Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Ethics of the Individual
“The most important thing about global warming is this. Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it's all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it.” –Mike Huckabee, politician
Do individual greenhouse gas emissions cause harm? In short, yes. Though this harm may not exactly be measureable on the individual level, it is harm. In similar, though we do not know how many licks it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop, we do know that if we continue licking we will reach the center. Individual greenhouse gas emissions are added collectively to everyone’s individual
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Most people carry out multiple everyday actions that release greenhouse gas emissions, such as driving a car or even buying a product that leads to emissions. This release of greenhouse gas emissions that individuals are contributing to leads to global warming. The rise in temperature derived from global warming can cause floods, droughts, and many other adverse weather conditions. Global warming causes many people harm, and will continue to cause harm long after the individual has emitted any greenhouse gases. Therefore, individually people contribute to harming both current and future generations by their emissions of greenhouse …show more content…
No direct harm is done by this man taking joy rides, and if he were to refrain from doing so no individual would benefit. Armstrong believes that if the act is neither unusual nor does it directly cause harm to any one person, then the individual does not have a moral obligation to no longer do the action. He ends by saying that though an individual does not have a moral obligation to lower their greenhouse gas emissions, they still shouldn’t contribute to the problem. Using the example of the joy riding man again, he said that this joy ride is a waste of gas, so morally it is better of the man not to take the joy ride. Armstrong realizes that global warming is such a big problem that he says it cannot be expected of individuals to be able to fix the problem. He says that it is not the individual’s moral obligation to fix the problem, but instead the governments. Being that they have to ability to implement laws and regulations that will make more of a change than trying to fix the problem on an individual
He gives an example of helping push a car over a cliff with a passenger locked inside. It takes five people to push that car off a cliff and five people are already pushing. If we join, we cause harm to that passenger locked inside, even though our act is not necessary nor sufficient for that harm because we intended that harm and our act is unusual (Sinnott-Armstrong 335). Hence, we should not see the act of driving on a beautiful Sunday afternoon as a cause of global warming or its harms, since the harm is not intended and driving is not unusual. The harms of global warming result from the massive quantities of GHGs in the atmosphere. GHGs are perfectly fine in small quantities, however the problem only emerges when there is too much of it. The individual act of a Sunday pleasure drive by itself does not cause the massive quantities that are harmful (Sinnott-Armstrong 335). However, we might believe that a Sunday pleasure drive raises global temperatures by an extremely small amount. Regardless, the exhaust on that Sunday does not cause any climate change, therefore we have no moral responsibility to change our emissions-behaviour, since it is these climate changes that cause harms to people. Global warming by
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...
Kenneth Hare reviews the scientific evidence on the greenhouse effect and explained that warming on global and increased greenhouse gases is the main issue that impact climate change. Human activity is the one who causes the greenhouse effect. The natural greenhouse effect is benefit to our world and become probable to making life on earth, but the temperature is very high nowadays that harm human, plant, and animal life. For example, the natural resource such as petrol for vehicles and electricity for our necessary needs will produce more than billions of carbon to the atmosphere every year that cause climate change every day in our earth.
In the article “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math”, written by Bill Mckibben, he firstly opens up by saying that back in 2012, according to the statistics, we surpassed the global record high for climate temperature in our nation, destroying other previous records. Despite the research and the displaying of data, nobody is doing anything to adress the following issue. Mckibben outlines three distinctive numbers that outline the following issue., 2 degrees celsius, 565 gigations, and 2795 gigtons, which he uses to validitate and support his argument. Firstly, the ongoing problem of climate change in society is fundamentally a matter of individual moral responsibility that is inspired by the insight individuals are intentionally harming the environment. Secondly there is yet to be an effective collective state response to the issue of global warming, despite approaching two full decades of ongoing and reoccuring negotiations and the very near universal participation by states in the UNFCCC. Thirdly, because this issue has been put on hold for longer than it was innitially expected, greenhouse gases are being emitted into our atmosphere, polluting our environment. The South-North issue and an ongoing debate comes into effect as all the greenhouse gases that are created and used in the Northern hemisphere are being emmited into the southern hemisphere. Hence, my thesis is; despite the fact that global warming and climate change has been an ongoing problem globally for years, humanity has failed to resolve thiis issue as it quickly begins to escalate.
Before a person can tackle handling the concept of global warming, they first must analyze the true definition of what it is. Climate change periodic modification of Earth’s climate brought about as a result of changes in the atmosphere as well as interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors within the Earth 's system. (britannica) Since all 196 countries in the world have to share the oxygen and carbon dioxide, we all should take a part in the responsibility of taking care of earth. On November 6, 2012 President Obama said that we want our children to live in a world without the destructive power of a warming planet. The biggest challenge we face is not only saving a warming
Fossil fuel emissions are the major cause in climate change and human beings are the ones using theses as their energy sources. The carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere cause changes in nature and the, “Violations of the natural conditions of life turn into global social, economic, and medical threats to people-with completely new sorts of challenges to the social and political institutions of highly industrialized global society” (Beck, 80). People need to throw away their anthropocentric views and realize that the issue is not only the environment being affected by global warming, but that their lives are being disturbed by this phenomenon also. Many people tend to try and not harm themselves, instead they aim to stay healthy so they can live long prosperous lives. German sociologist Urlich Beck’s idea that “nature is society and society is also ‘nature’” (Beck, 81) suggests that the argument on climate change is more personal than anything. It is something that should be discussed in the private sphere by individuals reflecting on their own lives and choices. Humans should not look at recycling, as an example, a way to reuse the resources the earth gives them to help it sustain, but instead as a way to ensure that there will always be resources for themselves and their descendants to survive. The carbon emissions
For the first time in planet earth’s history, one of its inhabitants has acquired the power to change the global climate. By releasing the huge amounts of carbon stored in fossil fuels over millions of years, mankind has disrupted the natural carbon cycle. We have intensified the natural greenhouse effect and turned it into a planetary menace that is melting our ice caps. In his award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore (2006) states, “human activities, if unchecked in the next decade, could destroy one of the earth’s principle mechanisms for cooling itself” (p.291). The world needs to address the potentially disastrous consequences of our earth’s rapidly changing climate by acknowledging the existence of global warming and understanding its impact on the present and future generations.
