Category: Climate Change

Though the phenomena of ozone depletion and global warming are entirely different processes, they are often confused for each other due to the obvious connection between them. Indeed, ozone depletion can be viewed as the direct consequence of global warming; therefore, there is no wonder that the cause and the effect get mixed up. However, there are a few ways to differentiate between the two.

First and most obvious, the definitions of the two processes differ considerably. While each is referred to as a process (Lutgens and Tarbuck 410), their causes are entirely different. Based on the definition provided by Lutgens and Tarbuck, ozone depletion is the reduction of the amount of ozone in the mesosphere; global warming, its turn, is the process of preventing infrared light from escaping into space and, therefore, resulting in a significant increase in temperature (Lutgens and Tarbuck 425).

Next, the effects of global warming and ozone depletion are quite different, though at certain points they admittedly cross. To be more exact, ozone depletion triggers a rise in the radiation rates. Therefore, ozone depletion causes only a part of the effects that the global warming process is responsible for. In contrast to the ozone depletion process, which causes a steep rise in the average temperature rates and an increase in the health issues, including skin cancer, sunburns of different severity rates, etc., global warming triggers ozone depletion, ice caps melting and a change in the habitat, thus, leading to the extinction of various species (Chang, Feng, Gao and Gao 360).

However, by far the greatest difference between the two phenomena concerns their function, as well as their nature. According to what Lutgens and Tarbuck say, the key factor determining the phenomenon of global warming is the presence of a large amount of greenhouse cases, particularly, carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere of the Earth (Lutgens and Tarbuck 422).

The concept of ozone depletion, in its turn, belongs to an entirely different set off phenomena and, thus, performs a different function in the process of climate and habitat change, as well as the emergence of new health concerns. As it has been stressed above, the process of ozone layer depletion starts with the introduction of chlorine compounds (Chlorofluorocarbon, Freon, etc.) into the atmosphere and its following destruction (Lutgens and Tarbuck 425).

In addition, the effects of industries and the pollutants produced by people on the development of ozone depletion and the global warming process should be mentioned. It is quite remarkable that the connection between manmade pollutants and the process of ozone depletion is obvious. A range of aerosol propellants, as well as other sources of CFC and HCFC in the atmosphere, contribute to the development of ozone depletion and the progression of the phenomenon. The effects of civilization on the global warming process are much more diverse and less obvious; traditionally, it is assumed that global warming is caused by deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions (Lutgens and Tarbuck 431).

Therefore, as it has been stressed above, ozone depletion cannot be considered the same process as that one of global warming, since the latter is the cause of the former. Hence, the two represent a hierarchy and, logically, cannot be viewed as the exact same phenomenon. Nevertheless, one must keep in mind that both issues pose a tangible threat to the Earth and its the species inhabiting it, including people.

Works Cited

Chang, Ni-Bin, Rui Feng, Zhiqiang Gao and Wei Gao. Skin Cancer Incidence Is Highly Associated with Ultraviolet-B Radiation History. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 213.5 (2010), 359368.

Lutgens, Frederick K. and Edward J.Tarbuck Moisture, Clouds and Precipitation. Foundations of Earth Science. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2014. 409445. Print.

Introduction

Global warming is experienced when the earths surface heats up and this causes the average temperature of the earth to rise, the temperature of the atmosphere and the oceans also rise. The sea level also rises with the increase in temperature of the globe and this affects the weather patterns and can cause unusual weather events such as drought, heavy rainfall events, etc. Man is responsible for globalization and in return globalization causes very severe harm to humans, plants, and also animals. Dr. Trisha Macnair states, Car emissions contain various substances that are toxic that have caused a severe effect on human health such as bronchitis, asthma, blood pressure, heart attack and such kinds of diseases that are lacking effective treatments in the world today.

How are car emissions affecting global warming?

This paper examines the concept of global warming with a focal point on the emissions of gases by cars and other automobiles. Cars burn fossil fuel and emit CO2. In America for example smaller cars and pickups count for half of the greenhouse gases emitted in the globe. In the United States, cars use fuel that has a higher content of carbon and they also face lower fuel economy standards than those in other countries. Numerous studies have also linked carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline to global warming.

Reducing car emissions, which include new cars, new communities, and new fuels. There are several terms associated with global warming like air pollution costs, tailpipe emissions, and lifecycle emissions. Air pollution cost implies to the automobile atmospheric noxious wastes injuries such as human health, ecological, and esthetic degradation. Tailpipe emissions are chemicals emitted directly from vehicle exhaust pipes and lifecycle emissions include both tailpipe emissions and indirect emissions during the process of fuel extraction and in the refineries, as well as vehicle production facilities, and building of facilities for the logistical purpose.

Mobile emissions are believed to be more difficult to control than other emission sources like power generation plants and industries, because there are many of them, and can cause more harm or destruction costs because cars are used closely by the people. Hence, health effects are likely to be felt by climate change. Motor vehicles emit a range of dangerous discharges in the air. Car emissions pollute the air by producing dangerous gases which include: sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, formaldehyde, polycyclic hydrocarbons, lead, and tiny suspended particles, which are very harmful to human health (Macnair). Some of the effects of these pollutants are felt locally, therefore, when these gases are released into the atmosphere, it affects the locals, as well as the people populating neighboring regions. According to a report by Environmental Defense, U.S. automobile industry and light vehicles are responsible for almost half of all the greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles worldwide (Wilson). Surprisingly, small cars emit more carbon dioxide compared with other types of vehicles such as buses and trucks in the US according to the Environmental Defense report, in 2004; small cars emitted the highest percentage of carbon dioxide. The amount is larger because more small cars are on the road which has lower fuel standards. The study concludes that the big three manufacturers, General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler, Toyota ranked the fourth produce the most emissions (Wilson). Its hard to believe but its true that nearly-one third of the emissions come from vehicles made by the GM (Wilson).

Respiratory disease is known to be aggravated by car fumes (Macnair). A Dutch study conducted on children aged seven to eleven years concluded that as the air pollution increased so did the respiratory disorders. Lung disorders increased in older Dutch residents due to the exposure to exhaust emissions. Air pollutants like benzene, nitrogen dioxide, and small particles affect the immune systems and can cause changes ranging from overactive immune response to immune suppression (Macnair). Despite the widely publicized impacts of gas emissions on the climate, some institutions still believe that the available facts are not conclusive. For example, the center for the study of carbon dioxide and Global changes argues that there is a weak short-term correlation between carbon dioxide and temperatures which proves nothing about the cause of global warming. They speak mostly for factories that reap from the increased production of CO2. The group also believes that Carbon Dioxide is useful as a powerful aerial fertilizer this directly enhances the growth of almost all terrestrial plants and many aquatic plants). The biosphere is also boomed by the elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 and since CO2 enhances plant growth, increases plant water use efficiency, and greater food production for both people and animal (www.co2science.org).

The singer also visualizes carbon dioxide as a benefit that helps in the growth of agricultural crops and other plants. S. Fred Singer a professor at Virginia States University and president of science and Environmental Project Policy states that America should not reduce its use of Fossil Fuels. He argues that Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty to reduce carbon emissions, would be economically costly to the United States. The treaty would not significantly impact the global temperature because it would reduce the calculated temperature rise by 0.05 degree Celsius at the most, which can hardly be measured (Singer). Although Americans believe that the air is deteriorating, Balaker and stately believe that the air is getting much cleaner. Air quality has been getting better over time because of the more stringent regulations and better technology as a result of driving more and getting cleaner air (Balaker & Stately). The study has shown that since 1970 the total vehicle miles have increased up to 155 percent, yet the EPA reports a dramatic decrease in every major pollutant it measures (Balaker and Stately). However, he claims that mild global warming would be good for the economy as plants tend to thrive better in warmer weather conditions, and also animals also have a higher like hood of surviving in warmer conditions than in cold environments.

It would be important we look at the measures to reduce global warming caused by these cars emissions. First, there needs to be a reduction in driving, there needs to be less driving which means fewer emissions. Walking and bicycle riding are ways of exercising. Individuals identification and knowing their community mass transit systems, and selecting alternatives such as carpooling to work. Citizens need to ensure that the tires are well inflated to ensure the car is operating on optimal. Cars users also need to purchase energy-efficient cars and car products. This means inculcating the behavior of buying cars and home appliances that use energy effectively is very important. Awareness creation must be made to ensure citizens shun away from materials that have been packaged using excess materials and avoid the use of plastics that cannot be recycled.

Lately, hybrid cars have been gaining popularity. Hybrid car is not only fuel-efficient but its emissions are much lower than conventional cars (Haber). Hybrid cars when stopped automatically uses electrical power and once the car begins to accelerate, it reverts to using the fuel engine (Haber). Hybrid emissions can be reduced from 25% to 90% compared to conventional cars (Haber). Hybrid cars are introduced with a green-designed which has many other features other than fuel efficiency which include improved aerodynamic, lower body weight, and smaller, lighter, and less powerful gas engines (Haber). Hybrid cars are specially designed for city traffic in order to reduce gas emissions which affect global warming. What a great way to help save the environment and improve our overall quality of life (Haber).

In conclusion, to minimize some of the lasting impacts of global warming due to car emissions, countries, societies, and citizens should work together. It is definite that car emissions are hazardous to the health of both man, animals, and plants, however, there is a solution to this problem. Singer states that the Kyoto Protocol would be economically costly for the United States and would not significantly reduce global warming.But still, the overall impact on human health is very terrifying as the studies have shown. Taming global warming or greenhouse gases on the road is a collective responsibility. Each and every citizen all over the globe can aid to lessen the need for fossil fuels, eventually curbing global warming, by using alternative sources of energy that are less hazardous to the environment.

