Increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, erratic rainfall, deadly tsunamis, flooding, wildfires, heat waves, shrinking glaciers, and droughts are some visible highlights of a much debated global problem, i.e., the global warming. The problem is so severe that scientists, environmentalists, geographers, government officials, and various national and international tribunals huddle together time-to-time to embark on a sustainable solution to this issue. Nonetheless, the predicament persists putting everything (human beings, animals, birds, societies, environmental resources) in the soup. This paper discusses the impacts of global warming and the efficacy of solutions that are being implemented at national and global levels. Taking a cue from the available literature, the author has also made some recommendations that are likely to provide respite in the long run. This all-inclusive discussion on global warming will provide a holistic understanding to the readers.
Explicitly, environmental statistics is all topsy-turvy. Various records have been shattered in many respects in the last couple of years. For instance, more than 3000 people lost their lives in one of the most deleterious heat waves that hit India in 1998. In 2004, the United States endured one of the most deadly droughts in 500 years. Europe, otherwise a cold continent, witnessed killer heat waves in August 2003. That summer was the hottest in the history of 500 years. Amidst these ghee-whiz statistics, WHO's endorsement that the changed climate might have spread Zika in Brazil and elsewhere does not come as a surprise.
Apparently, rising temperatures and shifting precipitation trends have forced the animals and bird species to migrate to different places that can offer a safer haven for their survival. While plant and animal species found only in alpine regions have gone extinct because they had no place to migrate, species from lower altitudes are shifting to higher latitudes in response to global warming. In the long run, this migration can cause severe ecological and economic changes. Many species including harlequin frogs have already vanished. Similar is the case with the plant life. As trees and plants adapt to a particular climatic conditions, severe change in those conditions makes the place unsuitable to survive and flourish. Worst affected are the species as sugar maple that can only grow in a particular geographic location of the United States and Canada.
It goes without saying that changing temperatures have altered human activities and celebrations as many of them surround the historical climatic conditions. Societies living in the areas of drought and flood have become vulnerable to disease outbreak. Agriculture and tourism are badly hit in these areas. Culture is also impacted by the decline of agricultural activities, migration of environmental refugees, outbreak of infectious disease, mental dysfunctioning, stunted child development because of malnutrition and overall disruption of family life. Indigenous and island populations that contributed to the cultural diversity are vanishing because people are not able to survive on islands in the wake of rising sea levels and abnormal precipitation.
Explicitly, the problem will become graver in the future if comprehensive and multi-pronged solutions are not taken in time. Temperatures will become unbearable in many places of the globe; more species will extinct; cultural identities will vanish, and the whole of the human existence will come to the verge of extermination. Not only cultural diversity will be threatened, but also the future generations will not be able to access their cultural heritage that would also amount to intergenerational injustice. Scientists project that GHGs are likely to remain in the atmosphere for the long run. The climate is vulnerable to extreme conditions; more rainfall is expected in the northeastern United States while it might decrease in Pacific Northwest.
Governments, scientists, and environmentalists have awakened to the sober facts of global warming; efforts have been done at all levels to curb the menace. Scientists have emphasized on expanding the use of renewable energy resources to lessen down the dependence on coal and fossil fuels. Traditionally, they have focused on reducing deforestation. Technologically, scholars have recommended individuals to use electric cars, hybrid energy, and plug off electrical appliances when not in use. The development of fluorescent light bulbs and electric cars can be considered a big technological leap that can make a little contribution to the burgeoning issue of global warming.
Of late, scientists have encouraged people to utilize ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation to climate change. Communities across the world are using traditional knowledge to acclimatize changing climatic conditions. While mangroves offer protection against storms and cyclones, wetlands act as floodwater reservoirs. The Convention on Biological Diversity by the United Nations calls for ecosystem-based approaches, i.e., using biodiversity and ecosystem as a part of adaptation strategy.
Governments of various nations are also doing a great deal of efforts ranging from celebrating the Earth Day to setting protocols for GHG emissions( Kyoto Protocol) to beefing up the use of biofuels to curbing illegal deforestation. Here is a brief table describing specific actions taken by various nations.
