also managing growth when reefs are overpopulated. This helps in maintaining the overall health of the reef. Other animals that are an important part of the coral ecosystem include Humans, Butterfly Fish, Crown of Thorns Fish, and Sea Slugs (5 Creatures That Prey on Living Coral).

What are the effects of Global Warming on Turtles?

Corals aren’t the only animals getting negatively impacted by global warming, turtles are part of that family too. Turtles mainly reproduce during the spring and summer months, or the warmer times of year. In this time, a female turtle walks to shore and lays multiple clutches of around 80 to 120 eggs each. The temperature of the sand determines the gender of the young; if it is warm, more females are born and vice versa when it is cold. When the young hatchlings discard their eggshells, they depend on light or heat to guide them towards the water. After all this hard work, the chances of a young turtles’ survival to adulthood is extremely low, only around 0.01% (Loggerhead Marine Life Center). But, the chance of a hatchling making it to the shore is 90% (Loggerhead Marine Life Center).

It is clear that ideal temperatures are a major factor towards a turtles’ survival. If temperatures rose too high, a majority of turtles would be female, shrinking the number of turtles significantly. Female turtles lay their eggs only when they find it warm enough to do so. With the effects of global warming, turtles would lay their eggs too soon resulting in fewer clutches and fewer eggs in each clutch.

The Galapagos Giant Tortoise cannot afford any more hindrances to its survival with only 15,000 to 20,000 existing today. Previous to human interruptions, an estimated 300,000 Galapagos Giant Tortoises had thrived.

Who do they affect?

Every organism is interconnected and interdependent with other organisms, forming an ecosystem. Turtles are unique, covering both land and water and are essential factors to keeping ecosystems running. Turtles keep marine life in check, by regulating sea urchin populations. Without this, urchins would devour entire fields of kelp, bringing huge disbalance to marine ecosystems. Without kelp, all fish who reside in it and use it as a food source would lose a vital resource which would cause a hindrance to their population. All these create a chain reaction, ruining entire ecosystems and all starting from Global Warming.

Tortoises on the other hand have a different job on land. They keep entire ecosystems alive by dispersing seeds and allowing plants to thrive. Another species called the Gopher Tortoise does another service to its community. A Gopher Tortoise spends nearly its entire life underground, in a burrow that it digs to escape predators, the unpredictable weather among other things. After one of these tortoises passes away, other animals tend to use their burrows as home, such as snakes, frogs, mice and lizards. These burrows can also protect animals from disasters such as wildfires.

How are Polar Ice Caps affected by Global Warming?

Animals are not the only ones that become victims to Global Warming, even structures such as Polar Ice Caps are affected by it. With temperatures rising, the Ice Caps suffer from chances of melting, also affecting the animals residing on them. Even though these are just structures, numerous animals depend on them, so their changes affect them all.

In the Antarctic, temperature rises during the summer months from December to February whereas in the Arctic area these times consist of the months from June to August. 

Where are Polar Ice Caps located?

It may have been obvious from the name, Polar Ice Caps are located on both the northern and southern geographical poles. In this section of Earth, the least sunlight reaches, causing temperatures to be much lower than places closer to the equator.

The North Pole is also known as the Arctic whereas Antarctica refers to the South Pole.

Who does their disappearance affect?

Polar Bears are one of the many animals that rely heavily on Ice Caps. A Polar Bear goes into hibernation by creating a burrow that is insulated and consists of multiple chambers. The young cubs are born in these burrows where they spend an average of 3 to 4 months of their lives. Another way these Bears take advantage of ice caps is by creating special ways to hunt. Seals make holes in the ice and come up to breathe, which is when a Polar Bear goes in for the kill. With temperatures rising and icebergs melting, Polar Bears face the threat of losing their home and source of food.

More than just Polar Bears reside on the ice caps, but also seals and walruses. These mammals have a special layer of fat called blubber, which insulates them and helps them feel warm in temperatures that can plummet to - 98 C. Though these features are beneficial during the cold, with warmer temperatures they can become a disadvantage.

How are Monarch Butterflies affected by Global Warming?

Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer places whenever they sense the arrival of winter. They move from southern Canada and northern United States to Central Mexico to avoid cold and harsh winters. These butterflies complete their journey to and back through several generations of butterflies, relying on their inner compasses to get to the right place. 

One of these indications is temperature. Butterflies can be affected by Global Warming with temperatures rising and can partially lose their sense of direction.

Who would the reduction of Monarch Butterflies affect?

Monarch butterflies are pollinators, making them extremely important to the plants that they pollinate such as Milkweed. This plant relies heavily on Monarchs and they have an interdependent bond with each other. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the Milkweed plant, and their caterpillars feed on it. In return for this, the butterflies pollinate the plant, allowing it to reproduce and continue to thrive.

How can humans help reduce the effects of Global Warming?

Global Warming is mainly caused by using fossil fuels. By switching to renewable energy, people can reduce their carbon footprint and also in turn reduce Global Warming. Cars are also a major factor and studies show that if 50 percent of the population were to switch to electric vehicles or EVs, Global Warming rates would drop by around 20 to 35 percent (Transportation Emissions Worldwide).

What should people do to protect Coral?

People can protect animals by focusing on their habitats. To protect coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef, people can start by reducing pollution and stop littering. Coral populations would also benefit if scuba divers avoided stepping on coral. These small steps accumulate to make big impacts. 

How should we help turtles?

On February 20th, 2026, 158 Galapagos Giant Tortoises were introduced to Floreana Island (Floreana Ecological Restoration Project). These species were near extinction due to overexploitation by humans back in the 17th to 19th centuries. Because tortoises can live for up to 100 years, they were stored alive on ships to serve as fresh meat. 

Another reason their numbers went down was due to Feral Goats, who outstripped tortoises of natural resources until their population went down to nearly 15 tortoises on Espanola Island. Today, we can help protect the turtle population by using reusable items and by not littering. A lot of turtles suffocate due to trying to consume plastic bags after mistaking them for food.

How can Polar Ice Caps be protected from Global Warming?

Polar Ice Caps need protection, and people can help by reducing their carbon footprint since this is a straight link to Global Warming, the root cause of all these problems. With less pollution and fewer trash, the less Global Warming will increase.

How can Monarch Butterfly populations be restored?

People can help protect Monarch butterflies by providing them an easy to access food source. People who live along the areas where butterflies migrate can plant milkweed, the main plant that monarchs pollinate and a major food source for caterpillars.

It is common practice for people to euthanize monarch butterflies to collect their wings for making resin art. Just removing this practice would increase the monarch butterfly population by around 9,000 butterflies.

Another reason for these numbers to go down is because of pesticides that are harmful to butterflies. People that live in the region can help these monarchs by planting milkweed in their gardens. Since butterflies rely on these plants and vice versa, both species would benefit. 

Pests are often a hindrance to growing plants, and using natural pesticides can increase the safety of butterflies.

Global Warming is harmful to numerous creatures and structures, and there are ways to regulate it. Even then, it is important to know that the things that cause Global Warming are still important to humanity.

Toshani Singh is a middle school student who likes reading, writing, and socializing.