Works Cited

Macnair, Trisha. BBC. Health: Exhaust emissions. 2011. Web.

Wilson, Janet. CommonDreams.org. U.S. cars Emits Half of Car-Caused Greenhouse Gas, study Shows. 2006. Web.

Haber, Alexandria. A Guide to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisioning. The Facts about Hybrid Car Emissions and Global Warming. 2011. Web.

Global Warming Prevention Article: Tips and Solutions. 2011. Web.

Singer, Fred S. America Should Not Reduce Its Use of Fossil Fuels. 2004. Web.

Idso, C. D. and Idso, K. E. Carbon Dioxide and Global Warming. n.d. Web. 2011.

Balaker, Ted and Staley, Sam. Washington Post. The Harms of Car Culture Are Myths. 2007. Web.

Introduction and explanation of the problem

Global warming is the rise in the usual temperature on earth in the near-surface of air. This global warming is believed to have been caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Cline (p.87) argues that greenhouse gases have been believed to have been responsible for the mid-twentieth century temperature increase. The other natural causes like solar variation and volcanoes have also contributed to global warming. This was concluded by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes. Most studies have shown that global warming will still rise during the twenty-first century. This is due to the un-estimated greenhouse gas emissions.

The outcomes of greenhouse were exposed within 1824 through Joseph Fourier in addition to being examined by Svante Arrhenius during 1896. Greenhouse gases entailed the incorporation, as well as discharge of infrared waves via atmospheric gases, moreover warmed the planet near to the ground atmosphere plus surface. The greenhouse gases are comprised of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide as well as ozone. Even human activities are also believed to have contributed to global warming. Most human activities have caused temperatures to rise hence causing global warming. Industrial human activities increase the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which leads to rising radioactivity.

Fossil fuel burning is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases. Deforestation has also increased temperature. The combination of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases has caused the temperature on the earth to rise each day because their emission is also increased. The climate changes experienced in recent years have been due to global warming and increasing emissions by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Variation in solar output has been recommended to have caused climatic changes. Sun is also believed to have caused the increase in global temperature.

The likely solution to global warming

Global warming has been the most challenging problem facing a good number of countries today. It is now known to be a global environmental problem. All countries should work hard to ensure that the health and well-being of the economy are protected now and in the future. Low (p.30) affirms that people should be advised to apply the current technology and other possible solutions available to reduce the gases emitted. By doing so, heat-trapping gases will decrease hence reducing atmospheric temperatures.

Gases such as carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced for us to solve the global warming problem. People should stop reliance on fossil fuels and use other available energy that can be renewed. If people can avoid the use of fossils then the greenhouse gas emission will be reduced. This will lead to a positive effect because it will reduce the atmospheric temperature. People should also look for some other kind of energy that can substitute the use of fossil fuel and satisfy their energy needs.

Quick industrialization has increased the need and use of fossil fuels. Countries should look for other sources of energy such as wind energy, solar energy, Boi, nuclear so as to reduce the use of fossil fuel. This form of energy exists but it is only that most countries have been reluctant to implement their use. If this other energy is put into use, the emission of gases such as carbon and greenhouse gases will be reduced.

Since the emissions of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide cannot be eliminated absolutely, people should look for a possible solution that will be long-lasting and that this solution will help to improve the economy. The problem of gas emission should be handled with much concern because if these gases are not controlled they will keep on increasing (Simms, p.6).

Gas offsetting/mitigation

The United Nations in 1998 proposed a framework that was going to tackle the problem of global warming and environmental-climate changes. This framework is known as the Kyoto Protocol. It was aimed at reducing the causes of global warming.

The Kyoto Protocol is based on the principle that people must buy a right to pollute the environment. People are required to offset the gases that they emit to the environment. A company that produces carbon dioxide is required to invest in a green project of the same amount as the pollution caused. The same applies to all countries for the amount of carbon dioxide to be controlled. All countries are required to plant green plants equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the same country. The offset principle is believed to be the best solution for reducing climatic change and global warming. This is because it ensures that every carbon dioxide gas that is emitted has an offset and therefore it will be easy to control the level of carbon dioxide. When doing offsetting it does not necessarily require that the project be undertaken in the same country. The project can be undertaken in another country hence offsetting the carbon globally.

Offsetting also enables countries to undertake a project in a place where it is cheaper. This helps in the economic development of the countries because companies continue with their business activity as usual hence economic growth and expansion. Even if a company is emitting carbon dioxide it will be able to carry out its activities as it can invest in a project that will offset the gases. Offsetting projects include reforestation, solar energy, aforestation, wind energy, bio-fuel, and hydro-energy.

Even individuals are encouraged to carry out mitigating measures to reduce the worlds global warming. People are encouraged to plant more trees to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide. They are also advised to use alternative fuels apart from fossil.

However, there is no one way or technology that can mitigate global warming absolutely. Various measures should be implemented to reduce global warming.

Geoengineering

Geoengineering is another alternative for reducing global warming. It involves intentional alteration of the natural environment of the Earth on a big scale to fit human needs. Thomas (p.1221) emphasizes that greenhouse gas remediation can be done to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere it is usually done through gas confiscation techniques. They involve carbon dioxide air capturing. This process helps to the amount of radioactive forcing. Solar radiation management helps to increase global dimming thus reducing global warming.

Adaptation

It involves the planned measures that are aimed at curbing the exposure of natural and human systems against real or anticipated climate changes impact. It also involves the modification of systems to reduce the impact of climate change on these systems. Climate change results in various effects that can affect humans and even the natural environment. Various measures have been put into use for the adaptation of global warming. This includes air conditioning equipment, artificial snowmaking, and other infrastructural projects. This involves the desertion of settlement areas that are near the sea. People can also be involved in agricultural projects such as water conservation projects.

The adaption of the global seems to be inevitable because greenhouse gases are most likely to go up each day. Adaptation can help to reduce the undesirable effect of climate change if put into use. Though this measure usually involves a large amount of money and it requires the use of the current technology, infrastructures, access to resources, and education.

Regenerative organic farming

Regenerative organic farming helps to transform agriculture into the global solution to global warming. This is by encouraging farmer to change the method of farming that lead to global warming (Hastenrath, p.489). Farmers should be involved in crops that are environmentally friendly to help reduce global warming. This will also help to reduce food shortage and reducing the increasing amount of carbon dioxide.

Conclusion

Global warming is a worldwide problem. The atmospheric temperatures are on the increase day in day out. It affects almost all countries due to the use of fossils which results in greenhouse gases and the emission of carbon dioxide. Global warming if not controlled can lead to adverse effects. It thus requires that all countries work together to reduce the number of gases emitted into the atmosphere. People should be involved in tree planting which will help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

They should also reduce the use of fossils and look for other sources of energy such as wind energy, solar, biogas, and hydro-energy. Most of the global warming has been attributed to human activities. Most activities by humans are the ones that have contributed to global warming which involves the use of fossil fuel. If the amount of greenhouse gases is left to increase there will be a rise in the atmospheric temperatures hence increased adverse effects. But if the emissions are reduced and kept under control it will help reduce the risk of adverse effects of global warming. Simms (p.8) stresses that tree planting and agricultural activities will play a major role in mitigating the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and also reduce greenhouse gas imitations. Tree planting can also be achieved by using the offsetting principle. The principle will involve companies to plants trees. Fuel prices can be increased so as to discourage people from using fossil fuels and reduce the amount of fuel used.

References

Appel, Adrianne. Global Warming May Dry Up Africas Rivers, Study Suggests. National Geographic News 2006.

Cline, William R. Global warming and agriculture: impact estimates by country Washington D.C: Peterson Institute, 2007 pp. 84-98.

Croze, Harvey. Africa for Kids: Exploring a Vibrant Continent, 19 Activities. Chicago Review Press, 2006.

Hastenrath, Climate dynamics of the tropics. Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Dordrecht, 1991 pp 488 -496.

Low, Pak S. Climate Change and Africa. London: Cambridge University Press, 2005 pp 29-50.

Kerr, Richard A. Global Warming: How Urgent Is Climate Change? Science 318 no. 5854 (2007): pp 1230  1231.

Ojoo-Massawa, Emily. Understanding and Responding to Climate Change. Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Mineral resources. Web.

Simms, Andrew, et al. Africa: up in smoke? New Economics Foundation, International Institute for Environment and Development. London: Oxfam, 2005 pp 4-10.

Thomas, David S., Knight, Melanie and Wigg, Giles F. S. Remobilization of southern African desert dune systems by twenty-first century global warming. Nature 435 (2005): 1218-1221.

Introduction

These days, the topic of multiple ecological problems appears to be extremely relevant, and it is widely discussed among all the categories of the population. The fact that human activity has a negative impact on nature and its perseverance has become evident. Kimberly Amadeo attempts to address one of the ecological issues, namely global warming, and introduces the article Climate Change Facts and Effect on Economy (Amadeo, 2021). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the article, outline the authors primary idea and position, and present personal reflections in this regard.

Summary

The aforementioned article can be divided into several sections, which cover a different aspect of this issue. The first one implies the description of the reasons, which lead to climate changes. According to the author, the main cause is the greenhouse effect, which results in an increase in carbon dioxide levels and average temperature rate (Amadeo, 2021). The second part is devoted to the economic consequences of this ecological problem, which involve insurance price rise, GDP reduction, the stimulation of migration, and other factors (Amadeo, 2021). In addition, Kimberly Amadeo attempts to present sufficient solutions, which are highly likely to contribute to the improvement of the situation, and this topic is covered in the third section. The author demonstrates all the primary and most effective in the long run implementations in this regard.

