Climate change is a worldwide phenomenon that threatens to destroy the delicate ecological balance of our planet, a predicament far more imminent than most humans would prefer to acknowledge. Our influence over the Earth’s climate, however, may be the only thing capable of limiting the destruction of global warming and ultimately preserving the biosphere as we know it. An issue as prevalent as climate change should prompt humanity to come together and find solutions, yet the debate over reality is unabated. The effects of climate change are upon us, but in order to fully implement humanity’s resources in a coordinated effort against climate change, we must first educate the population about the importance of this issue by distributing statistics, …show more content…
While anthropomorphic emissions may at first seem negligible, it is important to realize that the relatively recent increase in human contributions upends the delicate natural balance that has existed for millions of years. The scientific consensus identifies the expansion of the greenhouse effect, a process during which atmospheric greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation, as the driving force behind warming climate trends. NASA defines greenhouse gases as “Long-lived gases that remain semi-permanently in Earth’s atmosphere and do not respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature.” Carbon dioxide is one such molecule that also acts as an insulator, trapping the thermal energy from the Earth’s surface while remaining transparent to solar radiation (Bernard 6). This is a problem, and concentrations will only continue to increase due to human activities such as pollution, deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that “Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive, and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems” (8). The only way to limit the effects of climate change is to significantly reduce human emissions of greenhouse …show more content…
Most denialists claim that humans are not among the primary contributors to climate change, pointing to the fact that the Earth experiences consistent long-term cycles of warming and cooling trends. However, this argument is a gross oversimplification of climate oscillation patterns and neither explains the recent temperature increases nor takes into account humanity’s impact upon the climate system. Another common argument asserts that natural cycles maintain a healthy balance of atmospheric concentrations. It is true that plant and ocean respiration largely control and stabilize the global carbon cycle. The problem, however, has arisen in the past century, during which humans have released greenhouse gases into the environment without regulation or obligation. Others believe that there isn’t enough evidence to justify action or concern, and though they are correct in that more data should be collected, waiting to act is simply not worth the risk. Climate change, Bernard reminds us, is irreversible, and will only continue to accelerate (21). This leaves us to wonder why people are so ignorant of, or at least indifferent to, the effects of climate change. According to NASA and organizations worldwide, a review of the scientific consensus shows that “ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the last century are very likely due to human
When people burn fossil fuels to accumulate and produce energy a substance called carbon is produced. Carbon is released into the air in a form known as carbon dioxide. Carbon moves throughout the biosphere on the planet as it is recycled and reused. Carbon exists in the earth’s atmosphere in two common forms which are methane and carbon monoxide. These gases absorb and retain heat in a process known as the greenhouse effect. The Planets natural greenhouse effect makes life possible by regulating our temperature. It turns out that adding too much to the greenhouse effect can have horrible consequences on the environment. Each year, five and a half billion tons of carbon is released by burning fossil fuels and of that three billion tons enters the atmosphere. The remaining carbon usually gets absorbed by the oceans.
For these reasons, global warming stands as one of the most daunting policy issues facing our world today. This is compounded by the debate over the very existence of climate change. While countless sources of empirical evidence testify to the very real presence of climate change the world over, considerable denial of the phenomenon still exists. The argument has been made that evidence about climate change is a gross overstatement, or in some cases, a complete fabrication. Despite the evidence to the contrary, many interest groups with considerable political clout have successfully perpetuated the argument that documented changes in the environment are a product of natural cyclical changes in climate, and are not associated with human activities. However, even the acceptance of this particular brand of reality is no grounds for the disregard of environmental consciousness. Even if one accepts the premise that recent climate change is not resultant of human activity, the rationale behind environmental conservation remains ...
The first part of this essay discusses what the human species has done to deal with the problem of climate change. While some improvements have been made, the problem has not been addressed aggressively enough to stop the damage. What is amazing about this is the denial of so many people that problems exist. If they do realize the risks, they are simply not taking actions to contain the damage.
This week the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) removed all mentionings of climate 'change' from their website. As the NIEHS, they are charged with the responsibility of twenty seven institutes and the centers of the National Institute of Heath under the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). With a focus on environmental health, the NIEHS is meant to be a resource for the public, to educate on environmental matters that affect public health. One major issue that would, or once fell under this umbrella is climate change. This concerns not just the technological and digital spaces within the US, but the brick and mortar spaces run by these departments and where people are accessing the information.
The commonly debated “greenhouse effect” refers to “the global-average temperature increase that has been observed over the last one hundred years or more” (Spencer). President Barack Obama addressed the issue as an effort to highlight its severity, "We have to all shoulder the responsibility for keeping the planet habitable, or we’re going to suffer the consequences – together” (Leader). The earth’s increasing atmospheric and oceanic temperatures result in climate changes due to cumulative amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.
