. Berry uses the metaphor that Earth is a living planet because of all of the diverse lifeforms it has created and by doing this, he really brings to mind what we as humans aren 't appreciating this beautiful planet like we should. McFague states "climate change is surely the most severe test that humanity has ever faced, not only in terms of survival but equally important, in regard to our ‘humanity '. This quote is very important because the reason that this planet is dying has a lot to do with our humanity in the sense that we aren 't treating the planet the way we should be. For example, the climate change that is currently being experienced across the globe is a result of air pollution that has caused the rapid release of greenhouse gases …show more content…
Although much of the greenhouse gasses have been released by first-world countries, it is the poor third-world countries that are currently the most susceptible to these effects but in the long-term everyone will be will suffer the consequences of climate change. More and more people have now come to admit that climate change is real, but real action to stop it is yet to be taken. McFague insists that "climate change should not necessarily be an apocalyptic event that will destroy human life". To address this problem, certain elements need to be present to change people 's relationship with the earth and motivate humanity to achieve such dramatic …show more content…
Political will from leaders is critical for spearheading any action towards addressing the challenge of climate change. Political leaders play the role of establishing the desired norms or legislation that can address the issues that lead to climate change and can play a pivotal role of garnering public support towards such efforts. Political leaders can also play a role in encouraging communities and individuals to rapidly adopt practices that promote the protection of the environment and make those practices more accessible. Today, we hear of many changes we could do to help our environment, but many of those actions are just not accessible to everyone. For example, we know that solar power is very efficient and renewable source, but the solar panels needed to absorb that power are hard to come by and sometimes very pricey. Therefore, to stabilize greenhouse emissions and drastically reduce the rate of climate change, political leaders need to first of all acknowledge that this is a very crucial problem and take the necessary steps to make climate change the most powerful political
Scranton believes that human beings are killing present life by ignoring the effects of global warming on the world. He continues to warn the reader that change is coming regardless of what people do now and that they human race must prepare for what is inevitably coming, as it will be the collapse of global civilization as it is known. Scranton states that this time we are living in, the anthropocene, presents humans with multiple challenges but mostly, “what it means to be human” (page 234). How to control the inevitable
One key premise that these excerpts rely on is the idea that the changes caused by global warming are irreversible. McKibben argues that we have gone past the point where even drastic changes to how we live couldn’t prevent the worsening of global warming. Even if we were to do “everything possible to make ourselves lean and efficient” the research indicates that is “‘improbable’ that we’d be able to stop short of 650 parts per million [of carbon dioxide],” nearly twice the acceptable amount (McKibben 2010, 13). The author also believes that the changes of global warming are permanent because we can’t reclaim what we are losing. The rainforest, coral reefs, and glacial ice are disappearing and “Once trends like this get rolling, we can’t slow them. We don’t know how to refreeze the Arctic or regrow a rain forest” (McKibben 2010, 28). According to McKibben, the world has reached this point, at least in part, because we have already surpassed the acceptable amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which 350 parts per million. We learned that too late according to McKibben because by the time the research supporting this idea was presented the planet’s atmosphere already had nearly 390 parts per million of carbon dioxide (McKibben 2010, 12). For the author these irrevocable changes mean that “The earth that we knew—the only earth that we ever knew—is gone” (McKibben 2010, 18) which leads to the heart of the text, the idea that civilization will be just as irreversibly changed as the world.
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.
Another example she uses to make her point is about coral. When thinking of coral, the idea that comes to most is it is a plant that lives in the ocean and provides a beautiful color. Coral provides more than that for the ocean as we see it provides “Thousands-perhaps millions- of species have evolved to rely on coral reefs, either directly for protection or food, or indirectly, to prey on those species that come seeking protection or food” (Kolbert 130). When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it forms into an acid called carbonic acid, which has been eating away at most of the coral and not allowing it to grow or survive in the water. This other example used by the author showing humans how we are destroying important aspects to earth. We should be more alarmed to what is occurring in the ocean because we also depend on it for some of our resources. It also goes to show if we are capable of putting other animals in danger we are fully capable of erasing our own
In the article “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math”, written by Bill Mckibben, he firstly opens up by saying that back in 2012, according to the statistics, we surpassed the global record high for climate temperature in our nation, destroying other previous records. Despite the research and the displaying of data, nobody is doing anything to adress the following issue. Mckibben outlines three distinctive numbers that outline the following issue., 2 degrees celsius, 565 gigations, and 2795 gigtons, which he uses to validitate and support his argument. Firstly, the ongoing problem of climate change in society is fundamentally a matter of individual moral responsibility that is inspired by the insight individuals are intentionally harming the environment. Secondly there is yet to be an effective collective state response to the issue of global warming, despite approaching two full decades of ongoing and reoccuring negotiations and the very near universal participation by states in the UNFCCC. Thirdly, because this issue has been put on hold for longer than it was innitially expected, greenhouse gases are being emitted into our atmosphere, polluting our environment. The South-North issue and an ongoing debate comes into effect as all the greenhouse gases that are created and used in the Northern hemisphere are being emmited into the southern hemisphere. Hence, my thesis is; despite the fact that global warming and climate change has been an ongoing problem globally for years, humanity has failed to resolve thiis issue as it quickly begins to escalate.