Furthermore, the article contains seven helpful measures, which can prevent from climate change. The author advises planting numerous trees, becoming carbon neutral, predominantly adhering to a plant-based diet, and stimulating corporations to minimize the activity, associated with climate risks (Amadeo, 2021). In addition, the presented practical steps include fossil-fuels usage reduction and the consideration of this issue at the governmental level (Amadeo, 2021). Kimberly Amadeo summarizes her contemplations regarding global warming by covering the perspective in this field. In this part, she advances the figures, which are highly likely to affect the life of the entire planet destructively in case the appropriate measures are not implemented (Amadeo, 2021). These perspectives present a threat to humanity and the earth.

The Main Idea and the Authors Point of View

As it is evident from the summary of the article, the author is determined to draw the publics attention to climate changes and their destructive consequences. She strongly believes that this problem is crucial, and appropriate measures should be taken urgently (Amadeo, 2021). From her perspective, global warming threatens the life of the planet, and humanity should be aware of the necessity to start coping with this problem. In case some people cannot understand its influence in the long run, it may reflect their everyday life due to significant economic impact (Amadeo, 2021). In addition, Kimberly Amadeo is convinced that people are capable of making a change and address this problem by following the essential practical steps, which are outlined in Climate Change Facts and Effect on Economy.

Personal Reflections

As for me, despite multiple debates on the topic of global warming, I share the position of the author. I agree that human activity contributes to the changes in the average temperature around the world, and the greenhouse effect aggravates the situation. People should definitely reconsider their attitude in this regard and attempt to stick to the measures, which are highly likely to prevent the negative influence.

Reference

Amadeo, K. (2021). Climate change facts and effect on economy. The Balance. 

Human Activities and Greenhouse Gas Impact

As we all know, things around us change, whether they are constructing a new building or building up a new factory. We try to create new things for either our survival, taste, or to help. We try to create things for everyone to use happily, but we end up destroying the majority of things around us even without noticing it. Due to the cause of human activities, there is a negative impact on climate change, such as. Hence, there should be a course of action that helps us avoid climate change.

As some of us know, one of the most common causes of climate change is Green House Gas. It is a heat-trapping gas found in the atmosphere of the earth. You can tell the greenhouse is good, but greenhouse gases aren’t good because the greenhouse is beneficial and part of the environment as it keeps our planet warm. If the greenhouse didn’t exist, the planet’s temperature would be minus degrees, and there would be ice everywhere. The cause of greenhouse becoming bad is human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy to generate electricity, vehicles, etc., making greenhouse gases with different chemical gases in the air.

And because of human activities, there is a rise in global warming that is drastically affecting the earth’s climate system. According to an analysis done in the United States, it is found that “Carbon dioxide accounted for the largest percentage of greenhouse gases (79%), followed by methane (11%), nitrous oxide (7%), and other greenhouse gases (3%)” (“U.S. Emissions”). These are some of the gases that are the cause of global warming, and not just that, but due to these chemicals being found in the air, we can get the idea of how they affect people’s or animals’ health.

Impacts of Factories and Pollution

Since we breathe daily, we can be conscious of what we live along with oxygen. Originally, the planet was warm due to the greenhouse being part of the environment for heat-trapping, which occurs when gases in the atmosphere capture solar heat, which would return back to space. But human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, etc., create different gases in the air. The gases in the air capture the solar energy that we get from the sun during the day, which is released into space during the night as it cools down and the sun is gone.

Let’s take the phone, for example; if we use too many phones, it heats up, and after we leave a place and do other activities, the phone releases the heat into the air and comes back to an average temperature. The sunlight or heat we get during the day is absorbed by everything around us and gets reflected back into the atmosphere or space, but due to different gases in the atmosphere, only a little percent is able to get through the atmosphere to space, but the rest is absorbed by the atmosphere, which is then deflected to the earth’s increasing global warming.

Above all, the major source that is causing climate change is factories because all the gases emitted from the factories go directly into the atmosphere, thus increasing the temperature and contaminating the air. The factory doesn’t just affect land and air but also water because the factories dispose of most of their wastes into the water. Thus leading to water contamination. And because of that, it results in the death of the sea plants and animals, or even have them carry the diseases. Consequently, the disease is spread in the water. Whether it’s land, air, or water, because of climate change, there is an increase in the extinction rate of animals.

Factory Emissions and Environmental Impacts

“A study by the University of Connecticut (United States), published in the Science journal, indicates that climate change is accelerating this, as climate change by itself will cause the disappearance of nearly 8% of the current species” (Corporativa). This is just one part of it, but if we research the rate of extinction rate in past years, we can get an idea of how fast the animals are getting extinct or getting endangered. This is not just because of factories but due to other climate changes that are affecting the planet’s atmosphere and environment.

And analysis shows that “Factories alone are responsible for nearly two-thirds of the emissions to blame for global climate change” (Harveston). As mentioned earlier at the beginning of this paragraph, this is one of the major impacts of climate change, and here is a piece of evidence to prove my claim. The other problem factories could be blamed for is most factories use large amounts of water for many things like cleaning, washing, etc., which they don’t think of or worry about how much water is being wasted and where the dirty water must be going.

Moreover, climate change is also caused by other various kinds of things like a wasteland where waste is thrown in a particular area, and since there are all kinds of waste mixed together, there might be different chemicals that get mixed. The climate change dilemma is made worse by food loss and waste because of the large greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions it produces. Food is a substantial source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions throughout its manufacturing, processing, and shipping, and if it winds up in the wasteland, it releases methane, a much more powerful greenhouse gas.

Waste Impact, Health Consequences, and Economic Burden

And because of waste thrown in a particular area, the area or the soil underneath and surrounding it dies. According to the research, “Americans dumped twice as much trash into landfills in 2012 as previously estimated, according to new research, suggesting trash may be contributing to climate change more than scientists believed” (Worland). If we look at what the research says, then if we think about other countries, how much waste land they may be having and how much harm it must be causing altogether. Looking at the land, it is a home to a different kind of species that we are destroying. We try to keep our house clean but do not bother keeping the environment clean.

By throwing waste here and there, we are bringing diseases to ourselves and animals and contaminating the environment. It is affecting animals and the environment, which aren’t even to be blamed for the results of our actions. According to the World Health Organization, “Poor waste collection…Resulting flooding and other standing waters in waste items favor cholera and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue” (“Guidance on Solid Waste and Health”). Exposure to improperly disposed waste is deleterious to our health, especially for the vulnerable groups. It also has a negative impact on the development of children.

Also, Climate change affects not only the surroundings but also the economic GDP and the cost of repair of houses or other buildings. Not only that, they have to pay the people who have lost their families due to climate change and are not earning. According to “(2019), The study projected that if the higher-temperature scenario prevails, climate change impacts on these 22 sectors could cost the U.S. $520 billion each year.” This study shows how much money they have to spend on health, housing, or structure that was destroyed in production. Since climate change can happen anywhere and any place, it can cause transportation of production between countries to slow a little at a particular place.

Climate Change’s Economic Ramifications and Mitigation Strategies

And due to production being slowed, their earnings will get slowed. Climate change is a factor that is probable to worsen inflation. According to an analysis by Colombia University’s Climate School, “Every degree Celsius that the Earth warms, there’s an estimated 5 to 15 percent decrease in overall crop production” (Shirin Ali). This will have a major impact on the farmers who would, especially, be struggling to maintain their fields and adjust to these weather conditions that keep changing. This, in turn, leads to an increase in prices.

Increases in costs might also be seen through the loss of wages and through medical bills, as global warming increases the risk of foodborne and waterborne diseases. Another example is California, “with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) noting in July that U.S. orange production is expected to drop 13 percent to the lowest in 55 years due to poor fruit set, the stage where a flower turns into berry – driven by California’s severe drought” (Shirin Ali). This implies that climate change can and is disrupting the availability of food due to the reduction of agricultural productivity and interruption of food delivery.

One of the actions that could be taken to reduce greenhouse gases would be to use energy-saving light bulbs in your house, such as LED lights. If everyone uses an energy-saving light bulb, it would benefit not only us but also the environment. Such bulbs reduce the damage to the environment and help reduce your house’s electricity bills. “The annual energy consumption for an LED bulb is around 30 times lower than for a corresponding incandescent bulb…LED lights can bring lighting costs to 5 percent of the total electricity consumption in homes” (LED lighting). For every watt of light energy released, LED lights use less energy (LED lighting). In doing so, it lowers power plant greenhouse gas emissions.

LED Lights and Energy Efficiency: Environmental Impact and Innovations

Furthermore, LEDs have reduced carbon dioxide emissions. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced from one LED bulb is approximately comparable to one-half tons. Using stuff that saves energy generates less heat when using it, and since it generates less heat, it cools down very fast. Normally, as we all might see, the use of too much light in our room or house makes us feel the temperature of our room is different from the temperature outside. We feel too hot, and sometimes so much light use disturbs our sleep due to the room temperature getting high.

Using light that saves energy might help the temperature of our room to not change much and help us sleep at night. And from what I have observed in different places or countries that I have visited, there is the use of light when there is nobody in the building. Some places use light to just make their town or city look good, but if we turn off all the lights that are not used and just close at night, that would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions a lot. According to a study done by the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 9 billion pounds by simply switching out one light bulb in every house for an LED bulb (CPS LED Lighting).

