‘A Global Concern
There has been a considerable increase in the average temperature of earth in the past century. This rise in temperature is attributed to the effects of global warming brought about by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This phenomenon is called Global Warming. The effects of global warming are numerous. The main culprits in the issue are excessive discharge of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
What are greenhouse gases?
Atmospheric trace gases that keep the Earth’s surface warm are known as greenhouse gases. About three-quarters of the natural greenhouse effect is due to water vapor. The next most
significant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. Methane, nitrous oxide, ozone in the lower atmosphere, and CFCs are also greenhouse gases. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), along with other chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds, have been extremely useful man-made substances in the fields of safety, refrigeration units, aerosol propellants, electronic cleaning solvents, and blowing agents. These chemicals have been used in virtually all sectors of society including commercial, industrial and household applications
How does the greenhouse affect work?
The greenhouse effect is a natural process, sunlight passes through the atmosphere, warming the Earth’s surface. Next, the land and oceans release energy in the form of heat, or infrared radiation, into the atmosphere and maintains a balance with the incoming energy. Carbon dioxide, water vapor and a few other naturally occurring gases can absorb a fraction of this radiation, allowing it to warm the lower atmosphere. This process of heat absorption, which maintains the surface temperature enough so we can survive, is what is known as the greenhouse effect. Now, if the natural barrier of greenhouse gases were to just disappear, the Earth’s average surface temperature would be far too cold for much of life including us.
Global Warming Causes
As said, the major cause of global warming is the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc into the atmosphere. The major source of carbon dioxide is the power plants. These power plants emit large amounts of carbon dioxide produced from burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity generation. About twenty percent of carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere comes from burning of gasoline in the engines of the vehicles. This is true for most of the developed countries. Buildings, both commercial and residential represent a larger source of global warming pollution than cars and trucks.
Building of these structures requires a lot of fuel to be burnt which emits a large amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Methane is more than 20 times as effectual as CO2 at entrapping heat in the atmosphere. Methane is obtained from resources such as rice paddies, bovine flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuel manufacture. When fields are flooded, anaerobic situation build up and the organic matter in the soil decays, releasing methane to the atmosphere. The main sources of nitrous oxide include nylon and nitric acid production, cars with catalytic converters, the use of fertilizers in agriculture and the burning of organic matter. Another cause of global warming is deforestation that is caused by cutting and burning of forests for the purpose of residence and industrialization.
Consequences of Global Warming
The earth is getting hotter, and scientists overwhelmingly agree that temperatures will keep going up if we fail to dramatically reduce global warming pollution. The consequences of a warmer world range from dirtier air and water to more severe floods and droughts to a rise in human health problems and the spread of tropical illnesses. Learn what is in store for our planet over the coming century.
The need for a new and innovative financial mechanism to combat climate change:
If we look at the globe from outer space, we can observe a beautiful, exciting and magic place with a great variety of species, nature and living conditions. We can see the white ice covered poles, the green rainforests around equator, the mountains of Himalayas and the big blue oceans.
If we take a closer look, we also can observe that the globe is dominated by three major problems: wars, poverty and environmental degradation. These problems need to be solved by the international community. They are to some extent made by man and therefore, can be solved by man.
Climate change caused by human activity threatens human life and biodiversity in a scale we have never experienced before, and can lead to increased poverty for millions of people and a rise in the number of armed conflicts, if nothing is done. Dealing with global warming requires international cooperation and solidarity like never before.
The climate crisis mainly reinforces already
existing problems. Climate change has taken place several times before in the history of the globe. What is new is the rapidness of the climate change, the fact that billions of human beings now populate the Earth and the fact that the climate change is manmade. Conflicts on resources are not unknown, neither are refugee flows. What’s new is that rapid man made climate change reinforces these problems.
Climate change is reality, for this variability millions would be threatened especially on lives and livelihoods. Impact on water, habitat, livestock, fish stock will be enormous that would create serious conflict. Although this write-up has clearly focused that climate change has a greater impact due to wars, poverty and environmental degradation, but attitude change towards changing development and building community harmony, pro-people development harnessing the nature gift is also important aspect.
Citizen action and community sensitization towards building community cohesion and deeper understanding on living with dignity is also a major thrust. There should be a complementarity on resource conservation or their optimal use.
The task is daunting. One hundred ninety two countries must forge an agreement that can contain what may be mankind’s largest challenge in the 21st century: man-made climate change.
The consequences are dire. And they are already taking place. All over the world, the weather is changing. Rainfalls are getting heavier, storms are getting tougher, and droughts are getting longer. The melting of the ice caps in Greenland and the Arctic is picking up pace and sea levels are rising. The habitats of plants and animals are threatened. Food production is under pressure.
