Climate Change as a Public Health Issue

Introduction

The correlation between ones environment and health conditions has become more vivid than previously due to an increasing variety of social issues that tackle ones state over the past decades. To conduct a proper assessment of national health as a notion, the concept of public health was introduced, being connected with the environmental factors that could potentially impact the individuals lives (Den Broeder et al., 2018). However, even when this notion has gained its recognition worldwide, public health efficiency is now questionable due to both authoritys and citizens ambiguous attitudes towards the issues. The rapidly increasing number of policies now introduced to public health management fails to meet the expected results, as stakeholders lack determination in terms of the problem. Hence, the primary purpose of the following paper is to closely examine and suggest a possible solution to one of the most challenging global issues today  climate change.

Issue Description

Climate change is, by all means, one of the most severe human-made natural phenomena the world had faced over the past centuries. However, whereas the blame is put on human activity, and the most significant victim in the case is the environment itself, it is of crucial importance to focus on how climate change affects human beings as well. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), climate change is one of the most dangerous challenges humanity faces today due to several precedents, including:

  • Extreme weather patterns;
  • Air pollution;
  • Food insecurity;
  • Vector-borne diseases rate increase;
  • Raising waters;
  • Expanding social gap within a state (APHA, n.d.).

While the issue is quite prevalent in the United States, creating a major discrepancy in healthcare access in the first place, the whole world is almost equally affected by the implications of climate change. Hence, it is of crucial importance to estimate the policies now existing within the US aimed at reducing the scope of this impact.

Existing Policies and Intervention

Speaking of the population affected the most, it is barely possible to estimate the one that struggles with climate change the most due to the fact that its causal link leads to a variety of effects, specifically for a certain social group. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the most widespread effects of extreme weather conditions include:

  • Heat stress;
  • Vector-, food-, and water-borne diseases;
  • Injuries;
  • Economic disruption;
  • Poor nutrition, hunger;
  • An increasing rate of respiratory diseases such as COPD, asthma, bronchitis (CDC, 2019).

One of the major governmentally-based public health policies considering climate change is the CDCs BRACE (Building Resilience Against Climate Effects) framework aimed at addressing the aforementioned outcomes (CDC, 2019). The framework consists of five steps concerning anticipation of the effects, disease burden projection, public health intervention evaluation, health adaptation plan implementation, and quality assessment and control.

The following public health policy has now been introduced to the vast majority of the US authorities in order to secure efficient medical intervention in the process. However, the measurable outcome of the policy does not respond to the initial expectations due to the lack of actual interventions in the process. In fact, it has been estimated that the states expenses on healthcare are steadily increasing over the past two decades, implying the improvement of public health promotion (Dieleman et al., 2016). Nevertheless, personal healthcare has always been a priority, leaving behind such alarming issues as climate change and human inequity in terms of healthcare access.

Suggestions on Policy Improvement

It goes without saying that the climate change that has now been severely affecting human health is a result of those humans impulsive and inappropriate actions in the first place. However, some of the major expectations in terms of public healthcare on climate change are placed on the state leaders who need to define algorithms on combating the issues disastrous effects. Thus, it might be proposed that the best way to improve these policies efficiency would be to secure active citizen participation in the process.

One of the best ways to achieve this is to establish a proper dialogue between the US citizens, and the governors who have the authority to introduce the policies (Binns and Low, 2019). Moreover, the major issue lies in the fact that non-governmental organizations addressing climate change and public health are unwilling to collaborate with authorities, as they believe them to have no genuine interest in the problem. Although it might be true, more people are struggling with climate change effects every day, leaving no minute to waste on ideological arguments. Instead, both sides are to cooperate by reaching a consensus in terms of resources and agenda so that the issue would be battled on the shortest notice.

Taking everything into consideration, it might be concluded that despite immense attention paid to the issue of climate change effects on climate change, the issue would still be relevant for a long time from now due to its scope. A series of seemingly efficient policies have now been introduced to the broad audience bearing the right ideology yet lack measurable results. Hence, it is ones public duty to collaborate with fellow residents and authorities in order to secure an appropriate healthcare agenda.

References

APHA. (n.d.). Health & climate resource guide. Web.

Binns, C., & Low, W. Y. (2019). Time to get on with it: climate change needs public health action now.

CDC. (2019). CDC policy. Web.

CDC. (2019). CDCs building resilience against climate affects (BRACE) framework. Web.

Den Broeder, L., Devilee, J., Van Oers, H., Schuit, A. J., & Wagemakers, A. (2018). Citizen science for public health. Health promotion international, 33(3), 505-514.

Dieleman, J. L., Baral, R., Birger, M., Bui, A. L., Bulchis, A., Chapin, A.,& & Lavado, R. (2016). US spending on personal health care and public health, 1996-2013. Jama, 316(24), 2627-2646.

The Problem of Climate Change in South Florida

Introduction

Quality drinking water accessibility is essential to sustaining peoples health and well-being. Most of Floridas freshwater is sourced from underground aquifers consisting of multiple porous rock layers which hold water. However, various events associated with climate change threaten its existence. This paper highlights the effect of sea-level rise on Floridas freshwater source, the strategies employed to mitigate this effect, and advice to states and federal officials.

Drinking Water Source and Sea-Level Rise

Aquifers supply around ninety percent of Floridas drinking water, an equivalent of over eight billion water gallons daily. Floridas main aquifer systems include the Floridan, Intermediate, and Surficial systems (South Florida Water District, 2015). Scenarios related to climate change, such as the changing patterns of weather, increasing temperatures, and sea-level rise, threaten the states drinking water sources availability and quality. Rising sea levels typically trigger the intrusion of saltwater to freshwater aquifers, soil saturation, and septic tank leakages.

Mitigation Efforts

The state is addressing the aforementioned issue by building sea walls, protecting sewage systems, and improving stormwater system storage. For example, Miami Beach County has allocated over $400 million for building seawalls in low-lying areas in the region (Floridas sea level is rising, 2017). Seawalls protect beaches and shorelines from erosion, reduces water waves energy, and prevents soil from sliding through its structure. Other mitigation measures include building a large freshwater containment unit and utilizing gravel and sand to protect threatened coastal areas.

Personal Recommendation

A recommendation to the state and federal officials is to adopt the use municipal wastes to raise low lying areas. The utilization of municipal wastes to elevate low-lying regions is a cost-effective and an innovative way to minimize carbon emission produced by waste incinerators (Wong, 2015). The state can use a combination of rocks, gravel, sand, and municipal wastes to raise the level of low-lying areas. Protective plastic liners may be utilized as sanitary landfills to prevent municipal waste and seawater interaction. Raising low lying areas will prevent saltwater from reaching the surface.

