Climate Change And Humanity’s Contribution To It Research Proposal Example

Earth’s quickly changing climate is a hot topic today. Among the young and old, the issue is debated passionately as individuals argue whether it is even happening and why. The Some believe climate change is still up for debate, the history surrounding the issue proves the Earth’s environment is, indeed, changing, and humans may be the only cause to blame. The CO2 emissions and various forms of pollution have been observed for years. While many attempt to correct what we have done to the planet, others speculate it may be too late to repair the damage we have done.
The first historical relevancy involving climate change occurred in the late 1900’s. In 1896, a scientist named Samuel Langley inadvertently helped measure CO2 levels when he was attempting to ascertain the surface temperature of the moon. Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist of the same time, used Langley’s CO2 calculations to calculate future cooling effects based on a decrease in CO2 caused by greenhouse gas. Throughout his separate research, Arrhenius was able to realize the rise in greenhouse gas would decrease the water vapor in the atmosphere, heating the Earth’s environment and causing otherwise cool, icy settings to melt. Two years later, in an effort to better understand the carbon cycle yet another Swedish scientist, ArvidHogbom, began attempting to understand the source of such catastrophic CO2 emissions. Hogbom eventually found the primary source of CO2 emissions was emitted from burning coal and concurred with Arrhenius that the Earth would ultimately begin to warm. However, in the late 1890’s, the emissions were relatively low, and scientists believed warming would take hundreds, or possibly thousands of years to have any real effect.
Because scientists believed it would be several centuries, or possibly thousands of years before humans saw the repercussions of CO2 emissions, the population believed we had time to construct a solution. We were wrong. Throughout the early 20th century, scientists saw the climate begin to change more dramatically than they had originally anticipated, but environmentalists, as well as the population, continued to deny the facts. The 1950’s were an eye-opening time for science, revealing the lack of water vapor in the atmosphere, as well as the ocean’s dying ability to help the planet cleanse itself. For example, Roger Revelle discovered in 1957 the surface layer of the ocean only had a limited ability to absorb carbon monoxide, when prior to this time it was believed the plant life in the ocean helped with CO2 emissions exponentially. By the end of the 1950’s, scientists realized CO2 emissions would be a growing health and environmental concern as early as 1990.
The 1960’s continued to see a rise in CO2, as well as an initial melting of the polar ice caps. Scientists began conducting deep-sea analyses, as well as studying the core of polar ice in order to understand weather shifts experienced earlier by the Earth. In doing so, it was understood there had been several previous, smaller ice ages than previously thought. This evidence suggested the Earth was sensitive to weather shifts, as well as small climate changes, more so than originally though. Moreover, additional sophisticated computer software allowed scientists to run simulations of aforementioned calculations. The simulations allowed scientists to predict a two degree Celsius increase in global temperature within the next forty years. The 1960’s also saw smog, or aerosol pollution, which also affected temperature changes. The immensity of the greenhouse gas effect convinced scientists permanent damage would be done to the environment by the 21st century if something were not corrected. Political campaigns began involving themselves in the environmental disaster as soon as 1969, but not before some of the world began seeing acid rain and rising sea levels.
The last forty years have been a continuing phase of denial on behalf of the damage done to the environment. Ice caps have disappeared, animals are going extinct at a rate never thought possible, and the temperature is increasing globally. The water, in many places, is undrinkable due to pollution. In some parts of the world, crops will no longer grow, also due to the soil being polluted. Inclement weather is more unpredictable than it has been in the past, which has more to do with the warming climate than people realize. As the climate warms, the ice caps melt, and the ocean experiences an enormous influx of cold water which can cause changes in tides, which in turn impacts weather. Air quality has also been impacted. For example, the cars we drive emits CO2, yet we spent most of the 20th century cutting down the trees needed to filter out the harmful gas. Some places are then only left with the toxic air to breathe, which is not only harmful to humans, but also plants. China, for example, has many rural areas that need to be hand-pollinated or the crops will not thrive. “Green” initiatives have been taken in the last decade in an effort to use other forms of power, enforce recycling, and repurpose more items all for the good of the environment. However, it may be too little too late.