Looking at what the research has brought, sometimes I think people who develop stuff should work more on creating things that help the environment and don’t harm ourselves and the animals. If a single LED bulb can bring this much change to the world, there is stuff that we can create that might bring a better result to save the environment. Looking at the circumstances and building up a product may reduce most of the stuff happening in this world, including our health.

Recycling: Addressing Climate Change through Waste Management

The problem of wastelands and the contamination caused by factories, two of the leading causes of climate change, can be managed by recycling waste. Looking around the world, some countries don’t have machines to recycle waste. So, if we share what we have developed with other countries, it would help reduce waste that is being dumped in an area. Recycling products can help reduce mining that is done to create new products, and it will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this world, everyone uses paper to work on different things; if all this paper goes into recycling, we can save trees.

Recycling has been a major thing to discuss since when the new products started to develop. There wasn’t any solution to what they should do with the waste, and they ended up throwing waste in a particular land, which is called the wasteland. Even in the factories, if a product isn’t built properly, it becomes a waste, and it either goes into the water or the wasteland. One of the solutions to reduce waste is to stop using the new material and try to recycle the old material.

Limiting the stuff can reduce the things to end in the wasteland. “Project Drawdown estimates that recycling between 2020 and 2050 will reduce emissions by 5.5-6.02 gigatons of carbon dioxide (equivalent to taking over 1 billion cars off the streets for one year)” (recycling). For good things to happen, it takes time, but if we all help, we can reduce the amount of years it would take. Recycling product just doesn’t become what it originally was but made into a different product. We should buy recycled products rather than products that are created entirely with new materials.

References:

1. U.S. Emissions by Gas. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/us-greenhouse-gas-inventory-report-2020
2. Corporativa. Climate Change and Biodiversity. Retrieved from https://corporativa.economia.gob.mx/en/CEIEG/climate-change-and-biodiversity
3. Harveston, T. (2019). Factories Responsible for Nearly Two-Thirds of Emissions Blamed for Climate Change. SciTechDaily. Retrieved from https://scitechdaily.com/factories-responsible-for-nearly-two-thirds-of-emissions-blamed-for-climate-change/
4. Worland, J. (2015). America Throws Away Twice as Much Trash as Previously Thought. Time. Retrieved from https://time.com/4004252/america-trash-waste/
5. Guidance on Solid Waste and Health. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/waste/guidance/en/
6. Shirin Ali, A. Climate Change Economics Explained. Columbia University – The Earth Institute. Retrieved from https://climate.columbia.edu/news-events/climate-change-economics-explained
7. LED Lighting. Energy.gov. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/lighting-choices-save-you-money/led-lighting
8. CPS LED Lighting. CPS Energy. Retrieved from https://www.cpsenergy.com/en/customer-support/energy-saving-tips/led-lighting.html
9. Recycling. Project Drawdown. Retrieved from https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/materials/recycling

Rising Waters, Lost Homes

Climate change has been affecting society, especially nowadays. Humans have been affected by climate change in recent years, and many things have happened to communities and society. New things are happening, and hopefully, the new generations can help solve and stop climate change. People have been affected by changes in the weather and have been worrying more about their health. Many home and army bases are being destroyed.

Changes in weather have been a huge part of society’s worries; changes are drastic and so severe that some states and places in the world can’t handle them. Some places along the northern and midwestern regions show that spring may be arriving sooner; hot weather is happening more and more often. UCSUSA states, “Dangerously hot weather is occurring more frequently than it did 60 years ago.” The heat may be increasing by dangerous amounts that may result in catastrophic events for many places, especially the Arctic area. In places such as California, wildfires are occurring more often, too. As a result of having many wildfires, the air quality lessens. If wildfires keep on happening, the air will be contaminated with harmful chemicals. These chemicals can lead to sickness and more contamination; these hugely affect people, and kids with asthma could be in grave danger.

Homes are also being destroyed as a result of climate change. The main thing is flooding and fires. Flooding has caused many places to be evacuated, and homes have to be left behind to be destroyed. Forest fires have also burned down not only homes but entire communities. Many people and families have been left homeless, and they have to start over again. Families have to leave their homes behind because sometimes the conditions may be too brutal to return to. Global Change says that “…communities that live by the water, sea level rise, combined with coastal storm increase the risk of erosion and storm surges.” Places near waters

Where they are a danger to communities and are no longer safe to live in. people have lost their lives because of flooding, and some have moved out of where they used to live.

Health & Defense Risks

Health concerns are being cared about more; wildfires make the air quality worse, which can create sicknesses. If there is more heat in places or “summer time,” that creates plants to reproduce, and while that happens, pollen is being spread, which may extend allergy season to a certain extent, which can then endanger the lives of certain people. Also, in some places, temperatures are dropping rapidly; for example, in the city of Chicago, on January 30, 2019, the temperature dropped to more than twenty degrees below zero. Most places had to be shut down because of the severe weather, and many homeless people were given shelter, but the ones that weren’t most likely got sick from either hypothermia, frostbite, or phenomena. There hasn’t been a temperature drop that low since “January 20, 1985…the record was fifteen to sixteen below zero,” says CBS Chicago. The record was clearly beaten, but it shows how climate change is getting stronger and stronger.

Finally, Army bases are at risk; if the sea level keeps on rising at a certain rate, most bases of the U.S. Army will flood. If bases are flooded, military workers will be forced to evacuate because of the hazardous conditions. So, if bases are abandoned, then there are areas left unprotected, which are pinpoint areas for enemies. If the dangerous flooding does not stop soon, various military bases will be left unattended, which creates a threat to the U.S.

In conclusion, the dangers of climate change are increasing more rapidly each day. Human civilization is the greatest factor being affected by the dangers of climate change. No one is safe from climate change until we stop and think about what we can do to help our earth. We must do what we can to help protect ourselves and others. From weather to health concerns and homes to military bases, people all over the world are being affected by one big thing called Climate change.

References:

1. UCSUSA. Global warming increases the frequency of dangerously hot days. Union of Concerned Scientists.
2. Global Change. Sea level rise impacts on coastal communities.
3. CBS Chicago. (2019, January 31). Chicago’s historic cold snap breaks record for the coldest temperature ever recorded.

Accelerated Climate Change and its Far-reaching Impacts

As usual, the climate is defined as the typical weather of a particular place in a period of time. It means that a place can have various types of climates in different seasons. It also means that climates in different regions can be so diverse. Scientists normally analyze some patterns of past climates in order to predict how the climates will change in the coming years. However, these statistics are less reliable because the earth’s climates in recent years are changing more rapidly than what scientists expected. Human exploitation is claimed to be one of the primary causes of climate change. The changes in climate have significant impacts on not only a wide range of birds, plants, and fishes but also human health.

In general, the changes in the climate system can be made by natural causes and human activities. For example, if there are changes in the shapes of the earth’s orbit, the position of the earth’s axis, and even within the sun itself, the sun’s energy output will change. Because the sun is one of the crucial sources of energy in human life, the intensity of the sunlight will drive the climate system. The climate will be warmer in strong solar intensity periods and cooler in weak solar intensity periods. In addition, volcanic eruptions also affect the climate system. When volcanoes erupt, the large ash clouds, which are produced into the air, can dim the sun and cause a cooling effect.

Besides ash clouds, enormous quantities of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which relate to acid rains, are also created. However, studies indicated that the dominant causes of climate change are human activities, especially the greenhouse effect. The term “greenhouse effect” is commonly used to describe the process of making the earth’s temperature warmer. After sunlight passes through the atmosphere and reaches the earth’s surface, nearly 30 percent of it is reflected back into space. The remaining energy is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). In other words, the greenhouse gases can be considered as a blanket around the earth, which makes the earth’s atmosphere warm.

Nonetheless, human activities are adding CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere through the process of burning fossil fuels like coal and oil, cement production, waste dumps, and deforestation. As a result, increased levels of greenhouse gases intensified the average temperature above the normal degree. According to Blunden, “2015 tied as the warmest year on record for the region, and sea ice reached its fourth lowest extent” (2016). Warming temperatures not only make the Arctic sea ice melt faster but also cause more extreme weather events, including fires, droughts, great storms, heavy rainfalls, and floods. These changes can significantly affect many animals live as well as human health.

Ecological Disruptions and Forest Vulnerabilities

Longer-term changes to weather patterns from season to season are impacting many different species of birds around the world by altering their food web, habitats, the timing of breeding, and migration cycles. Silberg wrote that “Heat waves would last around a third longer, rain storms would be about a third more intense, the increase in sea level would be approximately that much higher” (2016). Those phenomena will disrupt the nutrient cycling of the ecosystem. Therefore, it will decrease the range of prey for birds. Insufficient food may cause a steady decrease in bird populations as well as give the birds less energy for migration. In addition, not only are birds in danger of immediate death, but their eggs are harmed by major cyclones, storms, and heavy rainfalls, which can seriously damage their habitats.

Climate change also has great impacts on birds’ breeding cycles. Research has shown that while the murres breed twenty-four days earlier after ten years, the eggs of swallows lay nine days earlier compared to forty years ago. Moreover, changes in climate, such as higher temperatures, force birds to use more energy for thermoregulation. Some types of birds, which cannot adapt to extreme weather conditions, have to shift their geographic distributions northwards to areas with more suitable thermal conditions. Besides terrestrial birds, climate change also affects waterfowl. For instance, the prairie pothole region is one of the breeding areas of waterfowl in North America. However, climate change significantly declined the prairie pothole wetlands.