Conclusion

In summary, underground aquifers are the primary drinking water source in South Florida. These systems are highly reactive to droughts and excessive water withdrawals. Rising sea-levels typically increase surface and groundwaters salinity. Mitigation to counter sea-level rise includes building sea walls, protecting sewage systems, and improving stormwater system storage. State and federal officials can adopt the use of municipal waste to raise low lying areas.

References

Floridas sea level is rising (2017). Sea Level Rise. Web.

South Florida Water District. (2015). Climate impacts on water resources. US EPA. Web.

Wong, K. (2015). Mitigation and adaptation responses to sea level rise. The Open Hydrology Journal, 9(1), 2427. Web.

Energy Crisis and Climate Change

Why are countries of the world facing an energy crisis?

Energy consumption is an important condition for the existence of the society. The availability of energy resources was always a necessity for the fulfillment of human needs and escalating life standards (Ghauri, Awan, & Bashir, 2012).

Thus, as countries continued to improve the quality of citizens life, the level of global energy consumption has significantly increased. Moreover, according to researchers assumptions, the contemporary developmental tendencies will only increase the rate of power consumption in the future. As the demand for energy will grow, countries may face an energy crisis because the amounts the widely used non-renewable natural resources such as coal, oil, and gas are running out, and there are not many alternatives to them at the current moment (Rinkesh, n.d.). Based on this, the global community needs to adopt an energy efficient behavior and invest in the exploration of sustainable energy resources.

What is the relationship between energy and security?

Based on information provided by the Global Economic Symposium (2009), energy crisis raises the issues of political, economic, and ecological security. Nowadays, the major oil and gas reserves are located in a few regions: Russia and the Caspian Basin, Africa, and the Persian Gulf. For this reason, the countries which possess the largest amounts of energy resources have significant power, and the rest of the world largely depends on them both economically and politically. Thus, in the dynamically changing and turmoiled international environment, other states should seek greater independence to maintain greater domestic security.

The acceleration of climate change is the major security problem associated with excess energy consumption. The emissions of gasses and toxic waste into hydrosphere and lithosphere are detrimental to human health. According to statistical data, only in the United States, the presence of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and some other substances in the atmosphere has increased during 1990-2005 by 892 MMT (from 6,397 to 7,379 MMT) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). Therefore, the environmental protection represents one of the most significant public and political concerns.

In terms of government responses to the energy-climate crisis, how has the United States responded to the crisis?

Nowadays, the United States mainly use carbon-intensive energy resources. However, in response to the energy-climate crisis, the U.S. government invested in the exploration of renewable ad unconventional energy sources. For instance, a large solar energy project, Genesis, is launched in California. The efforts undertaken by the local government and organizations can help to improve the ecology and resolve the energy crisis problem as the sun heat has potential to produce about 86.000 terawatts a year and is ecologically friendly (Austin, 2016).

Following the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement aimed to encourage all nations to contribute to the achievement of carbon neutrality and restricted mean temperature rise, the USA declared its commitments to environmental sustainability and communicated the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Obamas administration expected to decrease greenhouse gas concentration in the country by 26-28 percent below 2005 rates by 2025 (Vine, 2016). Nevertheless, today the fulfillment of the environmental objectives is under the question as the current president does not share the common views on the ecological problems.

What are some of the solutions to the energy-climate change crisis?

According to Browne (2009), energy efficiency, development and implementation of a broad range of energy resources, and promotion of common position of climate change among the states are the primary solutions. It means that all countries should strive to adopt a more ecologically friendly behavior and a conscious attitude towards energy consumption and nature as a whole. Effective environmental protection and energy conservation strategies require a high level of the individual, organizational, and national involvement in the process of improvement.

Thus, international and domestic policies aimed to motivate people to be more responsible should be designed and enacted. To accomplish the desired goals, the fundamental changes in value and technology systems are needed. And by developing an ambitious plan and creating appropriate follow-up methods, the United States, as well as other countries, may increase the chance of attaining environmental and energetic sustainability.

References

Austin, R. (2016). Genesis solar energy project: The unforeseen consequences. Web.

Browne, J. (2009). Proposal  The energy crisis and climate change: The challenge. Web.

Ghauri, M., Awan, U., & Bashir, T. (2012). Energy crisis management  A holistic approach. New Horizons (1992-4399), 6(1), 65-72.

Global Economic Symposium. (2009). The global environment: The energy crisis and climate change. Web.

Rinkesh. (n.d.). What is the energy crisis?. Web.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks: 1990-2014. Web.

Vine, D. (2016). Achieving the United States intended nationally determined contribution. Web.

How Climate Changes Affect Coastal Areas

Introduction

Natural disasters and hazards caused by climate change are especially the cases during modern times, as the number of toxic substances and various polluting elements is increasing with each passing year. Coastal areas are affected by them in a much greater way since they are susceptible to hazards from both land and sea (Adaptation to climate change in coastal areas of the ECA region 2010). These areas are very important, as they have always been centers of human activity, and they also provide a plethora of ecological services such as erosion control, storm protection, water purification, etc. Because of being vulnerable to the effects of climate change on both sides, coastal areas have been trying to minimize the pernicious effects of human activity for years by using different methods.

Climate changes effects

The rise of sea level along with erosion is the main threat to coastal areas. Continuously rising temperatures cause melting of ice that leads to an increase in sea level, which in return leads to tremendous damage to peoples property. Storm patterns also become more energetic because of the sea level rise, thus, causing even more devastation and displacement of people (Coastal areas: erosion, coral bleaching, and wetlands inundation n.d.). Extreme rainfalls, droughts, and strong winds are also hazards that originate from climate change. Property damage is not the only thing coastal areas should be scared of  water treatment systems, as well waste disposal sites, can also be damaged during one of the above-mentioned disasters. The ecosystem of coastal areas is also in danger: continuous storms reduce coastal forests durability, and an increase in temperature directly affects the flora and fauna of the area. It comes as no surprise that those countries with coastal areas are putting all their efforts into reducing the number of factors that may cause those unwanted climate changes.

