BOSTON, Mass. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — As the arctic continues to warm at an alarming rate, its effects are rippling through ecosystems worldwide, accelerating rising temperatures, altering weather patterns, destroying habitats, and causing species extinction. Nearly one million species are threatened with extinction, including bees, which are vital pollinators for countless plants and crops. One teen is taking action to help protect bees and hopefully empower other kids to do the same.
Atreya Manaswi has devoted the last six years of his life to saving bees — he worries global warming is threatening our food supply which relies on pollinators like the bees.
“A lot of youngsters don’t really understand the value of agriculture and beekeeping,” he said.
Atreya is working with the USDA, making a solution to keep small hive beetles from killing bees.
“What I created is an AI based and solar powered 3D printed trap,” he explained.
But beetles are not the only danger to bees. They are among the 30% of all insect pollinators facing extinction from climate change impacts, including those from the changing arctic.
“The arctic is warming about four times faster than the globe as a whole,” said Woodwell Climate Research Center Atmospheric Scientist Jennifer Francis.
Francis says as the arctic warms, the jet stream becomes more unpredictable, leading to extremes of heat and cold throughout the globe.
“And this can lead to extreme weather,” she described.
Extreme weather that disrupts animals’ and insects’ foraging patterns and destroys their habitats. So, what can you and your family do?
“It all boils down to using less fossil fuel derived energy,” Francis stated.
Francis recommends as a family walk and bike more, carpool when you can, reduce your waste, find creative ways to reuse items, choose local and seasonal foods, move towards renewable energy sources and get in engaged in your community to support policies that reduce the use of fuels that cause global warming.
“I worry for my kids and their kids that they’re going to be inheriting this earth that is going to be so diminished compared to the one I grew up in,” Francis said.
The changing arctic is affecting all of the earth’s systems. Youth like Atreya can make a difference. He has spoken at the United Nations and has won dozens of prizes and scholarships for his work on saving the bees. Most recently he won the Barron prize. The organization selected 15 young heroes making positive change in the ecosystem and improving the environment.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor.
Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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Sources:
https://www.ifaw.org/journal/animals-most-impacted-climate-change
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/about/frequently-asked-questions/keyfaq2/
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