As the climate is changing, many forests are being destroyed through fires, insect infestations, and drought. Compared to the past, the number and intensity of wildfires today are to a higher degree due to global warming. Scientists showed that the forest areas that were burnt by large wildfires these days are more than twice as many as fifty years ago. When the temperature steadily increases, it will make the spring run off quickly as well as build up the summer heat. It also enhances the evaporation rates. In addition, extreme weather events such as thunderstorms increase the frequency of lightning, which is one of the primary causes of wildfires.

As a result, the forests have to face drier conditions together with longer fire seasons. Statistics indicated that the wildfire season is seventy-eight days longer. In addition, higher temperatures and drier conditions are the ideal environment for the mountain pine beetle and other types of insects, which can kill many trees. On the other hand, the warmer the air is, the more heavy rainfall events occur. It led to more devastating floods, which destroyed many forests in recent decades.

Shifting Aquatic Ecosystems and Marine Life Challenges

Climate change affects not only the forests through major wildfires and devastating floods but also the agriculture plants through droughts. Warmer temperatures will intensify the evaporation of the soil. It makes the droughts in some regions occur more frequently and longer. Droughts can threaten many crops, including corn, soybeans, rice, and wheat. For example, Silberg indicated that “above certain temperature thresholds, corn doesn’t die, but it doesn’t grow seed. It doesn’t grow a corncob” (2016). In general, humans should have plans to protect trees from the negative effects of climate change.

The changing climate strongly influenced fish’s lives in a number of ways, both directly and indirectly. For example, climate change is one of the major reasons that changed the home range of many marine species. When the air temperatures increase, the oceans may absorb some heat and become warmer. Blunden stated that “Average surface temperatures in ice-free regions in August 2015 were up to 14 degrees F above average in several regions” (2016). Different species of fish can withstand different water temperatures. However, there are limited types of fish that are well adapted to high water temperatures.

Other fishes, especially cold water species, including trout and salmon, cannot rapidly adapt. As a result, they have to shift their location by moving further north or into deeper water as a response to the rise in global temperatures. It means that these species may move into the less hospitable habitat and have to compete with other species. In addition, thousands of juvenile marine species may be stranded and unable to travel to the new environment. This movement also directly impacts the diets or the food web of many marine organisms. For instance, elephant seal pups become thinner because of a decline in the size of their prey.

Another example is “the higher rainfall stressed important food plants by waterlogging their roots, resulting in lowered nutrient content for beavers during the reproductive period” (Ribic, 2017). Furthermore, climate change affects not only the migration timing of many species but also some key stages in their annual life cycle, including their breeding season. Many types of fish are found to be breeding earlier than they used to. For example, compared to fifteen years ago, the eggs of loggerhead sea turtles are laid about ten days earlier. Moreover, climate change also contributes to species extinction.

Human Health Risks and Disease Outbreaks

The climate-sensitive species, which may experience significant losses, include ringed seals and cold water fishes like salmon. For example, the populations of western trout in the western United States decreased more than sixty percent in recent years. Another effect of climate change on marine species is that rising temperatures can control their sex ratio. Scientists showed that the number of female hawksbill turtles being born is more than that of male turtles. In other words, higher temperatures will contribute to the feminization of marine species.

Health hazards related to climate change are significant and varied. The first significant health impact of climate change is the increased intensity of infectious disease transmission. One example of an infectious disease is Lyme disease. This disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas and can cause fever, fatigue, joint pain, and skin rash. As temperature and rainfall increase, the distribution and behavior of mosquitoes and ticks are greatly influenced. As a result, Lyme disease spreads rapidly. In recent years, nearly 30,000 cases of Lyme disease have been reported every year.

Moreover, an analysis of dengue transmission in the southeastern United States written by Butterworth and other professors showed that there are nearly four hundred million infections by the four dengue serotypes (Butterworth 579). Another health impact of climate change is death related to extreme weather events. To be specific, floods, intense hurricanes, droughts, tsunamis, and storms killed a large number of people. For example, in 2004, the Asian tsunami killed over 280,000 people. People who have survived experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and other mental health issues.

Environmental Shifts and Human Health Implications

On the other hand, higher temperatures are directly related to poor air quality. In other words, when the climate changes, toxic air pollutants are released in some areas. Thus, they suffer susceptible populations like people with asthma or cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States, children, and the elderly. Because of greenhouse effects, the increased ground-level ozone may cause various reactions, including chest pains, throat irritation, and inflammation of the lungs.

In addition, the allergen of pollen due to increased plant growth and mold spores due to severe storms are amplified. In other words, Schmidt said, “When exposed to warmer temperatures and higher levels of CO2, plants grow more vigorously and produce more pollen than they otherwise would.” (A71). If the climate continues to change, the threats to human health will be higher.

In conclusion, climate change causes higher temperatures and other extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, wildfires, and heavy rainfalls. These phenomena have negative effects on not only many different species of birds, fishes, and plants but also human health. Therefore, by analyzing past weather patterns, people should prepare well for forthcoming events as well as have projects to preserve the forests and protect animals from the risks of extinction.

References:

1. Blunden, J., Arndt, D. S., & Hartfield, G. (2016). State of the Climate in 2015. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 97(8), S1-S275.
2. Silberg, J. J. (2016). Climate Change Impacts on Birds and Their Migration Phenology. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 128(1), 1-11.
3. Ribic, C. A. (2017). Avian community responses to variability in climate and resource availability: Studies from a system with long-term data. Ecosphere, 8(2), e01632.
4. Butterworth, M. K., Morin, C. W., & Comrie, A. C. (2017). An Analysis of Dengue Transmission in the Southeastern United States. Journal of Medical Entomology, 54(3), 579-584.
5. Schmidt, C. W. (2016). Pollen Overload: Seasonal Allergies in a Changing Climate. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124(4), A70-A75.

From Global Security to Local Extremes

Not only is climate change one of the most critical components in America but also in other countries. Climate change is closely related to economics, national health, and global warming. Sea rise and increasing temperature are the most relevant results that we can see through the excessive use of greenhouse gases. Many scientists say that climate change is related to global warming. According to NASA, global temperature has increased by .07 °C per decade since 1880. However, 1980 showed a significant increase in global average temperature. One thing that we have to know is that global warming will increase the frequency of climate change and severe weather.

In 2013, the head of U.S. forces in the Pacific, Adm. Samuel Locklear III, said that Global warming is the most likely thing that is going to happen… that will cripple the security environment, probably more likely than the other scenarios we all often talk about’. Climate change is a serious problem that we are facing now, and there should be specific security for this problem. California had the hottest July last year. The state average temperature was 79.7 degrees, and a few of the highest temperatures were recorded in Death Valley. Several massive fires happened across California, including the Mendocino complex, which was recorded as the third largest on record in the state.

From Fire Risk to Economic Consequences

Dr. William said that nature creates the perfect conditions for fire as long as people are there to start the fires. However, climate change, in a few different ways, seems also to load the dice toward more fire in the future. Moreover, Accu Weather implied that the total output of all goods and services cost $20 trillion, which is equivalent to 2 percent of the nation’s GDP. This evidence implies that climate change will eventually affect our economies, and the U.S. also must be prepared for this problem. What would happen if the global temperature keeps rising for the next 20 years? Without ecological security, the temperature would consistently rise until 4°C. It will cause several impacts, which consist of changing precipitation, melting snow and ice, rising sea levels, and changing severe weather. Every impact is explained as follows…

Melting snow and ice will cause low albedo, which means the low reflection of sunlight energy and raised sea level. Rising sea levels will cause severe weather due to increased evaporation. Various causes are involved in this matter, so ecological security is the only thing to delay global warming. The natural progression will take a long time to see the result. Government policies would help this problem. One of the impressive examples from our reading was that the California government made a new policy for buildings and houses. All new houses in California must install a solar panel, and it saves the home buyer $40 a month.

From Conservation to International Cooperation

Since the significant problem of global warming is burning fossil fuels, it is an excellent idea to reduce electricity use. Another policy that I would recommend is related to reforestation and education. The government could make one special day to plant trees and educate the young generation about climate change. Once a year would be great, and I hope it could increase by 5% within five years. Climate change is a severe problem that we are facing now. Our nation should get prepared for the future and need to apply environmental taxes or subsidies to companies.

Since global warming is related to the whole world, I believe that developed countries should make the association to reduce developing country’s CO2. For example, 70% of India and the Philippines still use a wood stove for heating or cooking, and most of their house has a black roof. Developed countries can support some eco-efficient stoves and paint their roof to decrease temperature. It will decrease the excessive use of air-conditioning, and it will also decrease the CO2 level. Lastly, as I mentioned, global warming can be delayed by education, government policy, government subsidies, and supporting developing countries.

References:

1. NASA. (n.d.). Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov/
2. U.S. Department of Defense. (2013). Commander’s Interview with Samuel J. Locklear III. Retrieved from https://archive.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5266
3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2018). State of the Climate: National Climate Report for 2017. Retrieved from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/201713
4. Dr. William. (n.d.). Personal communication.
5. AccuWeather. (n.d.). Climate Change Costing U.S. Economy $20 Trillion. Retrieved from https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/climate-change-costing-us-economy-20-trillion/70002000
6. California Energy Commission. (n.d.). Solar Energy for New Homes. Retrieved from https://www.energy.ca.gov/solar/solar_for_new_homes.html
7. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/
8. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (n.d.). Climate Education. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/climate-action/education
9. World Bank. (n.d.). Carbon Pricing Dashboard. Retrieved from https://carbonpricingdashboard.worldbank.org/
10. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (n.d.). Support to Developing Countries. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/climatechange/support-developing-countries

Unreported Livestock Emissions: Overlooking a Major Climate Culprit

The permanent damage can cause extreme fluxes in weather and the rising of the oceans. It is also more difficult to control than carbon due to one of its contributors being cows.