Causes of climate changes and how coastal areas approach them

One of the main factors contributing to climate change is the vehicle emission. Nowadays, most people have a car and are using it on the daily basis. The negative impact it provides on ecosystems, however, rarely ever bothers anyone. This is not the case with Singapore, whose government introduced very strict laws regarding vehicle operation. For instance, in order to buy a new car in Singapore, a person has to obtain a certificate of entitlement. Import taxes on a vehicle nearly equal the vehicle price. There are also money deducting gantries on the roads at different places, the governments tool for discouraging the use of private cars. Guiyang, an island city in China, has managed to reduce vehicle emissions of CO2 and nitrogen oxide by implementing fossil fuel-operated vehicles that use natural gas (Asia Pacific Human Development Report 2012). Seoul resorted to a voluntary program called car-free days, which allows Seouls citizens to choose one day when they will use alternative modes of transport. Considering the amount of cars driven every day, these methods can help to reduce the air pollution and hazardous emissions from transport and should be taken into consideration by all countries with coastal areas.

Another trend that can be noticed while looking at some countries attempts to minimize climate changes is the introduction of the so-called greenhouses. The distinguishing feature of these buildings is that they are environment-friendly and more energy efficient. By 2030, 80% of buildings in Singapore are intended to be greenhouses. Green buildings are also popular in India, where having such a house allows you to get reduced property taxes. Trees are also often planted at the beginning of the project since they provide greener surroundings. The only downside to green buildings is that they are more expensive to build. Still, various calculations show that the cost will be eventually paid back after approximately 5 years.

Energy efficiency plays a large role in preventing certain climate changes from happening, and yet not many countries pay the needed attention to it. Nonetheless, Nagpur was one of the first cities to be affected by Indias Solar City program. The name of the program speaks for itself  Nagpur has installed solar water heating in one of the hospitals in 2008, later introducing such heaters for use in residential and commercial construction. The Solar City program aims to reduce conventional energy consumption. Sun energy is not the only alternative source of power, though; a wind farm founded by the local government in Hepburn Shire in 2005 has enough power to supply 2300 houses. Wind power stations in Shanghai can provide electricity to 24000 households, and by 2020, 13 wind farms are expected to be built. Along with reducing lighting emissions and costs, these alternative sources of energy are great options for preserving our ecosystem in a proper state.

Conclusion

The current state of our climate is rather unfavorable, and numerous factors are contributing to it, namely air pollution, inefficient use of energy and the amount of gas and waste emissions. Coastal areas have to deal with those factors even more since they are susceptible to natural hazards from both land and sea. By analyzing the actions done by various countries to prevent climate changes, we can define three methods that seem to be most effective: reducing vehicle emissions, introducing greenhouses and exchanging conventional energy for alternative ones.

References

Adaptation to climate change in coastal areas of the ECA region 2010, Web.

Asia Pacific Human Development Report 2012, One planet to share, Web.

Coastal areas: erosion, coral bleaching, and wetlands inundation n.d., 2015, Web.

Aspects of Global Climate Change

At the beginning of the speech, on the basis of the three articles he has read, Clinton mentions such facts about climate change as the possibility to measure and increase the level of greenhouse gases (methane and carbon dioxide), the past climate change during the last ice age (that was 15,000 years ago), an evident melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, and global warming as a result of which the freshwater level is increased and the winters become severer.

The UN Global Initiative makes the following predictions about possible climate change because of global warming: severe weather conditions that are observed during the last 10 years may result in tripling the insurance losses (Clinton, 2015). The sea level can rise 50 feet of Manhattan Island and lead to considerable changes in agriculture production and the inability to import food from different parts of the world.

In his speech, Clinton (2015) offers a number of ideas to reduce the possibility of climate change. Some of them are the maximization of clean energy development, improvement of energy conservation technologies, promotion of appropriate research, and intentions to find out the effective use of old energy from such resources as oil and coal. All these steps may be taken only in case people can believe that the chosen alternatives can protect them and make their climate better avoiding the majority of coming unpleasant changes.

Denmark is the country that generates 20% of electricity from wind. The Philippines uses geothermal sources to generate about 27% of electricity. And Germany, as well as Denmark, generates electricity from wind. Still, it has different numbers: more than 16,000 megawatts of electricity are taken from the wind.

Many people cannot even guess how they can actually influence the problem of climate change by taking simple steps and thinking about their future. It is wrong to believe that people can do nothing to stop climate change. First, they have to believe that it is an existing problem that should be resolved. Then, it is time to think about what can be done to change the situation. People, as individuals, are able to pay more attention to such simple steps as less water and electricity usage, recycling, and rejection of car driving to stop or influence climate change nowadays.

Statistics show that the level of greenhouse gases has considerably increased during the last 150 years (Giddens, 2011). However, people just do not want to pay attention to the numbers. They prefer to react to the events that do happen and turn out to be visible or tangible. Still, climate change is a vast problem that people have to resolve or, at least, do something to change the current situation. Of course, it is impossible even to imagine that all people can stop using their cars and start bicycling. They may think how beneficial this kind of change can be: money is saved, communication is increased, and better shape is possible. Another successful example of climate change reduction is a persons decision to use less water and electricity. It seems to be so easy to switch off lights more frequently, or buy electricity-saving light bulbs, or watch less TV or other devices that are electricity-dependent. Of course, it is impossible to stop using everything at once. Still, it is possible to try using them less and observe the results. Finally, people, as individuals, should take responsibility for their actions. They can recycle things and garbage they produce. It is not a difficult task to make sure there is no waste behind.

In general, people have all chances to be environmentally friendly and make attempts to stop climate change. The steps like the control of water and electricity, recycling, and the promotion of a car-free society can be taken day by day and enjoy the results achieved.

References

Clinton, W.J. (2015). Global climate change. In O. Roca and M. Schuh (Eds), An examined life: Critical thinking and ethics (pp. 463-470). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Giddens, A. (2011). The politics of climate change. Malden, MA: Polity Press.

Climate Change in Africa and How to Address It

Introduction

Africa is the worlds second-biggest continent since it covers about 30.3 million kilometers. It accounts for six percent of the globes total surface area as well as 20 percent of the land. Its population is 1.3 billion inhabitants, which is 16% of the Worlds human population.1 According to environmental scientists, Africa is exceptionally exposed to the effects of climatic alterations subject to its elevated levels of poverty, dependence on rain-fed farming, and water shortage.2 Additionally, the continent is extremely hot; therefore, further heat up from global warming affects its temperatures.

Issue

Climate change is affecting the African population, with research indicating that variable temperatures have impacted health, food productivity, livelihoods, and water resources.2 In relation to the 2015 climate transformation responsibility index, of the ten adversely affected countries, seven are in Africa. Extreme weather occurrences are the first impact identified as evidence of Africas changing climate. The region has been declared to be the worlds greatest helpless territory to the consequences of weather alterations. Warming temperatures are expected to trigger frequent and severe weather patterns, including flooding, famines, fires, and rainstorms.2 For instance, the entire East African region faced severe drought during 2011 and 2012, which had never occurred in the previous sixty years.

