Increasing sea levels, irregular temperatures, melting glaciers, extinction of species, and warmer oceans are only a few signs that worldwide climate is changing. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explain that "climate is the 'average weather' over a period ranging from months to thousands or millions of years." NOAA goes on to define Abrupt Climate Change as "a change in the climate (for example, in temperature or precipitation) that takes place over a few decades or less, persists for at least a few decades, and causes substantial disruptions in human and natural systems" (NOAA 1). Excess greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere are leading to rapid climate change in the form of global warming and are irreparably harming plants, animals, and people. Some consequences of global warming - such as severe heat waves and stronger hurricanes - can be life-threatening. The 20th century's last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and the warmest for numerous millennia, according to a number of climate experts who say the worst effects of global warming are still to come. For example, the IPCC report forecast that within the next 50 to 100 years, there will be widespread deaths from heat stress, severe water shortages, and devastation from weather catastrophes (Issues and Controversies). This research paper will observe the human activities that cause and accelerate global climate shifts; the consequences of these shifts for life on Earth; and solutions for dealing with and avoiding such changes in the future, focusing largely on the United States. The human causes of global climate change have become well-established over the past decade (NOAA 1). Data shows that human activities have intensely contam... ... middle of paper ... ... carbon dioxide emissions for at least the next 200 years. An enormous part of the debate about the possible solutions to climate change revolves around the misapprehension that economic progress cannot occur without carbon emissions. To the contrary, we have an opportunity – to transform an economy running on unsustainable and poorly dispersed fossil fuels into a long-lasting and secure system powered by abundant renewable energy. As with other serious problems, the solutions to human-forced climate change require collaboration, flexibility, and creativity. The choices we make daily will determine the future of our planet and societies for centuries (Sawin). Education, eco-friendly legislation, and the thoughtful actions of individuals can end the most debated environmental issue in the world today and start us on the path to a sustainable and abundant future.
Climate change is on the international policy agenda primarily because of warnings from scientists. Their forecasts of a potentially dangerous increase in the average global temperature, fortuitously assisted by unusual weather events, have prompted governments to enter into perhaps the most complicated and most significant set of negotiations ever attempted. Key questions - the rapidity of global climate change, its effects on the natural systems on which humans depend, and the options available to lessen or adapt to such change - have energized the scientific and related communities in analyses that are deeply dependent on scientific evidence and research.
Global warming is an issue we are all pretty familiar with. It is the climate change that we, humans, are responsible for. The warming of the earth’s atmosphere is caused by the fossil fuels we burn, clearing of forests, and the carbon dioxide and other harmful gases we release into the air (Cunningham, Cunningham, 2009). There are other harmful toxins we use such as pesticides that are supporting global warming. Some effects of global warming include: increase in weather catastrophes, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and the impact on species could lead to extinction (Cunningham, Cunningham, 2009). “Many scientists regard anthropogenic global climate change to be the most i...
In recent decades, the contentious issues surrounding climate change and the corresponding effects it likely exerts upon contemporary civilization has developed to become one of the most pressing areas of concern afflicting humanity (Armstrong, 1). Currently, climate change has started to demonstrate its potentially calamitous consequences upon human subsistence practices, and has even begun to alter the very environments that entire societies reside in, theoretically endangering them in both instances (Armstrong, 1). Though the hindrances inherent in climate change are potentially devastating to the preservation of modern society, the problem of climate change itself is not one that is exclusive to the contemporary era. Rather, the harmful
Global warming is a problem that is often overlooked by many and is hindered among other problems that require immediate actions. Over the last 136 years the temperature in earth has increased 1.7°¬¬¬F. Although an increase of 1.7°¬¬¬F over 136 years may not seem like a lot but humans are destroying the earth at a faster rate than ever before. Human omissions are roughly equal to 4 Hiroshima atomic bombs exploding across the planet every second leaving future generations of human in jeopardy. With warmer climate comes with catastrophic outcomes like drought, which can destabilize the food sources on earth leaving millions of people hungry. Widespread extinction of most species on earth and the melting of polar ice caps can raise the sea level leaving most of the world’s coastal cities under water. This cannot happen overnight but if humans keep omitting at the current rate the outcome of climate change will become prominent
The causes of climate change are also known to them that though it is not only the human action playing role but it is the main cause of climate change. The effects of climate change does include harm and loss of environment and organisms but it also has impact on the human health. Semenza (2014) displays an assessment report which states that throughout the 21st century, the rapidly occurring climate change will lead to increase in number of humans with ill health in many regions mainly in those of developing countries where citizens face low income. Semenza (2014) also mentions how there are physiological limits to intense heat exposure and the global climate change will turn some parts of the world which are currently highly populated into uninhabitable even if the global temperature rises by 7 degrees Celsius. Johnson (2014) states how El-Niño-related hydroclimate variability will lead to being intensified under global warming mainly in areas as southern Asia which are already stressed by different droughts, floods, and crop yields. Dettinger, Udall, and Georgakakos (2015) mentions how climate change puts risk and threat on water resources in the western United States to an extent that no other part of the country matches it. Dettinger, Udall, and Georgakakos (2015) also states how recent research and studies strictly point a limited number
Scientists and environmentalists started talking about global warming and the dangers of climate change long time ago but it is now when the consequences of these effects began to manifest themselves in a clearer and even worrisome manner. The temperatures on Earth are rising, the sea level is rising, the amounts of CO2 and ozone in the atmosphere are increasing, the amount and timing of precipitation is changing. All of these issues show tendency to worsen in the future, though it is hard to predict exactly by how much or at what rate they will unfold. One thing is clear – climate change has an impact on almost every area of our life and it deserves our attention and timely response.