For a majority of people, it isn’t new news that the Earth’s climate is changing and increasingly getting warmer. For quite some time now, people have been arguing about what the actual causes are and what role humans have played in the current condition of the earth. A good bit of people seem to be in agreement that due to the actions of humans, the earth’s climate is increasingly getting worse and that if things don’t change, than everyone living on earth will be facing the consequences. However, this is not entirely true. The fault of climate change does not fall solely on the shoulders of mankind, but on the earth as well.
Although it is often a topic for contention in politics, global warming over the span of several decades, has led to climate change, which has had an alarming impact globally. Climate change needs to ...
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 ...
This change can be subtle or drastic, but as truth may have it we life in a global society where the climate is changing drastically, weather patterns are becoming increasingly unstable, the ice caps in colder regions are beginning to melt, earthquakes are growing stronger in magnitude and becoming more prevalent. As of today all the signs and studies have proven true, human activities definitely have a large role to lay in the growth of global warming, by the continuous creation of factories along with the growth of greenhouses, toxic gases consisting of carbon dioxide continue to be distributed into the atmosphere, and with this continuous growth comes the destruction of plants which are responsible for purifying the air by taking in the carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, it is easy to see why; and although few have come in defence of human beings to place this claim on the stage to be closely analysed and debunks, unfortunately for them all the facts presented so far have added up in support of the claim. Mankind may be on a dangerous path to destruction, but not for long this is not how thing must remain, and as time would have it, it is not too late. We may not have the abilities to turn back the hands of time; but rather we can proceed with tim into a better tommorow, increase educational engagement in the sciences, by teaching children at a younger age about climate change during their introductions into chemistry, biology, and earth science. Inclined with the education of the student a focus on better interacting with the environment to improve habitats for animal and teach the importances in reducing the damaging toxins in the air and on the ground. following these steps may not have a great effect right away; however in the long rich , by following these steps we can give birth to a future where the children we know today will grow to become environmental specialist, engineers, social
...empts at doing our part. But what is really needed is change at national and global levels. Only by convincing leaders to create laws that improve our energy policy, and pushing companies to adopt sustainable business practices on a global level, can we see real change. (EDF - Environmental Defense Fund , 2015) We need laws, polices, and infringes…..etc. whatever it takes in order to get our CO2 emissions under control. There are plenty of ways to improve on the current state of global warming like limiting global warming pollution, utilizing renewable energy, drive smarter vehicles, or even drive less. However small the action any change in our normal day to day can still help tremendously especially when done by a large number of people. We have to remember that this is the only planet we have and global warming is a global issue that needs to be taken seriously.
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.
In conclusion, global climate change is a very long discussion with many ways to improve the environment, but a long journey to finding a solution. Although we can 't do away with our main sources like power plants, cars, and factories we must continue to find solutions to making our environment safer and suitable to live in. Hopefully in the near future we will have a better understanding of how to address our global climate changes, but for now, we can focus our ideas on preventative ways to not harm ourselves and our
It is so compellingly evidential that the concentrations of these gases in the atmosphere have increased and still increasing rapidly, that climate change is occurring, and that most of the recent change is almost certainly due to emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities. Further climate is inevitable; if emissions of greenhouse gases continue unabated, future climate changes will substantially exceed those that have occurred so far. There remains a range of estimates of the magnitude and regional expression of future change, but increases in the extremes of climate that can adversely affect natural ecosystems and human activities and infrastructure are expected. However this doesn’t have to be the answer, do your part, make a difference, it’s time we put a stop to this, our world is dying, help prevent climate change. There is a solution. There truly is a way we can get there, it’s possible, even against perhaps, as said ‘the global threat of our time’. We could get all people to choose among several options (or a mixture of those options) in response to this information: they can change their pattern of energy productions and usage in order to limit emissions of greenhouse gases and hence the magnitude of climate changes; they can wait for changes to occur and accept the losses, damage and suffering that arise; they can
Our society is riddled with countless problems that are causing discussions and debates around the world. One of the most important problems is crucial to focus on and it is climate change or “the greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect is a serious problem that is destroying the planet and its atmosphere. Rules and regulations need to be made if want future generations the have a place to call home.
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”). Everyone should be knowledgeable about global warming and the dangers that it brings to our planet. This essay will examine