In addition, the most devastating floods in North Africa occurred in North Algeria, resulting in eight hundred deaths and a $400 million economic loss. 2 The second effect is food and water availability, where famines, stress caused by heat, and floods have initiated a decrease in food harvests and a significant decline in animal output.1 East African country, for instance, is witnessing an unfavorable food calamity in the twenty-first century, with approximately 12 million people in desperate need of nourishment. Because of the lack of rainfall, reliance on rain-fed agriculture exacerbates the situation. There have been visible repercussions such as rivers running dry, water bodies shrinking, and glaciers melting.2 Water level drops have harmed economies, particularly on large rivers. Countries such as Ghana, for instance, depend on hydroelectricity generated by the Akasombo dam on the Volta River, which has suffered environmental destruction caused by extreme weather events.1 As a consequence of climate change, Mt Kilimanjaros glaciers are gradually but dramatically melting. Since glaciers are water towers, their absence causes rivers to dry up.

Because of the regions pre-existing high levels of poverty, global warming has had a significant impact on the African people. To address the aforementioned environmental issue, the region must establish adequate climate financing systems to fund adaptation efforts.2 Funding should be directed toward low-carbon emission initiatives and the expansion of renewable energy. Furthermore, new forms of planned urbanization must be adopted by constructing more compact, efficient, and less polluted cities, and connecting with city networks throughout the world to share expertise on clean energy development.2 Nonetheless, despite commendable efforts to alleviate the situation, there are still obstacles impeding the successful implementation of policies. Significant limitations include a lack of creative technological solutions and real-time climatic data.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is one of the African stakeholders combating climate change. The organization promotes the development and application of innovative climate change solutions.3 This is accomplished through the financing of green initiatives in agricultural industries, which ensures that investments conform to conservational and social protection requirements, thereby mitigating any environmental risks and repercussions. Furthermore, UNEP standardizes the green economy transition by assisting countries in translating national economic policies and climate resilience policies into appropriate development strategies.3 It also promotes ministerial engagement at all levels to develop inter-agency task forces in order to assist ecosystem-based adaptation for food security.

Conclusion

Floods and droughts are only a few of the extreme events that occur around the world because of the ever-changing climate conditions. Problems with extreme weather patterns, such as food insecurity, water shortage, and mortality from natural catastrophes, point to a concerning trend. Aside from the outstanding effort being made to mitigate these effects, there is still a need for a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change.

Reference List

Adenle, A. A., Ford, J. D., Morton, et al. Managing climate change risks in Africa-A global perspective. Ecological Economics. 2017;141:190-201. Web.

Kabubo-Mariara J, Mulwa R. Adaptation to climate change and climate variability and its implications for household food security in Kenya. Food Security. 2019;11(6):1289-1304. Web.

Bakhtiari F. International cooperative initiatives and the United Nations framework convention on climate change. Climate Policy. 2017;18(5):655-663. Web.

Climate Change: The Impact of Technology

The development of technologies has inevitably affected all spheres of humans lives, bringing benefits and enhancing commodities to the extent that could not have been imagined several decades ago. What is more important, technological innovations help people to deal with one of the greatest threats of the new millennium: climate change. Specifically, there is the potential of technologies positive effect on carbon emission due to causing its reduction. At the same time, it is crucial to consider the economic outcomes of technologies in relation to climate change. Overall, specialists and researchers in the field of climate change single out both positive and negative ways technology can influence the future of the planet. Whereas new technologies help to track climate change and allow finding solutions to dangerous emissions, the excessive presence of automation in peoples lives can lead to adverse outcomes.

The most evident effect of technology on climate change is the possibility of finding new solutions to climate change problems. At the Global Climate Action Summit, which was held in 2018, a new approach to estimating and decreasing the emissions of methane was discussed (Krupp). Methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas, is reported to have over eighty times the near-term warming power of carbon dioxide. Methane emissions are accountable for one-fourth of all the global warming that humanity is experiencing at present. However, according to researchers, these statistics outline not only numerous difficulties but also a variety of opportunities (Krupp). Specifically, with the help of technology, it becomes possible to reduce methane emissions, which is the most convenient and cost-effective solution for eliminating the level of global warming (Krupp). In 2013, the Environmental Defense Fund involved 140 scientists from forty institutions, as well as about fifty oil and gas companies, in an extensive research study aimed at assessing methane emissions in the US oil and gas sector.

It is necessary to emphasize that such a profound investigation became possible due to technology. Scholars utilized airplanes, sensors mounted on drones, and Google Street View cars. Such methods allowed them to measure emissions at each of the supply chain links, starting with remote wellheads and ending with the pipes under each street (Krupp). With the help of the newest technological developments, it was found that the oil and gas industry of the USA emits 13 million metric tons of methane annually. This amount exceeds the estimates made by the Environmental Protection Agency by 60% (Krupp). Therefore, the most evident benefit of technology use in the fight against climate change is the opportunity to obtain valid information about the levels of dangerous emissions. With the help of these data, the companies operating in the oil and gas industry, along with researchers, will be able to come up with solutions to the problems identified. As a result of technologies involvement, governments can develop more effective policies against dangerous emissions and control the situation better.

The transparency gained with the help of technological advancements can reach beyond the common places of tracking methane emissions. MethaneSAT  a satellite mission that is about to be launched in 2021  was designed with the aim of mapping and measuring methane emissions practically in any part of the planet (Krupp). With the help of this innovation, companies and countries will be able to notice problems timely, come up with ways of solving them, and evaluate the process of alteration. As a result, dangerous emissions will be reduced, and the situation with climate change in the world will be enhanced.

Energy technologies constitute another important part of the process of mitigating climate change. Van der Zwaan et al. note that the utilization of technologies in the energy sector has the potential to scale down carbon dioxide emissions (p. 526). In their article, Van der Zwaan et al. analyze the situation in Latin America and emphasize the positive role of technologies in the process of measuring the most dangerous contributors to climate change (p. 527). Researchers acknowledge that the effect of carbon dioxide cannot be measured with a hundred-percent certainty. However, they note that technologies can bring the issue to a whole new level and grant the highest precision possible (Van der Zwaan et al, p. 527). The application of technology helps to understand the changes necessary in the energy system, with the use of which carbon dioxide emission can be eliminated. To pursue such an aim, a variety of technological models can be employed (Van der Zwaan et al. 527). These may be general and partial equilibrium ones, those with various levels of simulation and optimization, and the models with different degrees of inclusiveness and diversity in the energy system.