The meat industry is one of the leading causes of climate change. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 39 percent of all greenhouse gases are from livestock (Singh, 2014). Out of the 39 percent of farm animals used for consumption globally, 55 percent is from beef cattle. Per year, a single cow will release between 70 and 120 kilograms of methane, which is an alarming amount (Rohrer, n.d.). Looking at historical trends shows that these emissions will most likely not decrease. Throughout the past 50 years, agriculture has doubled. By the year 2050, methane emissions from agriculture are projected to increase as much as 70 percent (Singh, 2014).

This issue has been monitored more frequently by governments and scientists around the globe but is mostly ignored by the United States. In 2017, the nation surpassed China as the leading meat producer in the world, with a percentage of 19.63 (Halverson, 2016). During the Obama administration, a bill was passed in 2016 that renewed a provision preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring livestock farmers to report the number of emissions they are producing (2016). This is going against a policy that the United States already has on monitoring emissions.

Out of the 42 sectors within the nation that produce greenhouse gas emissions, the meat industry is the only one not required to have an annual report (Izzo, 2018). Since there is no reporting on livestock emissions, the nation’s total percentage released annually is underestimated by a large amount. The reasoning for not including livestock emissions in an annual report may come from economic concerns. The United States economy is heavily influenced by the meat industry. Studies have shown Americans eat more meat per capita than any other country, which is beneficial to the nation’s economic growth (Halverson, 2016). However, scientists have stated a change in what we eat will produce a quicker and more noticeable impact on stopping climate change over altering the way fossil fuels are used.

Policy Reforms for Climate-Conscious Agriculture and Industry

Due to the fact that the Obama administration did not act upon this issue, President Donald Trump needs to take the initiative. In order to curb climate change in regard to farming and livestock, the Trump administration should make a policy requiring that livestock emissions be counted in the annual reports. This will allow the nation to have an accurate percentage to reference and share with other nations. Along with this addition, the President should incorporate other policies for agriculture. There are a handful of achievable changes farmers can utilize.

For example, what the cows are being fed. The majority of corn farmed in the United States is used for beef cattle. This is an extremely gassy food that is linked to severe digestive problems in the cow. In 2011, manure alone accounted for 16 percent of agriculture emissions (Halverson, 2016). If farmers started feeding their cows hay and mixing the plant alfalfa within, the amount of belching and manure would most likely decrease, which would reduce emissions due to a healthier diet.

Another take could be the amount of land we save for farming. Within the United States, the majority of farmed land is for cow feed. The amount of greenhouse emissions that come from harvesting the corn for the cows is astonishing. More land should be preserved for national parks or land that will not be able to be commercially touched. The issue of cows being related to climate change goes under the radar compared to other issues. More specifically, the concern about power plants and their carbon emissions.

One of the more apparent causes of greenhouse gas emissions is the issue with power plants. These businesses in the United States use roughly 30 percent of coal for their energy production (Negin, n.d.). Coal is a black, carbon-rich rock that was heavily mined up until the 1950s due to natural gas, nuclear power, wind, and solar coming into play. One of the reasons power plant emissions are looked at much more than that of agriculture is due to the number of health concerns. Besides carbon being emitted into the atmosphere, power plants also emit mercury, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other toxic materials. These can all be linked to severe health concerns like brain damage, heart problems, and cancer.

Clean Power Plan: Health, Economic, and Climate Benefits

Despite these health concerns, President Donald Trump has recently stated that he is determined to bring back the coal industry in the United States. This is one climate change topic former President Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump disagree on. In 2015, the Obama administration announced a policy with a goal of reducing emissions given off by power plants. This plan was called the Clean Power Plan and happened to be the first policy addressing national standards for power plants and their carbon dioxide pollution. The main objective was reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants while utilizing a cleaner way to give Americans energy and making this possible for each state to easily achieve (“Overview of Greenhouse Gases,” 2018).

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website, the implementation of this plan would result in climate change benefits of $20 billion, health benefits of $14-$34 billion, and overall net benefits of $26-$45 billion (2018). In regard to health benefits, the Clean Power Plan was also projected to avoid 3,600 premature deaths, 1,700 heart attacks, 90,000 asthma attacks, and 300,000 missed work days and school days (2018). In order to be effective, the regulations would need to work for each state. Therefore, region, population size, and land mass were taken into consideration.

States had the choice to implement these regulations individually or regionally. The plan resulted in three different goals, “A rate-based state goal measured in pounds per megawatt hour (lb/MWh); A mass-based state goal measured in total short tons of CO2; A mass-based state goal with a new source complement measured in total short tons of CO2” (2018, 3). States were asked to start implementing the new regulations during the year 2022 and carry them out until 2029. In 2030, the results would be taken into consideration to see what the next steps would be and if there was any significant reduction in greenhouse and toxic emissions. Due to all the factors stated above, the two different plans the state could pick from were called the emission standards plan and the state measures plan. A description of each is stated below:

“Emission standards plan would include source-specific requirements ensuring all affected power plants within the state meet their required emissions performance rates or state-specific rate-based or mass-based goal. The state measures plan would include a mixture of measures implemented by the state, such as renewable energy standards and programs to improve residential energy efficiency that are not included as federally enforceable components of the plan. The plan may also include federally enforceable source-specific requirements.

Executive Order Rollback: Reversing Climate Progress and Economic Concerns

The state measures, alone or in conjunction with federally enforceable requirements, must result in affected power plants meeting the state’s mass-based goal. The plan must also include a backstop of federally enforceable standards on affected power plants that fully meet the emission guidelines, and that would be triggered if the state measures fail to result in the affected plants achieving the required emissions reductions on schedule. States may use the final model rule, which EPA proposed on August 3, for their backstop” (2018, 2).

Even though this plan was put into action by the Obama administration and was well received by the majority of the government, scientists, and citizens, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will most likely cause the Clean Power Plan to be repealed. It is projected to be replaced by a much weaker and less desirable policy due to the lobbying of opposition groups and Donald Trump’s support for the coal industry.

The executive order President Donald Trump signed in regard to climate change rescinds a handful of policies put into place by former President Barack Obama. He specifically ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to hold an extensive review of the Clean Power Plan. The goal of this executive order, signed on March 29, 2017, was to loosen the regulations set on the fossil fuel industries. At this point in Trump’s presidency, this was the first declaration targeting climate change efforts. Along with the rollback of Obama-era plans came strict guidelines, which made it more difficult to put regulations on fossil fuels in the future. This included the coal, oil, and natural gas industries. Many believe Trump is blinded by the economy. A statement from the Union of Concerned Scientists states:

“He is so beholden to fossil fuel interests that he’s willing to stand in the way of the economic opportunities provided by a transition to clean energy. And he does not at all understand our deep moral obligation to limit the dangers of climate change for future generations, who will be left to face the consequences of our failure to act” (Negin, n.d., 3)

Balancing Economic Interests and Environmental Accountability

As of 2018, China is listed as the leading greenhouse gas emitter, with the United States close behind (Gillis & Popovich, 2017). Together, both nations account for 40 percent of the globe’s greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the United States is responsible for a large portion of the dangerous emissions being put into the planet’s atmosphere. The nation should be accountable for these actions, and putting appropriate regulations into place is a moral and ethical obligation. However, Trump’s concern for the economy is more prevalent than his principles. This comes from a concern about the lack of jobs in America and the fact that he is a strong supporter of the coal industry.

The President also believes economic freedoms have been threatened by the power plant regulations put into place by the Obama administration. Therefore, he insists revitalizing the coal industry will help the economy, which will, in turn, benefit the environment. One of his recent speeches to the public states, “You’ve got to make sure you’ve got a strong economy … A strong economy is the best way to protect the environment. Natural gas is important. Coal is important. Nuclear is important” (Lavelle, 2017, p. 1). The economy of the United States is important. However, as of June of this year, the unemployment rate is only 4 percent, which is considered a healthy range.

The President disregarding climate change is an issue, but he is also blatantly ignoring health risks that would be cut if the Clean Power Plan came into effect. As stated in the paragraph above, Americans would see a large reduction in cardiovascular illnesses, respiratory illnesses, cancer, and asthma issues, which have all been linked to power plant emissions. As of now, this policy is not in effect but is pending a challenge in the US Court of Appeals. The termination of the plan also affects the treaties the nation is in. One of the United States current obligations is the Paris climate agreement. Therefore, the 2015 Clean Power Plan should remain a policy in the United States.

Along with the Clean Power Plan being signed by former President Barack Obama in 2015, he also took part in signing the Paris Climate Agreement. This international treaty was aimed at curbing climate change while keeping the global temperature increase below two degrees Celsius and eventually down to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Along with the United States, 174 other countries, plus the European Union, signed the agreement on December 12, 2015. The overall goal was for all participating nations to put their best efforts forward through nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and continue to strengthen these efforts with each passing year (“What Is the Paris Agreement,” n.d.).

Urgent Need to Uphold Climate Commitments and Global Cooperation

The nationally determined contributions consisted of regular reports of participating nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, what implementations each country is taking to curb climate change, and a global stocktake every five years in order to see how far the world has come and to determine if changes were necessary. There is also a list of 12 crucial areas each state needs to pay attention to in order to successfully combat climate change: Long-term temperature goal, global peaking, and climate neutrality, mitigation, sinks and reservoirs, voluntary cooperation within the market and non-market-based approaches, adaptation, loss and damages.

