This paper will discuss the environmental crisis of climate change. Included will be what climate change is and how it’s affecting the planet. The human spirit is an amazing thing that can withstand many obstacles this paper will discuss the affect climate change is having on the human spirit and how religion can help combat climate change through the awareness of ethical values. Climate change is something that’s occurring right now and the effects will take the planet thousands of years to recover so its critical that action is taken now to ensure a sustainable planet for future generations. Human spirit and the voice of religion may be the key to solving the climate change problem.
Climate Change an Environmental Concern
Climate change is a growing environmental concern that is affecting all reaches of the planet. Rising air and ocean temperatures are causing a change in climate that’s having potentially devastating effects. Polar ice sheets are beginning to melt causing a rise in water levels, which have the potential to cause coastal flooding. The rising ocean levels are not the only concern regarding the melting ice sheets. As more ice sheets melt large volumes of freshwater is introduced into the ocean, which can cause disturbances in ocean currents. One such threat is the potential loss of the Gulf Stream. If the Gulf Stream is affected by global warming that the weather in Western Europe would have a dramatic weather shift to severely cold weather. O'Hare (2011) states “If weakening in the Gulf Stream occurs gradually over the 21st century, a possible amelioration of the rising temperatures brought about by global warming could occur over the UK and Western Europe. However, if the Gulf Stream collapses in just a few...
... middle of paper ...
...ptember 20, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2399953851).
O'Hare, G.. (2011). Updating our understanding of climate change in the North Atlantic: the role of global warming and the Gulf Stream. Geography,1 96, 5-15. Retrieved September 20, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID: 2346235711).
Peng, R. D., Bobb, J. F., Tebaldi, C., McDaniel, L., Bell, M. L., & Dominici, F. (2011). Toward a Quantitative Estimate of Future Heat Wave Mortality under Global Climate Change. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(5), 701-706. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002430
Winters, J.. (2011). Clear Skies to Cool the Planet. Mechanical Engineering, 133(4), 12. Retrieved September 5, 2011, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 2388948751).
Wolf, J., & Gjerris, M. (2009). A religious perspective on climate change. Studia Theologica, 63(2), 119-139. doi:10.1080/00393380903354307
The two essays by Michael Pollan and Curtis white talk about climate change in regards to the relationship between the environment and human beings. Although the two essays share the same topic, they take the subject and engage the readers in totally different points of views. Pollan’s essay talks about global and ecological responsibility being a personal virtue while Curtis discusses the socio-economic or political issues underlying sustainability (Pollan; White). These two essays are very different in terms of voice; however these pieces of writing are both important for people all over the world to read. Climate change and environmental disasters are a real issue. Just this year, there have been more storms, cyclones, earthquakes and typhoons all over the world. One cannot look at the state of many developing counties where the majority of the population is exposed and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This issue on developing a viable solution for the problem of anthropogenic gases and global warming is long from being found. Not only this, many people do not want to hear about this issue since they do not think it is real. Unless people have tangible proof that their cars, thermostats and aerosol cans are contributing to climate change, they are not going to give up their lifestyles. By synthesizing the two essays, one can see that there is a need for change and that it is not an issue which should be dealt with in terms of ecological factors or even personal virtue. The social, economic and political factors affecting this problem and the move towards real sustainability should also be a topic that will raise awareness.
Interfaith Power & Light A religious response to global warming. (n.d.). Retrieved 2014, from Interfaith Power & Light: www.interfaithpowerandlight.org
In recent decades, the contentious issues surrounding climate change and the corresponding effects it likely exerts upon contemporary civilization has developed to become one of the most pressing areas of concern afflicting humanity (Armstrong, 1). Currently, climate change has started to demonstrate its potentially calamitous consequences upon human subsistence practices, and has even begun to alter the very environments that entire societies reside in, theoretically endangering them in both instances (Armstrong, 1). Though the hindrances inherent in climate change are potentially devastating to the preservation of modern society, the problem of climate change itself is not one that is exclusive to the contemporary era. Rather, the harmful
One of the most urgent environmental and social issue is climate change, its being talked about all over the world since its affecting billions of lives.The earth goes through a period of cool and warm period, which are called climate change. Climate change is when the earth gets warmer or cooler due to the amount of sunlight it receives from the sun. Climate changes isn't just affecting humans, its affecting the whole ecosystem. Coral reefs are turning white and polar ice caps are turning black. Animals are becoming extinct because their environment is being threatened. People all over the country and world are becoming aware that the climate is changing, especially after this year. It snowed in cities that usually do not get snow, it snowed in spring, and also flooding in some cities. The country is starting to realize the role human activities play on climate changes, and because humans are responsible for the rapid climate changes they must take actions to protect the environment. There has been periods of Global Warming in history that were mainly naturally caused but the most recent one which is happening now is influenced mostly by humans. Scientists have been debating on whether or not Global Warming is caused by humans. Both sides, however agree that as sunlight enters the earth's surface only a little bit is reflected back into space, most of it is absorbed into the earth which keep the earth warm, and the rest is absorbed into the atmosphere. As college students, we must work together to come up with a plan to help reduce greenhouse emission. Since in the book of Genesis 1 and 2 it says that God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden as caretakers. Their job was to care for the everything in the garden, they weren't...