Along with the evident benefits of technology in the sphere of carbon dioxide emissions reduction, scholars point out the need to notice the effect of technology on the growth of the economy. As Li and Wang remark, economic growth causes alterations in the extent of carbon dioxide emissions (p. 61). Therefore, researchers argue that the environmental and economic outcomes of technologies should be viewed as separate entities. With the intention to analyze the intensity of the technologies influence on carbon emission intensity and economy, Li and Wang studied the data from 95 countries over the period from 1996 to 2007 (p. 61). The authors reported that technological progress led to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. However, at the same time, Li and Wang found that a separate analysis of technologies intensity effects indicated both beneficial and adverse results (pp. 65-66). Therefore, one cannot say that technology has a purely positive influence on climate change.

Another set of ideas concerning the effect of technology on climate change refers to the so-called industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution. With the advent of more and more technologies, many processes and tasks previously performed by people have become automated (Wright). The number of disruptive technologies is increasing, which leads to alterations in peoples ways of living, working, and communicating. Such disruptive technologies include virtual reality, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and robotics. As Wright remarks, understanding of the influence of the mentioned technologies on climate change is quite complicated. On the one hand, innovations can eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and allow for collecting and analyzing data that will help to mitigate climate change. On the other hand, however, mass automation can bring negative outcomes, such as the growing levels of emissions and consumption (Wright). The most viable unfavorable effects of technologies are expected to be noticed in the spheres of automobile manufacturing and agriculture.

The process of car manufacturing is currently almost entirely automated. The majority of processes that humans used to perform have been replaced by robotic workers (Wright). Technologies lead to highly efficient energy management at automobile factories. As a result, companies are able to eliminate waste and emissions in all processes involved in car manufacturing. Unfortunately, excessive use of technologies also has an adverse effect on climate change. Since the process of making a car is more efficient, automobiles are cheaper, hence, more people can afford them (Wright). Consequently, there are more cars on the roads than there used to be, which results in an excessive amount of emissions.

In the agriculture industry, the mechanization of machines allows producing food with less labor. However, this fact also means that the level of environmental degradation increases (Wright). The use of new tractors, robots, and other machines for making farmers work easier causes an increase in the negative environmental impact. Along with that, lower prices on food mean increased consumption, which also has an adverse influence on climate change.

In the question of technologys impact on climate change, one cannot draw a clear line between the benefits and limitations of such an effect. Undoubtedly, the evolution of automation and technological devices enables researchers to track the levels of dangerous emissions and find ways of decreasing them. At the same time, it cannot be denied that the simplification of labor in many spheres causes excessive consumption and additional emissions, which are unfavorable for the environment. While new technologies help to control emission rates, they also contribute to the growth of these rates. Therefore, innovation should be embraced with caution in order to use its benefits for the planets welfare and minimize the imitations that can harm the environment.

Works Cited

Krupp, Fred. How Technology Is Leading Us to New Climate Change Solutions. World Economic Forum, 2018.

Li, Mingquan, and Qi Wang. Will Technology Advances Alleviate Climate Change? Dual Effects of Technology Change on Aggregate Carbon Dioxide Emissions. Energy for Sustainable Development, vol. 41, 2017, pp. 61-68.

Van der Zwaan, Bob, et al. Energy Technology Roll-Out for Climate Change Mitigation: A Multi-Model Study for Latin America. Energy Economics, vol. 56, 2016, pp. 526-542.

Wright, Laurie. What Will More Advanced Technology Mean for Climate Change? Independent, 2019.

Environmental Issues: Problems of Climate Change

Unquestionably, global transformation is becoming a challenge encompassing a broad scope of human life, including its economic and social features. Conducted investigations indicate that climate change will continuously affect the globe so long as necessary precautions are not taken to preserve the environment. Therefore, I believe in all the hype about climate change and global warming rising under human influence since there are already evident climatic changes in the current environment. Most individuals acknowledge the magnitude of these alterations. Global warming can drastically derange some of natures indispensable conditions for food, air, water, and health.

Daily, globalization keeps growing, making it difficult to predict the future of human security. Some of the climatic alterations and environmental threats bred from global warming include the role of human pursuits such as burning fossil fuels and industrial undertakings upon which modern civilization relies (Henderson et al., 2018). Additionally, human activity and natural events are the major causes of global warming. In that respect, I mainly make the world clean and help cut down pollution by pulling out my finances from businesses that I deem as causing damage to the climate and environment. Moreover, it is essential to recycle, create awareness, buy organic products, and finally be responsible and environmentally conscious when making choices. Fossil fuels are not the most dangerous polluters, human beings are. Therefore, personal actions, for instance, taking ones bike or shopping organic, are vital for climatic protection, especially in this era.

Climate change is essentially piloted by the utilization of fossil fuels and collaterally by greenhouse effects and other less prominent undertakings. Therefore, the overriding means of solving global warming would be eliminating fossil fuel utilization in the contemporary world whenever practicable (Henderson et al., 2018). This would mean the globe is transitioning from fossil fuel utilization to carbon-free and infinite energy derivations, such as wind, hydro, and solar power, which have a percentage below three of the fossil fuel energy sources. Despite the vitality of cutting down pollution, I think that bringing a complete end to fossil fuels would not be practical or possible. This is because it would largely put a hold on transportation, industrial production, agricultural production, and electricity production, resulting in the world going back to how it used to be before civilization. Nevertheless, I think it is possible to come up with a way to resolve this problem short of burning fossil fuels.

In terms of climatic change and environmental issues, I believe technology can develop solutions that make it possible to secure the environment and manage climatic changes without completely cutting out the burning of fossil fuels in the long run. According to research, there is a possibility that in the future, inventions that allow us to burn fossil fuels and not cause pollution at the same time may be manifested, including carbon removal technologies (Henderson et al., 2018). This would consequently provide a global warming solution that does not necessarily require the cutting down of pollution. Another possible solution to this problem is creating a filter-like technology, which allows for the burning of fossil fuels without emissions going out into the atmosphere. Windmills, nuclear energy, and hydro energy would also be a great way to tackle global warming. However, these are just speculations of advanced science and technology, although they are a strong possibility considering how innovative technology is growing.

In conclusion, climatic change poses a threat to the planet in various forms, including vital impacts on health, food, water, and air. It presents a possibility of terrible and worse implications on humanity universally if not countered on time. However, there is a glimpse of hope in the developing technologies where global warming and climatic changes might be managed and the danger of an inhabitable planet deleted.

Reference

Henderson, R., Reinert, S., Dekhyar, P., & Migdal, A. (2018). Climate change in 2018: Implications on business. Web.