Technology and capacity-building support with financial advisement, climate change education, transparency, global stocktake, and decision making (“What Is the Paris Agreement,” n.d.). Since the United States accounts for a large percentage of the planet’s total greenhouse gas emissions, without the nation’s support, it will be very difficult to keep the global temperature increase below two degrees Celsius. Along with global warming, climate change is projected to condemn tens of thousands of Americans to premature deaths by the year 2100 (Levitz, 2018).

Since Trump announced the nation’s abandonment of the Paris Agreement, other countries have also taken similar actions. Many are calling this the “Trump effect” (Curtin, 2018). Along with the nation, Russia, Brazil, and Turkey have abandoned their own plans in accordance with climate change. Government officials from these three countries have all cited Trump’s withdrawal decision as encouraging their change of heart. All the reasons stated above are just a few examples of why the nation should stay in the Paris climate agreement and the Clean Power Plan of 2015.

There is no benefit to abandoning this international movement. Despite Donald Trump claiming the United States is out of the treaty, the nation cannot officially abandon it until November 4, 2020. This is due to the rigorous withdrawal process. When former president Barack Obama signed the Paris Plan, there was a timeline to which he agreed. In this timeline, it stated that the United States could not officially announce its plan to withdraw until November 4, 2019 (Palmer, 2018). If the President wins his second term and is still in office at that time, he will then need to send a letter to the United Nations secretary general addressing the United States intention to leave the agreement.

A Global Imperative Amid Policy Changes

After notifying the secretary general, there is a one-year waiting period before being officially kicked off the Paris climate plan. Therefore, the official exit was on November 4, 2020 (2018). Even though there is a four-year waiting period before being able to withdraw, the President is taking that time to rescind Obama-era policies, like that of the 2015 Clean Power Plan and many others. It is embarrassing on the international platform for the President to withdraw from a treaty with 174 other signatories. The nation should continue to be a part of the agreement and work towards bettering the planet since the United States is such a large emitter of greenhouse gases.

Even though the United States has rolled back a handful of regulations in regard to climate change, states are taking matters into their own hands. For instance, California and New York will be implementing their own regulations and providing financial support, which is in accordance with the Paris plan. California has been implementing new vehicle emissions standards for mileage, which are higher than the current federal government standards. The former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, pledged to cover the $15 million the United States owes the United Nations in regard to the Paris accord (Halper, 2018).

This should be a telling sign to President Donald Trump that the Paris Climate Agreement is an important treaty to stay a part of and not a difficult thing to contribute to. Other nations are also going above and beyond the expectations set by the Paris climate agreement as well. India remains on track to achieve their set goals while adding a few more initiatives. The Ministry of Environment and Forests recently released a report regarding India’s efforts to combat climate change. They listed 20 new initiatives the country is undertaking, which will help offset 11 percent of their annual greenhouse gas emissions (“India Steps Up Climate Change Efforts,” n.d.).

The policies former president Barack Obama set into place were important not only for the nation but also for the planet altogether. Even though President Trump is rescinding these approaches to combating climate change, it set a precedent that they are accomplishable. Even though the United States is a powerful nation, it is quickly falling behind on climate change efforts. The nation should revert to the plans from the Obama administration for commonsense health concerns and the various facts scientists around the globe have been stating in regard to climate change.

References:

1. Singh, R. (2014). Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/a-a0701e.pdf
2. Rohrer, J. (n.d.). Livestock’s Methane Emissions: An Overview. National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Retrieved from https://sustainableagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Livestocks-Methane-Emissions.pdf
3. Halverson, N. (2016). Meat consumption and climate change. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124(11), A197. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.124-A197
4. Overview of Greenhouse Gases. (2018). Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases
5. Lavelle, M. (2017). Trump to U.N.: The U.S. ‘Will Not Pay More than 25 Percent of the Peacekeeping Budget’. InsideClimate News. Retrieved from https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23092017/trump-united-nations-speech-paris-agreement-global-warming
6. Gillis, J., & Popovich, N. (2017). The U.S. Is the Biggest Carbon Polluter in History. It Just Walked Away from the Paris Climate Deal. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/01/climate/us-biggest-carbon-polluter-in-history-will-it-walk-away-from-the-paris-climate-deal.html
7. Levitz, E. (2018). Climate Change Will Get Worse. These Investors Are Betting on It. New York Magazine. Retrieved from https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/08/climate-change-will-get-worse-these-investors-are-betting-on-it.html
8. What Is the Paris Agreement? (n.d.). United Nations Climate Change. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/what-is-the-paris-agreement
9. Palmer, M. (2018). U.S. Formally Begins to Leave the Paris Climate Agreement. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2019/11/04/775955864/u-s-formally-begins-to-leave-the-paris-climate-agreement
10. Halper, E. (2018). As Trump Abandons Paris, These States Step Up. High Country News. Retrieved from https://www.hcn.org/articles/climate-desk-as-trump-abandons-paris-these-states-stand-up

Global warming (climate change) is a topic discussed worldwide. A long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate system has shown negative effects in many environments and populations. In the article, “Climate Change: How Do We Know?” from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), “The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over decades to millennia” (n.p.). The concern for Earth’s warming temperatures has started to rise in recent years. Those who are oblivious to human activity believe global warming is just an act of nature. On the other hand, many question if this is in fact a result of human activity. Some scientists try to provide factual evidence to prove the earth is getting warmer. NASA states, “Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted, and trees are flowering sooner” (n.p.). A lot of possible solutions and efforts to slow down climate change have been put into effect.

From the article, “Will Deregulatory Efforts Harm the Environment?” by Christina L. Lyons, “The task force’s plan details numerous recommendations, including requirements that oil, gas and mining industries reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reduce emissions from power plants 33 percent below 2010 levels by 2030” (n.p.). In this paper, I will prove that global warming is an awful trend for the planet, most seriously affecting the Arctic, Amazon, coral reefs, and a variety of species. While also proving humans are partially to blame. II. Argument Global warming is a trend that is affecting many areas all around the world. No matter where one is in the world, one is going to experience the devastating effects. One of the many regions affected is the arctic. The arctic region is important because the ice keeps polar regions “cool” and helps maintain the global temperature with the earth continuing to rise in temperature, the glaciers are facing their demise.

Carol Rasmussen claims the thickness of arctic ice has been declining for the past few decades; the current ice is the “youngest and thinnest” that has been documented, since they began to keep record on the area (n.p.). Seasonal ice has been showing up more in the Arctic, which means generally in cold weather, the freezing spreads and the glaciers grow, but during the warmer seasons the temperatures outweigh the glaciers. Rasmussen says that seasonal ice is becoming more of a regular because nearly 800,000 square miles of “older ice” has been depleted (Rasmussen n.p.). The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) says that icebergs and glaciers tend to have a “bright” surface that typically on average reflects 80 percent of sunlight, and when ice melts the surface of the ocean is exposed, this in return causes absorption of 90 percent of sunlight (n.p.). As one might expect, problems with raised sea level will arise. Fish habitats will be ruined along with agricultural soil due to flooding. Frank Incropera author of Climate Change: A Wicked Problem, says that rising sea levels will affect many cities like Tokyo, New York, and New Orleans as they would be “severely at risk” (90). Rapid changes ranging from decreased amounts of ice coverage, increased temperatures, and elevated sea levels the arctic wildlife populations are facing substantial losses due to the inability to adapt, and it has already shown. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) mentions a list of six animals who are struggling in arctic regions: polar bears, walrus, reindeer/caribou, narwhal, beluga, and bowhead (WWF, Arctic n.p.).

The WWF issued a statement, “Millenia of evolution have prepared arctic species . . . for life on and around the sea ice. Now their habitat is radically shifting a matter of decades” (WWF, Arctic n.p.). Polar bears are coming closer and closer to land as the ice decimates. The large primates struggle to find food like the walrus who is impacted. Animals like this are forced to expand their boundaries. The WWF noted that the bears have a great smelling ability that can lead them to “human waste, stored food, and animal carcasses,” which can cause issues among the citizens (WWF, Conflict n.p.). Along with the polar bears, narwhals according to the WWF are “slow swimming whales” that use sea ice to help prevent them from becoming prey (Animals n.p.). Not only is the artic having issues, but so is the tropics. Lyons states, “Scientist say that higher temperatures, raging wildfire, persistent drought . . . prove that the need to address climate change is ‘increasingly urgent” (n.p.). Deforestation will lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen being produced.

Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert in a primary research article “Compositional response of Amazon forests to climate change” can be cited with this statement, “Tropical forests represent the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, as well as providing its largest stores of living carbon and contributing more to biomass productivity than any other biome on the planet. Changes here can therefore have global consequences” (42). He also goes on to mention increased drought can lead to “hydraulic failure’, the inability of a plant to move water from roots to leaves eventually destroying the productivity of the forest (42). A lot of animals rely on these areas like the Amazon, and they are now at risk. A quote by Kerry Griffis-Kyle gives an idea of some specific species, “Canyon tree frogs, Lowland Leopard frogs, ambystomatid salamanders, and couch’s spade toads” (814). As the tropics continue to change and undergo substantial losses, fires are sure to come. Benjamin Lieberman and Elizabeth Gordon are the main authors in the book Climate Change in Human History Prehistoric to The Present, and they claim the low amounts of water coming into the Amazon River Basin “Aided in the spread” of wildfires (165). With the annual forest fire season periodically becoming longer and longer it is another huge hit to this rainforest. If change does not occur, this place will soon be a field of ash. It may seem like a lot is happening in the Amazon and the Arctic, but it is just as much in the coral reefs. Coral reefs are the rainforests down under the sea. The National Park Service’s (NPA) claim coral reefs are little animals that go by the name “polyps” that attempt to receive calcium through water and then they use it as a covering as an “external skeleton around themselves” (n.p.).