The most destructive human contribution to climate change is fossil fuels combustion, which results in the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Increased carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and halocarbons levels in the atmosphere cause an imbalance in the earth’s energy. This is because the gases alter solar radiation and thermal radiation which regulate the earth’s energy. Research indicates that anthropogenic climate change is the cause of the increased global warming over the last fifty years. 57 % of the carbon dioxide emitted is absorbed into the atmosphere while the rest is absorbed into the oceans. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the most central greenhouse gas that is associated with global warming (Eby, Zickfield, Montenegro, Archer, Meissner, & Weaver,
Around the world, daily human activity is contributing to changes in the climate that threaten the ability of the Earth to sustain various forms of life. While some of these global climate changes are affecting the lives of people today, the real consequence will be felt by future generations of people and the plants, animals, water and air they all share. In this paper, I will explain the how climate change has a negative affect for the global population, while particularly evaluating how China’s air pollution is causing distress on a global sphere. The issue of climate change pertaining to air pollution is important to political globalization because it demonstrates the necessity for environmental policies that govern a nation’s activities and will ensure that everyone is acting accordingly in respecting the environment for their country, the countries of
Global heating and cooling has occurred on a cycle for millennia, however in the past thirty years the increased use of energy and fuels by humans has drastically changed this natural occurrence (Juerg, 2007). The largest cause of this warming is the release of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide levels are twenty-five percent higher than they were in 1957 (UCS, 2013). This seemingly insignificant change has caused a myriad of negative effects. The endangerment of species, rising of sea levels, and increased natural disasters are just a few examples of change brought about by global warming (Juerg, 2007). Even though global climate change presents a massive problem there are many proposed solutions to fix or delay it. These theories range from creating a giant sun shield in space to the simple practice of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” (Gray, 2009). However the most effective solution is to find different sources of fuel to power our day to day lives. The earth is in need of renewable, effective, and long lasting fuels. Global warming can be slowed through the use of renewable energy as it is versatile, clean, a good investment, and can easily be put into place in several different climates and environments.
Climate change has been an extremely controversial topic in recent history and continues to create much debate today. Many questions concerning climate change’s origins and its potential affect on the globe are not fully understood and remain unanswered. What is climate change? Is climate change happening? Is it a natural cycle of the world or are there other catalysts involved such as human activity? What proof is there? What data correlations show climate change is accelerated by humans? How serious is climate change and how will it affect the future of our globe? What are we doing to address climate change? Should we really be concerned about climate change? Questions such as these have made climate change a very serious issue in today’s world and created the ideology of climatism. The issue of climate change has affected many different aspects of our lives and the world we live in. Policymaking, human activism, technologies, emission control, global warming, alternative energy sources and many other things have been greatly affected by the mania of climate change. This research report will present climate change in a light of common sense and rationality that will take a grounded discussion of the science behind climate change, global warming, human activity, and how the ideology of climatism has corrupted and driven the actions to combat climate change.
The Earth is currently locked in perpetuating spiral of climate change. While the global climate has unarguably been changing since the dawn of it's manifestation, the once steadied ebb and flow of climate change has become increasingly more unpredictable.The risk of rising sea levels, and drought plaguing the fresh water supply, during the time that flooding and sporadic storm conditions turn once fully inhabited regions into uninhabitable death traps. Climate change catalyzed by human's increased production of carbon dioxide, is more noticeable than ever in our recorded history (United States, 2014 National Climate Assessment). Thankfully however, with the changing weather conditions due to carbon related emissions, the change in public opinion about their personalized influence on climate change is also increasing. Kevin Liptak Jethro Mullen, and Tom Cohen note that In reaction to the most recent governmental report on climate change, even the U.S. government believes that a stronger approach needs to be taken to correct our self-generated cataclysm.
Climate Change is any substantial change in climate that lasts for an extended period of time. One contributor to current climate change is global warming, which is an increase in Earth’s average temperature. Plants and animal species throughout the world are being affected by rising temperatures. Many plants are flowering earlier now than they once did; animals, such as the yellowbellied marmot, are emerging from hibernation earlier; and many bird and butterfly species are migrating north and breeding earlier in the spring than they did a few decades ago, all because of slight changes in temperature cues. (Shuster)
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...
Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the human species face today, yet the majority of the population does not pay attention to it. People are not aware of the dangers and do not care about it much because the main effects will affect the next generation and not themselves. Global warming is happening and it is the reason for changing weather and weather extremes such as earthquakes, floods and wildfires. Global warming is caused by societies lifestyle and these lifestyles destroy the environment and affect the whole world. The use of cars, trains, planes, as well as wasting energy for people’s entertainment has a price; this price is that society is in danger.
Climate change is caused due to the release of few carbon compounds into the atmosphere, which drastically brought the weather changes all over the world. Climate change is not confined to a single region. It has become an important issue all over the world for the past few years.
Global Warming One of the most substantial problems in the world today is global warming. This gradual warming of the earth is in occurrence at an extremely slow rate but it is happening. Many scientists believe that as human’s work and release greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere, it can become dangerous for the long lasting life of humans and our environment. “Unless we take immediate action, the impacts of global warming will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect the entire planet - including you, your community, and your family” (“Global Warming Impacts”).