It is clear that efforts have been taken at different strata including technology, community, government, and organizational levels. UNESCO, through its Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development Program, plans to make the education a central part of its response to global warming. This programs spreads climate literacy among people and help them understand the devastating impacts of the phenomenon. UNESCO encourages the member states to integrate climate education in school curriculum via media, partnerships, and networking.
The success or failure of these measures is a matter of debate. A close look at various news articles and opinions reveal that the efforts have not been successful substantially. First and the foremost, there seems a lack of commitment when it comes to policy implementations. For instance, the promise done by Canada in the international meeting in Copenhagen in 2009 to reduce emissions has not been fulfilled. Not only it withdrew from the Kyoto protocol in 2012, but also failed to take concrete steps. The emissions in 2013 were only 3 percent lower than 2005.
The case of Canada is just a tip of the iceberg. Over two decades of deals and negotiations (e.g. Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Accord) have produced only limited progress. As per the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency, carbon emissions in 2010, in fact, were greater by 33 percent than 2000 levels. Hence, emissions are accelerating.
Limitations are apparent at the structural level. The Kyoto Protocol, the only internationally binding agreement, failed to make any substantial difference in carbon emissions. It was because of the reason that emissions in rest of the world( that are not the part of Kyoto targets( e.g. China and other developing nations) increased sharply. More so, the United States did not ratify the agreement because of the possible harm that bindings might have caused to the US economy. Copenhagen accord also met the similar fate, i.e., the lack of the political will. Most of the countries that attended the conference were rather looking for national interests than saving the planet.
Most of the conferences and meetings concerning global warming end up in debate rather than reaching a consensus. While developing nations say that the climate change is the result of cumulative emissions of GHGs in the environment over time, most of the developed countries explicitly blame India and China and push them to make stringent cuts. Contrarily, developing nations argue that developed counterparts must look forward to the biggest cut in GHG emissions.
Clearly, lack of consensus between developing and developed nations, lack of political will, and lack of policy implementations are primary reasons that have botched up substantial efforts to save the planet. The first point is to feel the responsibility. Rather than ending up in the blame game, all nations must understand that increasing temperatures are going to harm the whole human existence in the long run. So, they must come to the negotiation table and try their level best to contribute positively to the cause of environment.
There must be incentives for transferring technologies and resources to developing nations so that they can develop clear sources of energy. Afforestation, utilizing solar power, are some of the easy initiatives each government can take to minimize the impact of GHGs. Succinctly, legal accords and bindings are less likely to be successful in short of political will. Punishment is not the panacea in this case. Efforts will only bring outcomes if they are done by rising above national interests. Given the complex political and economic systems, it seems a harder haul. Nonetheless, all nations must smoke a peace pipe if they have to save their Mother Earth and their own existence thereof.
References
CCPA. (2015, November 1). Canada's Failure to Reduce Emissions: Unlawful or Above the Law. Retrieved July 18, 2016, from policyalternatives.ca: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/monitor/canadas-failure-reduce-emissions-unlawful-or-above-law
Hoff, M. D. (2009). Effects of Global Warming on Human Cultural Diversity. Enclyclopedia of Life Support System.
Hovi, J., Skodvin, T., & Aakre, S. (2013). Can Climate Change Negotiations Succeed? Politics and Governance , 138-50.
Reid, H. (2016). Ecosystem- and community-based adaptation: learning from community-based natural resource management. Climate and Development .
The Guardian. (2016, Feb 11). Climate Change May Have Helped Spread Zika Virus, According to WHO Statistics . Retrieved July 18, 2016, from theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/11/climate-change-zika-virus-south-central-america-mosquitos
The Guardian. (2009). Low Targets, Goals Dropped: Copenhagen Ends in Failure. Retrieved July 18, 2016, from theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/dec/18/copenhagen-deal
UNESCO. (2014). Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development at UNESCO. Retrieved July 17, 2016, from unesco.org: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-for-sustainable-development/climate-change-education/
Union of Concerned Scientists. (2016). Global Warming Effects Around the World. Retrieved July 18, 2016, from climatehotmap.org: http://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-effects/plants-and-animals.html
Wang, J., & Chameides, B. (2005). Global Warming's Increasingly Visible Impacts . Retrieved July 18, 2016, from edf.org: http://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/4891_GlobalWarmingImpacts.pdf