The term 'globalization' has been subjected to a variety of interpretations. Though at its simplest it can be seen as how the world has become integrated economically, politcally, socially and culturally through the advances of technology, communication and transport John Baylis et al. (2011).
Global warming is an increasing threat to the Earth and future generations. Global warming, sometimes called climate change, is the name given to the process of heat getting trapped in the atmosphere and damaging the environment. Greenhouse gases cause heat to gets stuck in the atmosphere by trapping the sun’s rays. When the sun’s rays enter the Earth, they should bounce back into the atmosphere. Instead the gases trap them, causing the temperature to rise. In the past the temperature of the Earth has risen slowly and evenly but recently the temperature has risen faster. The temperature of the Earth has risen at least one degree Fahrenheit during the twentieth century. If global warming is not controlled there are serious consequences. People, animals, and plants could be living in an atmosphere that is not suitable for sustaining healthy lives.
Scranton states that “Anthropocene poses … a challenge … to our sense of what it means to be human” (Scranton). While Mike Osborne and Mike Traer explain why humans should limit the amount of damage done on the earth, in order to lessen the effect of global warming. Both articles argue that human beings should take responsibility for the damage on earth and try as much as possible to continue to understand the Anthropocene.
Other ethical questions such as “How should we- all living today evaluate the well-being of the future generations” (Brome). Scientific data shows that Global climate change will have some lasting effects on the planet, ecosystems and humans. There are many “risks associated with climate change such as the risk of pathogen, and disease” this will affect future generations, and animals this is why we should reduce our emissions of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere (Crank and Jacoby). “The consequences of heightening greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere appear after a time lag, often decades or more” (Somerville). Even though the current generations are “benefiting from cheap use of burning fossil fuels, and using the atmosphere as a free dump for our waste products” all humans are obligated to find a cleaner way to live so we don’t set future humans up for failure (Somerville). Somerville also explains that within us burning these fossil fuels, and ignoring the consequences “we sentence our children and grandchildren to cope with the resulting climate change” (Somerville). Also we need to take action to prevent further damage of Earth’s climate not only for the future children of the world but other species that we share the planet with. In the article “The Ethics of Climate Change” by John Broome he states that the answer to this ethical question can be easy one without the need of a sophisticated philosopher (Broome). He say that the answer to ethical climate change questions can be answered by simple common sense thinking (Broome). “You should not do something for your own benefit that will harm another’s” (Broome). He asks the question which is worse the death of a child in 2108 or the death of a child currently living?” (Broome). John Broome argues that we have a responsibility to
In talking about global warming, we need to learn what causes the greenhouse effect. Rays from the sun are taken up and absorbed by water vapor that is natural in the atmosphere. The United States emits the largest man made greenhouse gases in the world. As Americans we must realize the responsibility to reduce the emissions. (Gore, Albert) Water Vapor is eighty percent of greenhouse warming. The last twenty percent results from other gases that are in very little amounts. A huge absorber of the sun’s heat rays is carbon dioxide. Us as humans release a lot of carbon dioxide. When fossil fuels are burned, they release big amounts of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is on the increase in our atmosphere due to car emissions. Approximately eighty percent of CO2 increases because of man’s use of fossil fuels. When there is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere the more sun rays are absorbed. In result to this happening this will cause the earth and the earths atmosphere to warm. When the earth is warming, water temperatures will start to get warmer. Oceans and lakes will get warmer in result f...
Although much of the greenhouse gasses have been released by first-world countries, it is the poor third-world countries that are currently the most susceptible to these effects but in the long-term everyone will be will suffer the consequences of climate change. More and more people have now come to admit that climate change is real, but real action to stop it is yet to be taken. McFague insists that "climate change should not necessarily be an apocalyptic event that will destroy human life". To address this problem, certain elements need to be present to change people 's relationship with the earth and motivate humanity to achieve such dramatic
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
... of extreme weather and melting ice caps are indicators of global warming. Because these things will affect society, there are important decisions that have to be made in the present as well as in the future to secure people’s lives and lifestyles. The world community is aware of this serious issue and do already prepare for projects to slow down global warming, but they still have to improve. If the world leaders stop worrying about this issue, the future generations could be in danger. The future lifestyles will be affected by the decisions made in the present day. Society has much to improve to save energy and to lower greenhouse gas emissions. There are also small things people can do to help. Individuals can live a life without wasting energy or polluting the environment. Without effort, global warming endangers the quality of life for the future generations.