This year’s January has been recorded as the hottest the world has ever been, according to the European Copernicus Climate Service. 

This increase in global warming cannot be fully explained as scientists expected a cooler temperature in January 2025 due to a shift from the El Nino effect, where warm waters across the Pacific release extra heat into the atmosphere. 

This climate change, along with the regional conditions of dry season and strong winds, increased the likelihood of the conditions that kindled the catastrophic fires that ravaged Los Angeles in California, USA. 

The LA wildfire last month profoundly affected the region, potentially being one of the costliest disasters in US history, with estimated damage costs of around $25 billion. Over 40,000 acres of land were burned, with approximately 200,000 residents being placed under evacuation orders. Most, unfortunately, came back to witness their houses burnt to the crisp, causing a housing shortage problem and a spike in housing and rent prices in the already expensive neighborhood. 

There are also environmental consequences, with air quality dropping to hazardous levels and an increased particulate matter level of PM 2.5. This particulate matter-the smallest particles in the air-cannot be filtered by the lungs and is therefore absorbed directly into blood circulation, possibly causing a wide range of health implications like chronic lung problems. 

This extensive wildfire also destroyed local wildlife populations and diversity while decimating the vegetation increased the likelihood of soil erosion, a factor that causes landslides. 

So, how can we prevent a catastrophe like this in the future? World leaders have been pushing the idea of environmental conservation at global summits, but whilst they have shown some effect, they are insufficient, as seen from the consistent rise in global temperature. 

With the newly elected Trump administration pushing for an “America first” slogan and rolling back multiple environmental regulations for the short-lived benefit of an increase in GDP, it is up to individuals to step up and take the responsibility of conserving our Earth. 

Small things like turning off the tap and electricity when not in use can cultivate good habits to raise our innate conservation awareness.

이승빈 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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