Climate Change Impacts

Explore the impacts of climate change with our effects of climate change essay. Learn more about climate change causes, effects, and solutions with the help of our sample. Keep reading to gain inspiration for your essay on climate change and its impact.

Effects of Climate Change: Essay Introduction

It is doubtless that global change has become one the challenges, which encompasses a wide range of human life, including social and economical aspects of human life. Research has indicated that climate change will continue affecting the world as long as proper measures are not taken to protect the environment.

In this line of thought, human activities have been widely blamed for escalating effects of climate change around the world (Hillel & Rosenzweig 2010). Only time will tell whether taming climate change is possible or not.

In this regard, this assessment covers the impact of climate change in our lives today even as world leaders burn midnight oil to develop strategies, aimed at taming the scourge. This proposal topic has an array of benefits, especially in understanding the fatal nature of climate change.

It will mainly focus on the effects of climate change and make proposals on how to counteract the effects of climate together some of the preventive measures being considered by international leaders.

Through literature review, this project will compare different views as argued by different authors in order to synthesize the issue with varying view points. This will be crucial in capturing the main objective of the projects, which revolves around the analysis of the effects of climate change in the world today.

Climate change

How is climate change defined? Although different environmental experts tend to have different definitions, the Australian Government defines climate change as the weather pattern observed for several years. These changes are mainly caused by human activities, which negatively impact the environment.

With reference to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released in the year 2007, climate change is no longer a myth, but a reality, whose impact has continually escalated from 1950s, mainly due to rising levels of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

This implies that human activities have significantly contributed this environmental scourge, which continues to affect most parts of the world. The IPCC report was a representation of the world view on climate change, collected from various scientific journals published around the world (Australian Government 2012).

The Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency affirms that there is enough evidence to support the fact that the climate system of the earth has continuously been warming. Some of the observations made include the rising level of air in the world and high ocean temperatures. Others are the rising sea level, constant melting of snow and ice in most parts of the world.

One important fact to note about climate change is that it involves the rising temperatures of the climate system holistically, including all the oceans, atmosphere and the cryosphere. These findings concluded that the climate system is in a heating mode.

Even as we review other peoples work, it is important to note that climate change is more than mere global warming as perceived by most people. From scientific revelation, the climate will be varied broadly especially if the warming continues uncontrollably (Australian Government 2012). As a result, the world is likely to experience irregular rainfall patterns, occurrence of severe climatic events like heavy currents and droughts among others.

Climate change impacts

The impact of climate change has been felt in every part of the world. According to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Asia, Africa and Latin America are among the regions of the world, which have severely been affected by the scourge. In a 2010 survey carried out by Climate Change Secretariat, Africa is under the pressure of climate change and remains vulnerable to these effects.

Unlike most parts of the world, Africa experiences varying climatic changes. Common occurrences in Africa are severe droughts and floods, which have had negative implications on the continents economy (UNFCCC 2010).

The two events are widely known to predispose famine and overall interference with the socio-well being of the society. According to the UNFCCCs analysis, close to a third of Africas population inhabit drought-prone regions, while more than two million remain vulnerable to drought every year (UNFCCC 2010).

In understanding the implication of climate change in Africa, the survey found out that the issue of climate change is intertwined with several factors, which contribute to its escalation across the continent.

Some of these factors include poverty, weak institutions, illiteracy, lack of information and technology, limited infrastructure, poor accessibility to resources, poor management and conflicts. In addition, there is widespread exploitation of land, which remains a major threat to the climate.

Due to pressure on farming land, most farmers exert pressure through over-cultivation and deforestation. In addition, other factors like dunes and storms continue posing more negative threats to the environment and human beings (UNFCCC 2010).

As a result of these events, the continent experiences drought and overall scarcity of water. Due to this emerging trend, Africa is likely to face shortage of rainfall and overall scarcity of water. With Africa having several trans-boundary river basins, the continent is likely to experience conflicts over these basins. Another important aspect captured in the report is agriculture (UNFCCC 2010).

Since most subsistence farmers in Africa depend on rainfall and irrigation, the sector has been affected by insufficient supply in most Sub-Saharan regions. Besides this, UNFCCC notes that climate change has resulted into loss of agricultural land and a drop in subsistence crop production. With a good percentage of the population under the threat of starvation, climate change has undoubtedly led to escalation of insufficient food supply.

It is amazing to note that climate change has also contributed to the spread of some diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and diarrhea in most parts of Africa. As stated by the UNFCCC, there has been a shift in the distribution of disease vectors.

For instance, migration of mosquitoes to regions of higher altitude is likely to expose people in such regions to the risk of contracting malaria (UNFCCC 2010). Additionally, climate change is likely to result into negative impact on African ecosystems and habitats, which are already threatened by these changes. Due to reduced habitat and changing climatic conditions some species are likely to move to more tolerable regions.

In this line of though Robert Watson, Marufu Zinyowera and Richard Moss found out that climate change can have severe effects on human health. In a research carried out in 1998, the three reiterated that human health may be affected as a result of heat-stress mortality, urban air pollution and vector-borne diseases, which could be favored as a result of change in temperature or rainfall in a given ecosystem (Watson, Zinyowera & Moss 1998, p. 7).

Additionally, Watson, Zinyowera and Moss argued that these effects are commonly felt in developing countries, where lives are lost, communities affected and the cost in medical care rises due to high prevalence of some health complications.

With regard to the impact of climate change on biodiversity, Watson, Zinyowera and Moss, agree with UNFCCCs findings. In their 1998 survey, the three argued that all ecosystems play a fundamental role in the society (Watson, Zinyowera & Moss 1998).

For instance, they are a source of goods and services to any society. In particular, these goods and services include provision of food, processing and storage of carbon and other nutrients, assimilation of wastes and provision of recreation and tourism opportunities among others.

As a result, they argued that climatic changes are known to alter the geographical local of various ecological systems, including the presence of certain species and their ability to remain productive to support the society. According to their findings, ecological systems are essentially dynamic and are commonly affected by climatic variations of whichever magnitude.

Nevertheless, the extreme to which the climate varies determines the changes, which occur in the ecosystem. In addition, the three authors noted the high level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was a major contributing factor towards climate changes taking place in the world today (Watson, Zinyowera & Moss 1998).

Besides influencing the ecosystems, Watson, Zinyowera and Moss noted that climate change may also have secondary effects, say, variations in soil characteristics and interference of regimes. These include diseases, pests and diseases, which are likely to support the existence of some species favorably than others (Watson, Zinyowera & Moss 1998).

