Introduction
Global warming is a phenomenon that alters the surface temperature on earth. Consequently, the change in surface temperate results in the changes in climate patterns. Global warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Due to several factors and conditions in the atmosphere, these gases are blocked from escaping into space. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the absorption of solar radiation to the surface of the earth. Both mechanisms lead to the warming of the atmosphere. Therefore, trapped gas combined with solar radiation in the atmosphere cause the warming of the earth’s surface. Examples of greenhouse gases that get trapped in the atmosphere include carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide among others (See, 333).
Global warming must be taken seriously because its outcomes are detrimental to the environment and communities. For this reason, this problem must be addressed because it leads to climate change, a phenomenon that changes climate patterns all over the world (Ravindranath & Sathaye, 222; Taylor & Buttel, 405). The outcomes of climate change include natural disasters that devastate various communities. Strong typhoons and flooding are just some of the outcomes of climate change. For this reason, addressing global warming is important to reduce its impact on climate patterns (Taylor & Buttel, 405). To resolve global warming, we must understand why it happens. Essentially, the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is caused by human activities. Smoke from cars and factories, the burning of chemicals, and improper disposal of waste all lead to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (Posner, 221).
Considering the foregoing points, the succeeding discussion will look into the role of the developing world in global warming in terms of human activities. Research studies and discussions show that the developing world are at both ends of the spectrum when it comes to addressing global warming. Human activities in the developing world contribute to global warming due to massive greenhouse gas emissions from these nations. Nonetheless, the developing world’s goal for economic development may also help ease global warming with infrastructure and strategies that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All these issues will be briefly explored in the succeeding research towards the goal of determining solutions and recommendations for developing nations on how they could combat global warming and the impact of climate change.
The Role of Developing World in Global Warming
Statistics show that the developing world contributes significantly to global warming than developed countries due to increase greenhouse gas emissions from this region (Hohne et al., 107). Hohne et al. (107) collated statistics comparing greenhouse gas emissions from different countries. Statistics revealed that almost 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions originate from developing nations although developed countries such as the United States also has elevated rate of emissions. The difference between developing and developed nations, however, is that the former lack the infrastructure to manage global warming through systems or mechanisms that would help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, developed nations have advanced systems and schemes that allow them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, rampant corruption in developing nations hinder them from developing their infrastructure to combat global warming. For this reason, it is important that developing nations address the problem by initially fighting corruption in government. It is only through honest and responsible governance that these nations would be able to allocate adequate budget to fund for infrastructure development and improvement in strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Herein lays the role of the developed world. As wealthy nations, countries in the developed world must help poor countries by enabling them through financial aid and loans (Wei et al., 12912). Government and non-government agencies from wealthy, capable, and experienced countries could help developing nations allocate for and plan projects and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, a well-functioning government is also capable of developing appropriate policies that are geared towards environmental sustainability. Policy development and implementation for this purpose, particularly when it comes to addressing climate change and global warming.
Although the developing world could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through proper planning, the goal of poor countries to boost their economy could also help address climate change (Ball). In fact, some experts claim that the developing world must be at the forefront of initiatives that aim to combat global warming, particularly because climate change is detrimental to the wellbeing of poor countries. Climate change is primarily the developing world’s concern because it leads to several natural disasters that affect poor countries because of lack of infrastructure to mitigate the risks of catastrophic events (Ball). The unpredictability and severity of climate patterns cause widespread damage to cities and communities as well as deaths. Typhoons and flooding are common in developing nations and these events are linked to global warming due to severe rainfall as well as the continued melting of the polar ice caps that is increasing the sea level all over the world. These are just some of the examples of the impact of global warming in relation to climate change.
Overall, to address global warming, collaboration between developing and developed nations is necessary (The Economist). Poor countries cannot do it on their own and they need guidance on how they may change human activities so they may reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wealthy countries must help developing nations so they would be able to gain the resources necessary for them to improve infrastructure and facilitate development. Better infrastructure would help developing nations track or monitor climate change and implement strategies so they would be able to prevent damage and mitigate risks caused by natural disasters. Furthermore, infrastructure development would also enable developing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, developed nations must also contribute to the cause by focusing on continually reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting initiatives towards the use of natural sources of energy.
Conclusion
The foregoing discussion tackles global warming and climate change within the context of developing nations. The given argument here is that greenhouse gas emissions from developing countries contribute to global warming. However, initiatives for economic development in poor countries could also enable these nations to help address global warming and its detrimental outcomes. Addressing corruption would help developing countries obtain necessary funding and resources to focus on climate change resiliency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Nonetheless, the developed world must also help poor countries by offering funding and loans for these initiatives. The involvement of developed countries is necessary because they have existing infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as knowledge and expertise to spread awareness about global warming, climate change and the ways that developing nations may address them.
Works Cited
Ball, Jeffrey. “Climate Change is Now in the Developing World’s Hands. The Slate Group. 29 Nov 2013. Web. 21 Feb 2015. <http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/energy_around_the_world/2013/11/warsaw_climate_talks_developing_countries_will_be_source_of_greenhouse_gas.html>.
The Economist. A bad climate for development; developing countries and global warming. 2009; 392.8649: 64.
Hohne, Niklas, Blum, Helcio, Fuglestvedt, Jan, Skeie, Ragnhild Bieltvedt, Kurosawa, Atsushi, Hu, Guoquan, Lowe, Jason, Gohar, Laila, Matthews, Ben, de Salles, Ana Claudia Nioac, and Ellermann, Christian. Contributions of individual countries’ emissions to climate change and their uncertainty. Climatic Change, 2011; 106, 259-391.
Posner, Eric A. The Perils of Global Legalism. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago IL, 2009.
Ravindranath, Nijavalli H. & Sathaye, Jayant A. Climate Change and Developing Countries. New York, NY: Springer Science & Business Media, 2002.
Taylor, Peter J. & Buttel, Frederick H. How do we know we have Global Environmental Problems? Science and the Globalization of Environmental Discourse. Geoforum, 23:2 (1992), 405-416.
Wei, Ting, Yang, Shili, Moore, John C., Shi, Peijun, Cui, Xuefeng, Duan, Qingyun, Xu, Bing, Dai, Yongjiu, Yuan, Wenping, et al. Developed and developing world responsibilities for historical climate change and CO2 mitigation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012; 109(32), 12911-12915.