Leading to our planets slow demise, global climate change is an important issue that has sparked fascinating research on its causes, as well as its future effects. There has been significant change in weather patterns and climate over the past century. Sea levels are rising, ice caps are shrinking, and extreme unexpected disasters are occurring all over the world at an alarming rate. This means devastating outcomes for the future of planet earth, along with all of earth’s inhabitants. Earth is home to billions of people, as well as countless species. The despondent truth is that humanity is to blame for global climate change.
The looming dangers of climate change have garnered considerable attention from the scientific community in recent years. Researchers from extremely diverse backgrounds have begun to look at the causes and potential effects of climate change from biological, economic, and countless other perspectives. The climate change debate has shifted considerably in recent years, as well. While disagreement about the existence of climate change was much more common several decades ago, most established contemporary scientists agree on its existence today (“Fifth Assessment Report Technical Summary”, 2014). Furthermore, the notion that climate change is nonexistent is widely considered an outright denial of reality, as the current dialogue in the science world dwells on the severity of the consequences. The scientific community has also reached a consensus that present human activity is unsustainable, though the timeframe of the most dire, irreversible effects varies.
...made. Climate change poses a huge for the fulfillment of the future generations. It is on us, our generation to make decisions regarding emissions of greenhouse gases that will not pose a significant risk of serious adverse consequences to the future generation. At a global and national level, climate change responses must focus on long-term sustainable solutions to ensure the well-being and needs of future generations are met. This will mean minimizing the impact of greenhouse gas emission for the future generations. The faster we can control climate change, the less consequences the future generations will have to endure. The future generations should also be given a world that is health, a world that offers a sustainable future and a world that we, ourselves would want to live in. It is for the future generations that we much meet the challenge of climate change.
The Earth is currently locked in perpetuating spiral of climate change. While the global climate has unarguably been changing since the dawn of it's manifestation, the once steadied ebb and flow of climate change has become increasingly more unpredictable.The risk of rising sea levels, and drought plaguing the fresh water supply, during the time that flooding and sporadic storm conditions turn once fully inhabited regions into uninhabitable death traps. Climate change catalyzed by human's increased production of carbon dioxide, is more noticeable than ever in our recorded history (United States, 2014 National Climate Assessment). Thankfully however, with the changing weather conditions due to carbon related emissions, the change in public opinion about their personalized influence on climate change is also increasing. Kevin Liptak Jethro Mullen, and Tom Cohen note that In reaction to the most recent governmental report on climate change, even the U.S. government believes that a stronger approach needs to be taken to correct our self-generated cataclysm.
In 1927, for the first time in history, the world’s population reached two billion people. In 2011, less than one hundred years later, it passed seven billion (Worldometers). Some may think that this is a positive increase, creating economic growth and significant innovations in fields such as agriculture, industry and medicine. However, the amount of difficulties our species will encounter over the next century because of this population increase, will greatly outweigh those few optimistic beliefs. For example, twelve to fifteen million hectares of forest are lost every year, the equivalent of thirty six football fields per minute (World Wildlife Fund). In 2011, there were an estimated nine and a half billion metric tonnes of carbon emissions put into our atmosphere (CO₂ Now). The list could go on and on, but ultimately, these are all just contributors to what might be humanity’s most challenging problem yet: climate change.
The earth has experienced climate change for the entirety of its existence. For billions of years, this change has occurred at a relatively slow pace, with exceptions being caused by events such as large scale volcanic eruptions. Now, humans are the cause for high rates of climate change and damage to the environment. This is beginning to have damaging effects on not only us, but the world around us, and we are only just started to take action. Efforts to reduce climate change would be more realized if not for the resistance of many due to misconceptions, money, and a reluctance to change. Short- and long-term solutions are being developed by the brightest minds, but they will not work without
Climate change is an inevitable phenomenon that is being experienced globally in various forms such as temperature rise. Sea level rise, droughts, floods, hurricanes, landslides, etc. According to the forth assessment report of the IPCC project even with immediate implementation of mitigation strategies global climate change will continue for decades. Climate change is inflicting serious consequences on human wellbeing and will continue to inflict damages in the future. It is estimated that mean global temperature will rise by 1.8 ºC - 4.0 ºC by end of the 21st century (Izaurraade, 2009). A new global climate model predicts that in the coming decade the surface air temperature is likely to exceed existing records (Smith et al., 2007). Growing season temperatures in the tropics and subtropics by end of the 21st century will exceed the most extreme temperature recorded in the history (Battistic and Rosamond, 2009).
The earth is a complex system, which continues to evolve and change. Climate change and global warming are currently popular in the political agenda. But what does “climate” really mean? The difference between weather and climate can be conveyed in a single sentence: “Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get.” Based on research of the geologic record, we know that climate change has happened throughout Earth's history and at present, ever-increasing evidence points to the roles that humans play in altering Earth systems. The Earth and its atmosphere receive heat energy from the sun; the atmospheric heat budget of the Earth depends on the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing radiation from the planet; which has been constant over the last few thousand years. However present evidence seems to suggest that the recent increase in temperature has been brought about by pollution of the atmosphere, in particular the release of huge amounts of carbon dioxide, mostly through Anthropogenic Forcing (human activity) and other various internal and external factors. I...
One of the most substantial problems in the world today is global warming. This gradual warming of the earth is in occurrence at an extremely slow rate but it is happening. Many scientists believe that as human’s work and release greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere, it can become dangerous for the long lasting life of humans and our environment. “Unless we take immediate action, the impacts of global warming will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect the entire planet - including you, your community, and your family” (“Global Warming Impacts”). Everyone should be knowledgeable about global warming and the dangers that it brings to our planet. This essay will examine