This will automatically affect the survival of some species and the overall population of organisms. Similarly, they argued that that climate change has direct impact on food production in most parts of the world. According to the 1998 survey, the type of agricultural systems in place determines the manner in which crop productivity is affected by changes in climatic conditions and patterns.

Like many other scholars, Barrie Pittock spent his life studying the environment and how it is affected by changes in climate. In his 2009, survey, Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions, Pittock outlined several reasons why there is cause for alarm, regarding climate change in the world today.

According to Pittock, the UNFCCC seeks to reduce the impact of climate change by being on the frontline in the war against global warming (Pittock 2009, p. 107). He further noted that human-induced climate change is a major security threat in the world today. This stance is mainly backed by the well-known effects of climate change described by the UNFCCC and the IPCC.

Moreover, Pittock reiterated that climate change has complex effects in the world today, citing a number of examples. In cases where there is high rainfall resulting from climate change, the world may experience direct or indirect implications.

This could be seen through high or low crop yield, depending on the type of soil or crop. On the other hand, indirect effects may refer to changes in demand and supply, emanating from either low or high yield, depending on other factors. He therefore agreed with several authors and researchers who have enumerated implications of climate change on the environment and human life at large.

For example, Pittock noted that climate change has been a major cause of water shortages in most parts of the world (Pittock 2009, p. 108). He however attributed this to a number of factors, including precipitation decrease in some regions, high rates of evaporation in the world and general loss of glaciers.

Economically, Pittock noted that climate change affects the economic progress of a nation since resources may be diverted to disease control instead of advancing developing projects.

Moreover, it is important to note that most of the countries, which suffer severely as a result of climate change, are poor nations that lack stable economic muscles. As a result, there is a likelihood of richer countries becoming stronger as developing economies weaken further. Lastly, Pittock noted that some of the threats emanating from climate change cause irreversible damages, which end up haunting human beings forever (Pittock 2009, p. 109).

With reference to a number of scholars who have done research on the impact of climate change, it is evident that human activities have a role in the escalation of these effects. In his 2010 survey, Martin Kernan noted that there is a relation between human activities and global warming.

As a result of this global relationship, the world has registered an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In this survey, he noted that the increase in green house gases is rampant in the northern hemisphere than any other part of the world.

As a result of high temperatures, Martin underscore that the changes have impact on the composition of natural ecosystems, regarding species population and their ability to survive (Kernan 2010, p. 15). What is most evident in Martins research is his comparison of the current state of the climate, to what was known hundreds of years ago.

Climate change also affects the quality of water in the United States. According to a research carried out by Robert Mendelsohn and James Neumann, water plays an important role in the life of a human being. Some of these functions include but not limited to power generation, food production, recreation and ecological processes (Mendelsohn & Mendelsohn 2004, p. 133).

However, this is only possible if the water is available and of good quality. Thus, changes in spatial distribution and quality can have direct social and economic effects on the society.

This alteration may occur as a result of increased concentration in greenhouse gases. Climate change can be detected by observing variation in temperatures, frequent and intense droughts and altered precipitation patterns among other factors (Mendelsohn & Mendelsohn 2004, p. 133).

The findings on the impact of climate change on the quality of water have also been pursued by Jan Dam, who argued that natural systems are usually sensitive to changes in climate variation. Hydrological quality is mainly affected by the temperature or concentration of water (Dam 2003, p. 95).

When oceans and other water bodies overheat because of high temperatures, this may result into negative impact on aquatic animals, which adapt to certain hydrological temperatures. Similarly, the quality of water is always altered when gases like carbon dioxide are dissolved in water basins. This may affect the mix of species present in a given ecosystem.

Managing climate change

Based on the impact of climate change, it is doubtless that management of the risks has to be effected promptly before they become fatal and irreversible. One of the ways of controlling climate change is through reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

This can be achieved through several ways, which minimize the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (McCarthy 2001, p. 222). According to James McCarthy, this can be realized by adopting alternative sources of energy unlike how most economies rely of oil and petroleum products as the main source of energy. Additionally, good methods of farming are important to maintain the value of the environment for sustainable support.

Use of international legislations is also necessary in ensuring that rich countries do not exploit developing nations as they are major contributors of effluents into the atmosphere (Hillel & Rosenzweig 2010). Above all, the fight against climate change calls for environmental campaign, which requires the efforts of everybody in the world.

Effects of Climate Change: Essay Conclusion

From the above review of literature, it is clear that climate change is a major socio and environmental issue affecting the world today. Mainly caused by human activities, climate change poses a chain of challenges and threats to the environment.

For instance, there are several diseases, which affect human beings as a result of climate change (Rosenberg & Edmonds 2005). Of importance is also the alteration of the quality of the natural environment, which affects biodiversity. This has led to the extinction of some species, while others have increased exponentially in numbers.

Moreover, it is imperative to note that some of the occurrences, which are considered to be natural, are caused by climate change. Common ones include floods and draughts (Faure, Gupta & Nentjes 2003, p. 340).

Most of these calamities continue to be recognized as natural disasters yet they can be controlled using simple mitigation measures. In most cases, adoption of renewable sources of energy has always been considered to be the most important way of saving the world from climate change. Although it is a complex issue to handle, joint global efforts are important in making progress.

References

Australian Government 2012, Impacts of climate change.

Dam, J 2003, Impacts of Climate Change and Climate Variability on Hydrological Regimes, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.

Faure, M, Gupta, J & Nentjes, A 2003, Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol: The Role of Institutions and Instruments to Control Global Change, Edward Elgar Publishing, United Kingdom.

Hillel, D & Rosenzweig, C 2010, Handbook of Climate Change and Agroecosystems: Impacts, Adaptation, and Mitigation, World Scientific, Singapore.

Kernan, M 2010, Climate Change Impacts on Freshwater Ecosystems, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey.

Mendelsohn, R & Neumann, J 2004, The Impact Of Climate Change On The United States Economy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.

Pittock, B 2009, Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions, Csiro Publishing, Sydney.

Rosenberg, N, & Edmonds, J 2005, Climate Change Impacts for the Conterminous USA: An Integrated Assessment, Springer, New York.

UNFCCC 2010, Climate Change: Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Adaptation In Developing Countries.

Watson, R, Zinyowera, M & Moss, R 1998, The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.

Food Security: The Impact of Climate Change

Introduction

These days, various ecological problems present a hot debates in the global society. In the modern world, it is evident that it is crucial to preserve nature and avoid pollution and damaging the planet. The consequence may significantly affect the current population and the nest generation. One of the most pressing concerns implies climate change and the rise of average temperature level. This problem appears to be extremely threatening for the life of humanity in the long run, and it has a direct link with sufficient food supplies. However, there are multiple inaccuracies and misunderstandings in this regard. Therefore the purpose of this paper is to clarify them, including differentiating global warming and climate change, the possible consequences, and challenges for food security.