The earth is warming rapidly and there are changes affecting everyone. The scientists have a large amount of data proving that global warming is very prevalent, and is creating many problems. Many tests have been done to calculate the levels of carbon dioxide and the temperature of the earth from the past years. Global warming is causing many things to rise. The temperature is rising due to the greenhouse gases trapping the light and keeping it in the atmosphere. The levels of carbon dioxide are rising because of different human activities. These different activities consist of the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. There are also natural causes that emit carbon dioxide, but the amount in the atmosphere due to volcanoes and other natural processes is low compared to human activities. Carbon dioxide levels have been tested from years past through bubbles in the ice and show that the CO2 in the atmosphere increased sharply in the past decade. The sea level is also rising. With the temperature increase ice is melting in very large amounts. Different landmasses such as Greenland and Antarctica are mainly composed of ice, and are decreasing in size more rapidly than expected. While there is a rise in different levels there is also a decrease a certain things. The glaciers are retreating and becoming diminutive. This decline is causing a loss of fresh water sources. Many water distributers source for water is from glaciers, and now their source has almost disappeared. The snow on the peaks of mountains through spring and summer has lessened and is almost vanished. Both of these declines are due to the rising global temperature. Larger and stronger storms have occurred. This change is because the waters are warmer, and there is m...
"20 Deadliest Effects of Global Warming." 20 Deadliest Effects of Global Warming. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. .
Climate change is the main topic of this Encyclical. Climate change is portrayed in a way that reflects the current scientific consensus today. Hans Joachim Schellenhuber, a leading climate scientist, was a scientific adviser to the Pope while writing Laudato Si’.
Roach, John. Global Warming May Alter Atlantic Currents. 27 June 2005. National Geographic News. 24 Jan 2012 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/pf/72476778.html
Climate change is an extremely important issue that must be dealt with now. The damage that results from climate change is very significant. To date, 300,000 deaths have occurred, and another 300 million have suffered from the effects of climate change. However, the current statistics of damage done to humans is minuet, in comparison to the damage that will occur if we continue on with the current system. Scientific research indicates that the average world temperature will rise by 1.4c to 5.8c. To an average person the increase of one degree of average temperature is deceivingly low. Nonetheless, just one degree
We might say that this article uses a Weberian lens. How might a Marxist approach view people’s ideological beliefs on climate change?
There are a variety problems in the world, ranging from starvation and mental illnesses to taxes and military spending. Climate change, a change in global or regional climate patterns, is just one of the major troubles of the Earth. A portion of those patterns includes the weather, ocean, ice/snow, as well as ecosystem patterns. Climate change provides several damaging effects on society and the earth itself including droughts, loss of vegetation, and an increase in natural disasters. Although it is not realized by many, climate change affects all aspects of human life. If no action is taken to fix or at least help this issue, it will diminish the human population, eventually leading to extinction. In order to reduce the negative impacts of
There are many different viewpoints on climate change. The Bible shows many different verses throughout the whole book, that provide excellent examples on that topic. Climate change has been something that has been discussed throughout many years by many top scientists, that defy using the bible as one of their sources. These Viewpoints will show you that we do have a God that created our world and everything that makes it amazing.
Many climate scientists, researchers, and environmentalists are expressing concerns about shifts in the overall climate of the earth. It is believed that a dramatically dangerous warming is taking place in the overall global climate, a problem that is referred to as "global warming”. Global warming is the observed century-scale rise in the average temperature of Earth’s climate system. This temperature rise is due to the damaging effects of deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels. It is our responsibility to preserve our planet and our way of living but in order to do that we need to act now. If we continue to destroy the planet with no regard as to how serious this matter is there could be several negative effects to us as human being and other living thing on Earth. This is why global warming is truly a global issue and needs to be tackled collectively. We must to act now in order to reduce the dangerous levels of carbon dioxide emissions and we must to work together.
The earth is a complex system, which continues to evolve and change. Climate change and global warming are currently popular in the political agenda. But what does “climate” really mean? The difference between weather and climate can be conveyed in a single sentence: “Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get.” Based on research of the geologic record, we know that climate change has happened throughout Earth's history and at present, ever-increasing evidence points to the roles that humans play in altering Earth systems. The Earth and its atmosphere receive heat energy from the sun; the atmospheric heat budget of the Earth depends on the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation from the planet; which has been constant over the last few thousand years. However present evidence seems to suggest that the recent increase in temperature has been brought about by pollution of the atmosphere, in particular the release of huge amounts of carbon dioxide, mostly through Anthropogenic Forcing (human activity) and other various internal and external factors. I...
The Centers for Disease Control have been involved in studying global warming's effect on human health. Its affect on the climate can adversely affect humans. Plagues have been attributed to global warming. An increase in temperature can result in a longer life cycle for diseases or the agents spreading them.” Global warming will lead to more precipitation, which enables infectious diseases to be more easily contracted and spread.” (2) Effects of global warming on human health might not be immediately detected.