In sum, many scientists have been observing the change in the environment for over a century. Since the late 1900’s CO2 emissions were expected to one day harm us. At the time, however, they were not emitted at a high enough level to cause a panic. With the growing population, and the industrial age reaching its peak, CO2 emissions and greenhouse gases quickly became an issue for Earth and all of the life here. As the planet heated, ice began to melt on either of the poles. Tides changed, and the weather became erratic. Air quality had dropped, water and soil have become polluted, and some places even experience acid rain due to the heavy contamination of the air. While there are many individuals who attempt to use clean energy, recycle, and reuse items, we may have abused the planet too much to help ourselves out now.
A reflection of the film An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore shows how taking care of the environment should be one thing that the world should unite in doing. In the film An Inconvenient Truth, it becomes apparent that global warming is a reality, and it does affect every human being on earth. The facts are chilling, and it may only take a minor lifestyle change or adjustment for everyone to change the sad situation. Climate change threatens the mere existence of organisms on earth, seen by the way Al Gore presents the harsh realities of climatic changes that have been witnessed. He offers evidence on how global warming and climate change has affected the Himalayan Glaciers, how the Antarctica and Greenland regions are losing ice and even how severe the weather has become these days. The climate is so unpredictable due to the fact that humans are depositing too many chemical substances into the environment. The evidence offered by Al Gore is on point especially when one relates to how dangerous climatic happenings such as hurricanes have become.
Al Gore presents statistics and accurate information that need no prove for anyone to believe. Studies that have been carried out and have proven that global warming is causing climate change. Many weird things have been going on around the world, and by him acting these harsh realities as evidence to justify his argument did the film a lot of justice. He alerts the general public and all those who care to read about the imminent climatic problems before it is too late. There have been very many forums that have been developed to air these grievances and by Al Gore using this movie to illustrate how the planet has been affected is the best thing that he ever did. His arguments are backed up with sufficient evidence of all that he says.
But then the one thing that he fails to do is use supportive and proven evidence to support some of his arguments. At one point, Al Gore says that global warming has caused the shrinking of Mount Kilimanjaro. The graph of temperature he uses is said to be all wrong. And that makes this idea questionable. That means that he did not do his research well and only wanted to popularize an idea that was not well backed scientifically. If he wished to prove a point and the right one, then he ought to have done his research well and prove read his assumptions before exposing them to the world. Such are the minor issues that anyone can raise to discredit even the most well-informed assumptions and research.
It is only wise to pick the subject from where Al Gore left it in order to find viable solutions to the problem of global warming and climate change. It takes a person to make a drastic change on some of the things they do in order to make the planet a better place to live. Everyone knows what it takes to pollute the environment. They in one way or another know what they are doing that causes environmental pollution. It can be the use of their private automobiles that pump dangerous smoke and fumes into the air. Also, it can be senseless dumping of substances into the soil. There are many things that people do, whether consciously or unconsciously that causes pollution. It takes one step in the right direction, and that can mean sacrificing the convenience and comfort of using a personal automobile and use public transport, or even giving up the use of plastic bags for good.
Several of the effects of global warming presented by Al Gore can be addressed by anyone who shares his school of thought. It will only need the wise use of modern technologies, and when they seem dangerous to the environment, why not stop using them because things did work in the absence of those technologies. If greenhouse gases are proving to be too destructive to the environment, then why not embrace other mechanisms that will improve food security other than the use of greenhouses. Society ought to use market capitalism to educate the word on what to do and what not to do. Other than just sitting by and watching a few people grow their bank accounts while they cause irreversible harm to all humanity and the planet.
So many people resist the facts not because they are not true but because of the fear of losing something. Capitalism has made man so selfish, and to forget the true nature of being human and considerate of others. It is good to borrow an idea or two from the past. If it was possible to solve the ozone crisis by replacing toxic and dangerous gases in the early models of refrigerators, then it is possible to work towards improving modern technologies to suit the environment. Today, the dangerous chlorofluorocarbons have been stabilized because of the efforts of a few nations that signed the Montreal Protocol to regulate CFCs. Today, governments can come together and deal with the problem of global warming and climate change. It just takes a step in the right direction, and the problem will be solved.
Climate change poses a threat to the existence of living organisms on earth. It is projected that the situation might get worse in the near future if an action in combating it is not taken early enough. The sad reality is that governments around the globe have not come together to come up with an agreement that will help solve the problem once and for all. The purpose of this report is to analyze and cover a basic environmental law that directly relates to climate change as well as possible future changes that may occur in the struggle to address climate change.
