The CQ Researcher contributor, Jennifer Weeks, explores the realities about climate change and warns the readers about the alarming future of the Arctic. In her article “Climate Change,” Weeks states that the level of greenhouse gases that are produced by human activities reaches its highest degree in 300 years and worse, such level is still increasing. Electricity and heat generation are the human activities responsible for the 40% of global CO2 emission in 2010. China and the United States are the top nations with the highest contribution of CO2 emissions. Extreme and frequent weather phenomenon such as hurricanes call for an immediate action and cooperative effort from all stakeholders.
Through the help of modern science and advanced technology, scientists are finding new and sustainable ways to reduce the risks of climate change. Among the considered methods are transition to clean energy, implementing carbon tax, abolishing subsidy programs for fossil fuels, and shifting the nation’s investment on renewable energy. Other experts propose geo-engineering to mitigate the disastrous consequences of climate change. This method involves “injecting particles in the atmosphere in order to reflect back the sunlight to the space and removing carbons from the atmosphere and burying it underground. “ (Weeks, p.527)
While some experts are optimistic that climate change can be avoided, Professor Field, an expert in ecology cites that climate change in the next 20-30 years is an inevitable event. Weeks concludes that global warming will hurt the poor countries more as compared to rich countries because of geophysical factors and the nations’ lack of adequate disaster risk management and relief programs.
Weeks also elaborates on the drastic changes in the arctic and the negative impact of its warming in her article “Future of the Arctic.” The melting Arctic ice has far-reaching consequences that will not only damage the region itself but , will have domino effect to the rest of the world. Experts suggest that the Arctic can possibly become ice-free within the next decades.The reduced amount of ice threatens the animals in the region whose survival relies on the Arctic’s frozen sea.
The rapid decrease in the thickness of the Arctic sea ice is not only changing the ecology of the region, but it also impact other regions that lie beyond the Arctic. The thick frozen sea water of the the Arctic protects coastal villages from storm; thus, these villages will face higher risk of storm surges during hurricanes as the amount of sea ice that controls high waves reduce in rapid pace. Furthermore, the warming of the Arctic takes a toll on the weather of other countries. Two studies that were conducted in 2012 reveal that the warming slows down polar jet stream. The slow speed of the polar jet stream pushes the cold air from the Arctic towards the south. This alterations cause extreme weather events in regions located in lower latitude like a very snowy winter. “The Arctic is experiencing the most severe climate change and it is happening rapidly.” (Weeks p.803) While the thinning of its ice is beneficial to the shipping industry because it would allow shorter shipping routes, it has shattering impact on the animals, plants and the humans inhabiting the regions along the Arctic. Climate change and warming of the Arctic is particularly dangerous to Alaska as the melting of ice endangers the Alaskan communities to frequent erosion and flooding.
Works Cited
Weeks, Jennifer. ” Future of the Arctic”. CQ Researcher 23.33 (2013): 789-812. PDF.
Weeks, Jennifer. “Climate Change.” CQ Researcher 23.22 (2013) 521-544. PDF.