Once large amounts of coral build up it is then referred to as a “reef.” The National Ocean Service mentions that: Hidden beneath the ocean waters, coral reefs teem with life. Coral reefs support more species than any other marine environment and rival rainforests in their biodiversity. Countless numbers of creatures rely on coral reefs for their survival. These important habitats are threatened by a range of human activities. Many of the world’s reefs have already been destroyed or severely damaged by an increasing array of threats (n.p.). These vast systems of life and support can soon be wiped out. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) claims, climate affects “acidity, aquatic environments, and salinity,” which will affect areas such as lakes, seas, and oceans (Pilling xii). In fact, NASA said that the acidity of the oceans increased 30% since the Industrial Revolution began, acidity plays a huge part in growth rates and structural integrity (n.p.). This is just one of the problems facing the coral reefs.

Coral bleaching is on the rise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines coral bleaching as the “complete whitening” of coral due to changes in “sea temperature, light, and nutrients” forcing out the symbiotic algae that is found within the tissues (n.p.). This poses serious risk for these ecosystems as they are left without food and can easily be infected with diseases. Although they say the coral can survive through the bleaching, they are “subject to mortality” (NOAA n.p.). When dealing with reefs, the surrounding life that relies on these systems are suspectable to loss as well. The WWF said that reefs make up only a small amount of ocean about .1%, but 25% of aquatic species in the world rely on them (Coral n.p). No reefs will also be problematic for humans as they are protecting coastlines from storm damage and erosion. For instance, the great barrier reef, which has been drawing attention for years, has suffered great losses. Australian Research Council (ARC) Center of Excellence issued a statement from Andrew Baird that 93% of the reefs have been affected and that only 7% “avoided” coral bleaching. Issues are widespread, and this is affecting a lot of animals (n.p.) Animals are suffering worldwide habitat changes. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) said that, “All Wildlife depends on healthy habitats.

They need the right temperatures, fresh water, food sources, and places to raise their young. Climate change is altering key habitat elements that are critical to wildlife’s survival and putting natural resources in jeopardy” (n.p.). Some fish species like trout and salmon are going to face population declines because they require cold water to live in. The NWF mentions that many species rely on the seasonal changes in the oceans as cues as when to “migrate, flower, nest, or mate” (n.p.). Climate change is messing up these cues and forcing wildlife to alter their life cycle and seasonal events. Water levels are expected to cause flooding, and that will increase erosion leading to contaminated water reducing the quality. This will also lead to many marine habitats to be degraded. NWF has also issued this statement regarding food Some animals are laying eggs, migrating, or emerging from hibernation much earlier than they used to, only to find that the plants or the insects they need for food have not yet emerged. Climate change has altered food availability for migratory species; birds arrive on schedule to find that their food sources—insects, seeds, flowering plants—have hatched or bloomed too early or not at all. Milder winters cause seasonal food caches to spoil, so wildlife species like the gray jay depending on food stores to survive the winter are left without sustenance (n.p.). Wildlife populations are also struggling to find places to raise their young. As environments get burned down and problems in the ocean like salinity and acidity increase, there is less available space to raise or to even breed species. As droughts continue to spread, plant species are unable to adapt quickly enough to situations leaving them out to die.

The FAO talks about the inability for farmers to find valuable soil and that it will lead to the worlds “major crops” being unable to produce (Pilling x). A quote by the FAO said, “Plant diseases and pests are heavily influence by climate” (Pilling 11). Everything in these effected areas are connected. If the world loses one plant it’s not just something to avoid, there could have been a range of little insects who relied on it. Once these insects are left without food they will decline in numbers. Then the animal species that rely on insects for food have, no food. There are a lot of factors with food chains, because of that little factors can lead to huge changes. Since change is happening so quickly and a lot of animals are and were unable to react in time, humans have seen a lot of animals get wiped out and a lot are on the edge of survival. Animals are coming closer to their extinction. Some animals struggle to live with the effects of global warming and their population numbers continue to fall, and if there is no change, they can be depleted. Some species that are getting affected and that were not listed above are giant panda bears, African and Asian elephants, monarch butterflies, and cheetahs (NASA n.p.). Panda bears rely heavily on bamboo as their source of food and as droughts are happening less food is available. African and Asian elephants both require nearly 30 gallons a day and as water becomes polluted, these animals cannot find clean water; the Asian elephant is also losing numbers because invasive species that are forced out of their natural habitats by global warming, are eating everything up. Monarch butterflies rely on natural ques that are being disrupted. Cheetahs are considered vulnerable because there is little diversity in the DNA across the species, so that tends to decrease their chances of adapting to new changing environments. National Geographic claims the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change is the Humble Bramble Cay Melomys, a small rodent (n.p.). This rodent lived near the Great Barrier Reef.

National Geographic had a team led by Ian Gynther from Queensland’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection out searching for any signs of life, in which they failed. The team issued a statement, “For low-lying islands like Bramble Cay, the destructive effects of extreme water levels resulting from severe meteorological events are compounded by the impacts from anthropogenic climate change-driven sea-level rise” (n.p.). If one species faced the affects sure enough more will, and it is believed by Lee Hannah, a senior scientist for climate change biology with Conservation International that animals that live on “smaller islands and on mountains” can expect massive losses due to “few places to go” (n.p.). Change is everywhere and questions concerning human involvement have continued to show up. Humans have been involved in climate change since the beginning of the industrial revolution. The revolution set off a trend that would last forever. The use of extracting fossil fuels from the ground, changing environments to build new factories, and the more common use of polluting machines all increased (Romm 137). Some examples of fossil fuels are natural gas, coal, and oil. Oil can be found in many places throughout sedimentary rock, and can be transformed into fuels such as gasoline, propane, and kerosene. Petroleum leaves a 37% mark in the United States energy needs (Denchak n.p.). The main form of getting this oil is hydraulic fracturing; rock is broken up by pushing large amounts of chemicalized water down through pipes allowing oil or gas to escape. The Bakken formation, a rock unit that spreads for thousands of miles, was producing “more than one million barrels per day in 2014” (McBride n.p.) With the increased use of fracking oil spills can occur which will harm the soil leading to vegetation being wasted. Breaking up rock can cause earthquakes.

Geologists in Arkansas and Oklahoma have conducted research on the increase of seismic activity located along up and coming fracturing projects (McGlynn 1052). Environmental Protection Agency established the first scientific links between fracking and pollution of nearby drinking water and found things like “radioactive materials and heavy metals.” Coal is another fossil fuel that is a carbon filled rock. Coal can be found in four forms that are usually determined by the carbon content and can be defined as “the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel” (Denchak n.p.). The list from lowest to highest grade is lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, and anthracite. Although they vary in grade, they all are still sources of harmful pollutants. There are two ways to get coal: underground mining that uses high tech gear to make cuts from deposits and surface mining that takes layers of soil and rock and uprooting and polluting entire ecosystems. (Denchak n.p.) According to Daniel Wood and Sarah Gerrity, authors of the department of energy state that, “The United States consumes on average 148,600,00 British thermal units (btu) or 1000 pounds’ (How n.p.). Alternatives need to be put into effect quicker than ever. Natural gases are found deep beneath the earth surface between rock layers and deposits under the ocean floor. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration natural gases: Natural gas contains many different compounds. The largest component of natural gas is methane, a compound with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH4). Natural gas also contains smaller amounts of natural gas liquids (NGL; which are also hydrocarbon gas liquids), and nonhydrocarbon gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor (Natural n.p.). Wells are set up to allow the gas to flow to the earths surface. Wells are being set up and they are pushing animals out of their habitats. Also wells have the chance to break causing leakage once again damaging plants, agriculture, and water.

The ways humans travel is hurting the world. Driving, flying, riding a train, or even traveling by ship can all cause pollution. While all of them use fuels like coal and gasoline that contain these harmful materials that are increasing the rates of global warming. Some car companies have taken a step in the right direction by implementing electric cars. Even though electricity includes burning fossil fuels, it is extremely less than a normal gas car. The opportunity to change is there, and people must commit to it, but some people just fail to accept the effects of climate change. One of the biggest problems facing global warming is that citizens don’t want to believe it. Incropera says, people who “dismiss the significance” of global warming view carbon dioxide as unharming (265). While science has given information on this trend some people do not accept the truth of science. Also, for the people who are on the border may think that the information provided still is not enough to convince them. The opposing side may say things like there could be a million of reasons for the earth to warm like the sun has gotten closer to the earth or the sun got bigger. Lieberman says that, “Wealthier countries, who may feel themselves to be less immediately affected may therefor be less supportive of action” (187). III.

As I discussed in this paper global warming is an ongoing trend all throughout the world, that can prove to be detrimental. Global warming is not only going to affect the animals on this earth it will affect us humans as well whether it is destroying land or polluting the air and water. Species have already suffered major losses and have brought them to the brink of extinction, but for some it has already proven too late. Humans play a big part in global warming by everyday travel and through factories, and if the world can unite and realize this is a real situation, humans can possibly slow it down. Many countries have already set goals in effort to help. This planet cannot stand the effects of global warming for much longer. It does not matter if one is in the cold of the arctic or the sun filled tropics. It is time for everyone to accept that climate change is real and that, if the trend continues the way it has everyone will eventually suffer. The last chance is here, and many people believe that it is time to put an end to climate change.