The quality of air is of utmost importance to any community or society in the world. There are laws that have been put in place that govern how industries should dispose of their waste products and especially when it comes to toxic gases. In case the gases that are produced in an industrial process are dangerous to the environment, then that industry has to look for safe ways that will ensure that they dispose off their waste products in a way that conforms to environmental laws. One such law is Climate Change and the Clean Air Act (CAA) that is meant to help in reducing the “adverse effects of acid deposition” in the environment because these toxic substances are a threat to natural resources, the ecosystem as well as public health and has led to global warming and climate change.
Studies indicate that global warming has come about as a result of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When greenhouse gases are too much in the atmosphere, there is a definite decrease of water vapor in the atmosphere, and that will ultimately lead to the heating of the earth. There are several sets of laws that regulate the quality of air or gases that are supposed to be in the living spaces. It does not matter whether the living space sustains human life, plants or animals. But with this regulation it is the health of humans that is given priority. Climate change has occurred as a result of some of these changes that have occurred in the atmosphere.
The weather today has become very unpredictable, and that has something to do with the warming of the earth and climate change. Ice caps are melting at a very alarming rate, and the melted water finds its way back into the large water masses. That water condenses sea water and inhibits the growth of sea plants. Also, the sea tides have also been changed due to that fact, and the weather is altered depending on that situation. The changes manifested in the weather are a sign of the degeneration of the weather and climate due to human activity and not even the sea animals and plants are spared.
Al Gore does not shy away from pointing the fact that climate change and global warming has been caused by a significant increase in global temperatures over the last century. Much of the blame has been directed to the release of toxic gases and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere have gone high, and that is the major cause of much of the changes witnessed in the environment today. The sea ice and glaciers are retreating, and the intensity of storms is also increasing not forgetting the rise of sea levels.
In order to realize any positive change in as far as environmental conservation and curbing climate change is concerned, there is expected to be a careful assessment of environmental protection laws so that the world moves closer to achieving positive results. That begins with different countries expected to come together to pass laws and make an agreement on the way forward towards a unified effort to deal with the situation. It is not enough that the United States or any other country for that matter being at the forefront fighting the war against air pollution when another country elsewhere does not care what happens. In order to ensure that the current laws on climate change are addressed and strengthened, all the nations of the world should make a decision to enhance regulatory practices in such a way that all countries conform to stringent laws. It is only through enhancing environmental law that everyone will be committed to ensuring the problem of air pollution that has contributed to climate change is given both national and international significance.
While looking into the whole issue of climate change as a result of release of dangerous toxins into the environment, it is good enough that humans encourage energy conservation and also make good use of renewable and clean energy sources. The CAA should be enhanced and changed in order to accommodate alternative solutions that people should use instead of fossil fuels that have led to the current situation. As time goes by so does need for comfort increase and humans broaden industries to produce products that will help meet human needs. CAA should, therefore, be used as a means of regulating production industries and assessing the impact they may have on the environment if they are left to thrive.
Humanity is already committed to a sad environmental reality that needs to be addressed soon and very first. Developing economies are working very hard on improving the lives of their citizens and industries are being put up in order to ensure that happens. These countries can use the CAA as a foundation for the protection of the environment and employ the use of technology that is not going to emit toxic gases into the environment. In future, governments should ensure that their countries employ technology that is not going to undermine current efforts in preventing air pollution and instead conserve the environment by not emitting dangerous gases into the atmosphere.
The globe is already committed to a sad trend of very high levels of toxic substances in the environment. The good thing is that there are efforts to counter this problem through the formulation of laws such as CAA. In order to achieve the goals of conservation and resource protection, it rests upon even the citizens to comply with the set rules and regulations in order to change the current pollution trends. Efforts to mitigate climate change and specifically air pollution are rewarding only when the already set laws are adopted and if need be changed in order to address climate change problems as they come. New dimensions have to be taken just to ensure that working towards a common goal is achieved. The quality of air that humans breathe in does affect their well-being. But then it begins with people taking a break from the use of non-renewable energy and use renewable energy. Better still; governments need to take a serious stand on how their production industries should operate in an effort to curb the problem of pollution that subsequently leads to climate change.