In today’s world, climate change is one of the most critical and daunting issues that humanity is faced with. It has emerged, both as a major scientific and a global public policy issue. There is broad consensus among the scientists of the world that accumulated carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas and is released as a result of burning of carbon that is stored in fossil fuels, is causing a rise in the average surface temperatures around the world. Other greenhouse gases such as water vapor, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), nitrous oxide and methane, which are emitted into the atmosphere as a result of human activities, are also contributing towards this effect. Greenhouse gases facilitate the increase of a planet’s temperature by means of a phenomenon more commonly referred to as the greenhouse effect.
Although scientists have discussed the dangers of excessive build up of greenhouse gases and issued warnings for a period of more than hundred years now, only in recent years the public and political attention to the problem has reached a level that is high enough where inaction would be considered unwise, unethical and unacceptable. In the early 20th century, many European scientists explored the effects of burning fossil fuels on climate (Avi-Yonah and Uhlmann 14). A number of American scientists had also begun similar kinds of research by mid 20th century (Avi-Yonah and Uhlmann 14). The scientific research up to the 1980’s did not translate into any noteworthy legislation or significant political will to combat climate change (Avi-Yonah and Uhlmann 16).
The United Nations established The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1990. The UNFCCC is a “Rio Convention”, one of three adopted at the “Rio Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 with the ultimate objective being “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” (UNFCCC) This was a pre-cursor to the Kyoto protocol which is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets (UNFCCC). It was identified that developed countries are primarily accountable for the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity. Consequently, the Protocol placed a heavier burden on developed countries under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." (UNFCCC) The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and was the first international agreement with mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions. It came into effect on 16 February 2005 (UNFCCC). The detailed rules for the execution of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2001, and are known as the "Marrakesh Accords." Its first commitment period commenced in 2008 and finished in 2012 (UNFCCC). Under the Protocol, developed nations agreed to reduce their emissions by at least five percent on average in 2012 when compared to the 1990 levels.
The United States however objected to mandatory limits, citing concerns that it will affect its economy and its citizens’ lifestyles. It was also very vociferous in its protests about the lack of compulsory restrictions on developing nations. Although it did sign the agreement as a symbolic gesture, the United States along with Kazakhstan remains as one among the only two countries among more than 175 that signed but did not ratify the protocol (Avi-Yonah and Uhlmann 18). The most recent and momentous international agreement in the combat for climate change was adopted in 2015-16 in Paris, and signed by 175 countries, amongst which 15 have already ratified it (News Centre). This agreement which deals with the greenhouse emissions alleviation, adaption and finance, comes to effect in 2020.
In the recent past, there has been a movement in the United States where certain individuals and groups, often associated with vested political and financial interests, have indulged in extensive climate change denial. These vested interests are primarily the Republican Party and other groups and individuals with conservative economic worldviews (Klein). They are backed financially by the polluting industries, who are opposed to the regulation of CO2 emissions (Klein). These big firms stand to lose revenue in billions of dollars if the world in general moves to alternate sources of energy, instead of continuing to burn fossil fuels. Hence, they would rather invest large sums of money to spread misinformation about climate change and avoid legislations that would impact them negatively. In the United States, media coverage has a significant impact in the public opinion on climate change. Unfortunately, due to the campaigns designed to undermine public confidence in climate science, there has been a lessening in public belief in the veracity of climate change. This has in turn led to negative publicity regarding the legislative efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.
On the other hand, the politicians from the Democratic Party in general, and the Obama administration have been strident in their fight against climate change and its deniers. President Obama has taken a great deal of steps to realize his goals of increasing awareness of global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He announced a plan called New Energy for America that intends to reduce the dependency of the country on foreign oil by investing in renewable sources of energy. Under the Obama administration, bills such as the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a cap and trade bill and Clean Power Plan, which is the final version of regulations originally proposed by the EPA that pertains to carbon dioxide emissions from power plants have been proposed (Malloy and Serfaty).
Additionally, there are groups that have been founded to combat the menace of climate denial and the spread of their misinformation and false propaganda. One such organization is an international environmental group called 350.org, which was founded by the author Bill McKibben and is headquartered in Oakland, California (Russar and Lobo). Its goal is to inspire a grassroots movement to raise awareness about human-driven climate change, which would invariably force the political class to take note, and deliver legislation and tangible results against increasing pollution (Plass 41-47).
Climate change affects one and all irrespective of class, race, color, gender, religion or even species, as we all share this one planet. This is because all living beings of this world are part of an ecosystem which has been functioning like clockwork for millennia. However, human activity in the last century has caused significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, which threaten to upset the fine balance that protects all the ecosystems of the world. Climate change deniers are focusing on the short-term benefits that will allow them to succeed monetarily at the cost of long-term threats to all living beings on earth. However, despite all the misinformation of climate change denial, slowly but surely public awareness is reaching a tipping point where people are conscious about the massive threat climate change poses to not only everyone in the world right now, but also to future generations over a period of thousands of years from now.
Works cited
Avi-Yonah, Reuven S. and David M. Uhlmann. "Combating Global Climate Change: Why A Carbon Tax Is A Better Response To Global Warming Than Cap And Trade". SSRN Electronic Journal n. pag. Web. 21 May 2016.
Dunlap, R. E. "Climate Change Skepticism And Denial: An Introduction". American Behavioral Scientist 57.6 (2013): 691-698. Web. 24 May 2016.
Klein, Naomi. This Changes Everything: Capitalism Vs. The Climate. Simon & Schuster, 2014. Print.
Malloy, Allie and Sunlen Serfaty. "Obama Unveils Major Climate Change Proposal". CNN. N.p., 2015. Web. 24 May 2016.
News Centre, UN. "UN News - ‘Today Is An Historic Day,’ Says Ban, As 175 Countries Sign Paris Climate Accord". UN News Service Section. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 May 2016.
Plass, Gilbert N. "Carbon Dioxide And Climate". Sci Am 201.1 (1959): 41-47. Web. 25 May 2016.
Russar, Juliana and Diego Lobo. "The Story Behind A Powerful Image". 350.org. N.p., 2012. Web. 24 May 2016.
UNFCCC,. "Introduction To The Convention". Unfccc.int. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 May 2016.
UNFCCC,. "Kyoto Protocol". Unfccc.int. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 May 2016.