Difference between the Terms Climate Change and Global Warming

In the context of discussions of ecological topics, there are a large number of misunderstandings on the terms climate change and global warming. Therefore, there is a need to clarify this issue and present differences between these collocations. As for global warming, it implies the long-term heating of Earths climate system (1, para. 3). This tendency was firstly discovered even in the preindustrial period, in the second half of the 18th century (1). The reason for it is human activity, namely fossil fuel burning, which causes the greenhouse effect. Therefore, global warming involves a rise in the average temperature level on the Earth.

On the contrary, the term climate change is used to name to some extent different events in this regard. It means a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earths local, regional and global climates (1, para. 5). This event was observed at the beginning of the 20th century, and as it is similar to global warming, the cause is human activity, or more precisely, fossil fuel burning (1). However, the major difference between the collocation is the inclusion of natural contribution to climate change. Internal and external factors, for instance, cyclical ocean patterns, volcanic eruption or activity, and changes in Earths orbit, may have an impact on climate.

It is a common sight that people confuse these two terms. The most probable reason for it implies the fact that the meaning of these collocations is extremely close. Another possible cause is the lack of awareness of these issues, as these terms are usually used together. All people interested in ecology are highly likely to comprehend the difference between global warming and climate change.

The Consequences of Temperature Rise

Regardless of the difference between global warming and climate change, it is a scientifically proven fact that the global average temperature level is gradually rising. Graph 1 illustrates the considerable change in climate, which occurred in the second half of the 19th century, and a drastic rise in global surface temperature in the 20th century (2). NOAAs 2020 Annual Climate Report, which contained an evaluation of both land and ocean temperature, revealed the rise of 0.08 degrees Celsius since 1880 (2). Lindsey & Dahlman highlight: the average rate of increase since 1981 (0.18°C / 0.32°F) has been more than twice that rate (2, para. 5). In Paris, 195 countries confirmed that the global temperature increase on 1,5 degrees Celsius since 1900 year (3). These tendencies are considered to be extremely destructive for the planet and life on it in the long run.

History of Global Surface Temperature since 1880 (2).
Graph 1. History of Global Surface Temperature since 1880 (2).

There are assumptions that the current statistics and its continuance may affect the natural world, namely glacier melting. Kraaijenbrink et al. (3) conducted an exploration of the influence of temperature rise on glaciers in the mountains in Asia. They state that the heating tendency will lead to 64 ± 7 per cent of the present-day ice mass stored in the HMA glaciers will remain by the end of the century (3, para. 1). Consequently, the study confirms the negative consequence of the wild nature of temperature increase.

Another possible impact regards the climate in droughts, which is considered to aggravate. Naunmann et al. (2018) provided an insight into this issue, analyzing the probable consequences for drought areas in 1,5, 2, and 3°C warming. The conclusions are: two thirds of the global population will experience a progressive increase in drought conditions with warming (4, para. 1). Therefore, drought areas are highly likely to become even hotter and incur a supply-demand deficit. Thus, it is possible to summarize that the assumption on the significant negative impact on nature in many aspects is credible.

Climate Change and Challenges for Food Security

Since climate change affects the natural world, it is evident that it poses particular challenges for food security in the future. The negative consequences will have a considerable impact on crop yield and livestock and fisheries production. An increase in average temperature will lead to water shortage, droughts, floods, and a high concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, which worsen the quality and number of stable crops to a large extent (5). These days, maize and wheat production encounter challenges, which are posed by climate change.

Another probable consequence, which affects food security, is the rising sea level. Apart from reducing the place for possible food production, saltwater kills rice crops. This product is especially important for Asian countries, as it is one of the major products in their cuisine. Consequently, their food supplies and economic condition may be harmed to a large extent (5, 6). For instance, in Vietnam, rice crops are located in the Mekong Delta region, which are vital for feeding the population of the country (5). Probable flood may kill all the fields and pose risks to the food security of the state.

Droughts may aggravate the situation with food supplies in countries, which already have problems with them. Possible disasters in nature may significantly limit the access to food supplies among low-income people. In the 21st century, the problem of hunger still exists, and climate change may worsen all the progress. In addition, high temperature may make dry areas even more restricted in water supplies, which is destructive for crops. Thus, it is apparent that climate change is highly likely to result in a variety of challenges in food security for humanity.

Financial Support for Food Security

In the context of present-day developments, appropriate financial support for maintaining food security is established, and it is expected to prevent global hunger in case of threats to some extent. However, there is an assumption that the money in this fund is misused by government officials. This issue presents a matter of hot debates among the International Monetary Fund, UNICEF, and AID. Opponents are convinced that there is proper monitoring of these funds, and misappropriation is impossible in these conditions. It appears to be challenging to provide an in-depth insight into this problem, as these discussions are conducted on the governmental level. As an ordinary citizen, I cannot have direct access to actions of officials, though it is possible to base the conclusions on data available in media.

It should be noted that there is significant evidence for proving governmental officials guilt in misusing the money for food support. There is information on the misappropriation of food relief, which was intended to be supplied for hungry people (7). This event happened in Yemen, and it was widely broadcasted in the press. However, this case is too small to threaten food security. Furthermore, it does not regard the funds devoted to this issue directly.

From my perspective, I trust the government in this regard. I am convinced that food security finding is a matter of special concern, and it is monitored thoroughly. I do not deny the possibility of mistakes, though I consider that all the measured are taken in order to prevent them in the long run. In addition, misappropriation of this money will be considerably judged by global society, which makes officials unwilling to misuse them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that the condition of the environment is worsening from year to year. In the context of present-day developments, the population may perceive the negative consequences of this tendency only slightly. However, in the future, it is highly likely to threaten the life of the entire humanity. Climate change has a direct impact on food supplies and security, and for this reason, it is crucial to take appropriate measures in order to prevent the aggravation of the situation. Otherwise, droughts, lack of water, the rise of ocean level, and other numerous negative consequences may lead to global hunger, as food production will be impossible in these circumstances. Therefore, the necessity to address this pressing concern urgently is undeniable.

References

  1. Overview: Weather, Global Warming and Climate Change. n. d. Nasa: Global Climate Change. Web.
  2. Rebecca Lindsey & LuAnn Dahlman. 2020. Climate Change Global Temperature. Web.
  3. Kraaijenbrink et al. 2017. Impact of a Global Temperature Rise of 1.5 Degrees Celsius on Asias. 257260. Web.