An issue that has been a main concern in politics has been climate change and of course global warming. Everyone wants to know if the activities of humans are changing the climate. They also want to know if it is possible they will encounter more serious disasters. However, it is difficult to provide answers as their concerns are quite challenging to those who are responsible for solving them. But it is important for all those that have concerns to understand that many new things are happening that were not predicted in the early 20th century. This is why I propose that it is important to understand that global warming poses a global challenge that could only be dealt with using global solutions.
Global warming for some can be difficult to understand, however, it is a principle that could be better explained analyzing the radiation energy that comes from the sun. This energy warms the Earth’s surface. The thermal radiation from the Earth and that which is radiated out in space is also warmed by this energy. If these two radiation streams are disturbed by an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, an increase in the Earth’s surface temperature can restore it. This can help explain why the Earth is getting warmer.
There is significant evidence to show that global warming has begun. Every summer, temperatures continue to rise. Sea levels are also rising while glaciers are melting at a rapid pace. This can also lead to cities along the coast flooding as a result of oceans rising. According to Laurence Pringle, “Millions of people may have to abandon their homes, and low-lying islands may disappear completely” (Pringle 4). It is obvious that global warming will not only affect people, but plants and animals as well. Wildlife populations could gradually become non-existent. This is all due to global temperatures increasing gradually overtime.
The average temperature since the late 19th century has reportedly increased to 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Celsius. But during the 20th century, the early 1990’s have been calculated as the warmest. “Warmest means only a few tenths of a degree Celsius at most, but in terms of the global average such differences are quite significant” (Houghton 46). However, not even climatologists understand the Earth’s climate system. For example, the Northern Hemisphere has cold regions that could present signs of global warming. Other signs of global warming could be an increased lengthening of the growing season for farmers. But if the climate continues to heat up, the plants could eventually die. Warming the world could lead to a mass amount of extremes.
Changing weather patterns could easily be the result of the Earth’s climate warming as a result of the natural sun or by humans creating greenhouse gases. Regardless, these weather patterns can lead to more wet days in the world we live in. Water evaporates in the air as a result of increased heat. As a result, there is an increase in rain. There is also a significant increase in snow. Some areas could bring a drought to some lands and flooding to others. Hurricane and tornadoes are typically common. However, some only see this as natural disasters. According to Singer and Avery, “These may be called natural disasters, but evidence is growing that humans are influencing them by adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere” (Singer and Avery 48). Changing weather patterns such as El Nino are also said to be heavily affected by global warming.
El Nino is a weather pattern that relieves the excessive heat that is seen in the Pacific Ocean. It is a pattern that has been known to change wind patterns and bring about heavy storms or droughts around the world. But global warming has had some positive effects, for example, heating and snow clearing costs have been reduced tremendously as a result of milder winters. Global warming could end grape production of wine in areas such as California’s Napa Valley. Consquently as the climate warms, animals have to learn to adjust to changing conditions more quickly. This is one reason why global warming could destroy wildlife in certain areas. El Nino in 1997-1998 was the cause of unusually warm water within the western coast of North America. These could leave animals such as seals and seabirds to die. But there are those species that are able to endure when the weather is warm.
Mosquitoes and parasites are able to live in such conditions. However, they can bring deadly infections with them as well. Malaria, fever, yellow fever are all diseases that can be transmitted by mosquitoes. This is a danger to the not only humans, but plants and animals as well. But there is no way to protect certain habitats from global warming. This is one main reason why global warming can demonstrate health risks as well. An outbreak of diseases can also be the effects of torrential rains and floods. However, many of these diseases that have led to the deaths of many people have occurred mainly in developing nations. Countries that are wealthy rarely see such diseases as that have effective public health programs. For example, the United States had only a few cases of yellow fever, while Mexico had hundreds. But if the developing countries had help that would help them defend themselves against the disease, then it reduces the chances of these underdeveloped countries obtaining these epidemics. Unfortunately, there are so many other obstacles as well in regards global warming.
It was in 1896 when a Swedish chemist came to the conclusion that adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere would cause global warming. Over 2,000 climate scientists within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change agreed with the scientist’s hypothesis. If the carbon dioxide levels expand to over 600 parts per million by 2050, it could raise the temperature on Earth to as much as 6 degrees Fahrenheit. This gave more reasons for climate scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to believe that humans significantly influenced global climate (Bradley 2). This became and remains a major concern for the public. Steps need to be taken in order to reduce greenhouse gases.
Although the scientists were able to provide many ideas for reducing these gases, many just believed it was important for them to focus on less use of fossil fuels. This is one of the main sources of carbon dioxide that humans produce. Fossil fuels are used by humans for a number of activities, whether it is for transportation, producing food, or even for heating and cooling. Fossil fuels are also used for lighting homes. Humans would consider fossil fuels as an important commodity. However, there are times when fossil fuels are wastefully used. There has been a significant wasteful use of coal, petroleum, and even natural gases. Scientists believe this is one way to cut back on the use of fossil fuels and instead invest in using alternative sources of energy. However, there is always opposition.
Industries such as that of coal and oil would feel threatened. Oil-exporting nations and the automobile would be unlikely to want the change. This is why industries such as these have not tried to blame global warming as the problem of for the climate change. Millions of dollars have been used to persuade the public that global warming is not a reality. There efforts to influence others have been effective as even international efforts to help reduce greenhouse gases are decreasing. Some major oil companies supported the Global Climate Coalition. But oil companies such as Shell Oil prepared to transition to new renewable forms of energy. Global warming is negatively affecting businesses. Just the unstable climate has hurt the insurance industry.
Insurers over the years have paid about 20 billion for weather-related losses. During the 1990’s, insurance companies paid over 60 billion from claims that were received after tornadoes, hurricanes, and other weather disasters. The insurance industry supports reducing greenhouse gasses.
Scientists have discovered other ways to reduce human’s annual emissions of carbon dioxide by simply cutting down trees. But forest clearing needs to be slowed and a reforestation plan needs to be put in place. Plants store carbon dioxide, but trees who are large in size and have longer lives also store carbon. Not only do they store carbon, they have a cooling effect that helps to reduce the need for electricity that is usually formed by burning fossil fuels. This is why tree planting is essential to help reduced emission of greenhouse gases. By protecting trees and replanting forests, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere becomes an easier task. But trees cannot effectively store excess carbon alone. Overall global warming could become a global disaster if nothing is done about it.
It is important for actions to be taken to reduce greenhouse gases as people will benefit more from saving money by using fuels more efficiently. It will also lead to less pollutions. If forests are reforested, it can help to reduce erosion. It could also help to conserve water as well. There are many devices that can help to replace fossil fuels. Regardless, something needs to be done and doing nothing should never be an option. Industrialized nations should take the first step as they are reported to produce the most greenhouse gases. But other countries such as China and other developing nations need to be convinced to do away with fossil fuels. But they see it is the key to industrialization. In the end, it all about reducing greenhouse gases and still meet the needs of food and energy for people. The global warming challenge will require the help of everyone, both rich and poor as they all have stake in this matter.
Works Cited
Bradley, Raymond S. Global Warming and Political Intimidation: How Politicians Cracked Down on Scientists as the Earth Heated Up. U of Massachusetts, n.d. Web. 01 August 2016.
Houghton, John. Global Warming: The Complete Briefing. Illinois: Lion Publishing, 1994. Print.
Pringle, Laurence. Global Warming: The Threat of Earth’s Changing Climate. New York: SeaStar Books, 2001. Print.
Singer, S. Fred and Dennis T. Avery. Unstoppable Global Warming. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2007. Print.