Last year, how the livelihoods of poor farmers in Mali were first stifled by a long drought, and then literally washed away by cascades of rain. The respected English economist Lord Nicholas Stern has predicted that millions, perhaps even counted in hundreds of millions people could be climate fugitives by 2050, fleeing from water shortage, famine, and natural disasters.
As if that wasn’t enough, climate change is on the verge of a tipping point. If left unbridled, the temperature rise may trigger an avalanche of positive feedback effects that will increase the pace of changes dramatically and make the damages irreversible. According to Nobel Laureate and head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations, Dr. Pachauri, we have only ten years to turn the boat.
In its fourth assessment report, IPCC, which consists of more than 2000 scientists and researchers, concluded that it is more than 90% certain that human activity has contributed to global warming. The temperature rise is caused by increased amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, not least CO2. The emission of CO2 is mainly related to human use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
Under any circumstance, we need to think smarter in the future: In 2050, we will be 9 billion people living on this earth, and 8 of these 9 billion will be living in areas that we today call the developing world. To me, this makes it very obvious that economic growth simply needs to be sustainable growth. The resources in the world are scarce. Being as energy efficient as possible and finding new smarter energy solutions are imperatives of the years to come.
The link between human activity and climate
change is also established. There is uncertainty as to how exactly the physical processes that mediate between greenhouse gases emissions and changes to our planet’s climate will unfold, but these processes are not easy to reverse, and may even be irreversible. Catastrophic effects are possible in the long-run and the more we wait, the greater the risk. We must step up our efforts to mitigate climate change now as a form of insurance against these growing risks. At the same time, we now know with certainty that climate change will have a larger and more immediate negative impact on many of the world’s poor. Our concern for development and poverty reduction, as captured in the Millennium Development Goals, dictates that we mitigate climate change urgently to reduce the threats to the development prospects of the most vulnerable, as well as take action to help those already affected to adapt.
To mitigate climate change, we must make deep cuts in greenhouse gases emissions over the next two or three decades, starting now. This requires fundamental transformations in our carbon-based economies. This task may appear especially challenging now as the world faces the deepest economic crisis in several generations. However, I think that the current challenging economic situation is not a reason to delay action on climate. Instead, it presents a unique opportunity to reinvigorate our response.
You Can Help Fight Global Warming: Many efforts are being made by various nations to cut down the rate of global warming. One such effort is the Kyoto agreement that has been made among various nations to reduce the emissions of various greenhouse gases. Also many non-profit organizations are working for the cause. Al Gore was one of the foremost U.S. politicians to ring an alarm about the hazards of global warming. He has produced a significantly acclaimed documentary movie called “An Inconvenient Truth,” and written a book that archives his advice that Earth is dashing toward an immensely warmer future. Al Gore, the former vice president of United States has given various speeches to raise an awareness of global warming. He has warned people about the ill effects of Global warming and its remedies.
Reducing Global Warming And Working For Common Good: What Inspires Collective Cooperation?
No one enjoys paying taxes. Even so, we need taxes if we want our streets clean, a proper public health care system, an educated population or the maintenance of Earth’s climate within habitable boundaries. This is what scientists commonly refer to as public goods — benefits that everyone receives whether or not they contribute to them. The missing link between paying and benefiting from a public good creates an obvious dilemma and temptation to cheat (not to cooperate): Why shouldn’t I let the others pay for it?
A similar situation comes into play whenever the same resource is to be commonly explored by many – in which the so-called tragedy of commons is the ultimate outcome of selfish, non-cooperative behavior. Thus, coming to an understanding of the social mechanisms which are able to maintain and promote cooperation, remains of central importance in areas such as Biology, Ecology, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, etc.
In general, Humans tend to cooperate in many public goods dilemmas ranging from family issues to global warming. Paradoxically, current theoretical studies based on (evolutionary) game theory invariably predict, and economic experiments corroborate, that the temptation to forego the public good mostly wins over collective cooperative action. However, up to now, individuals have been treated as equivalent in most respects, in sharp contrast to real life situations, where diversity is ubiquitous. Have shown how diversity provides an escape from the tragedy of the commons.
Less Carbon Can Mean More Growth
Although the global recession is serious and its duration uncertain, the world must nevertheless continue to focus on the far-reaching threat of climate change. Indeed, if we are smart, public policy can serve the twin goals of stimulating growth and fighting global warming.
Governments hammering out a successor
agreement to the Kyoto Protocol at the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen later this year should adopt strong incentives to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Doing so could kick-start private investment and help to fuel economic recovery.
The broad outlines of an effective and efficient response to global warming have been clear for years. A system to cap CO2 emissions and trade emission allowances would channel resources toward the most cost-effective reduction measures. And widespread adoption of efficiency standards for appliances, vehicles, and buildings would help companies and individuals use less energy.
Moreover, several specific policy initiatives could help government and society better harness companies’ agility and innovative power in the quest to control greenhouse gas emissions: Agreements among groups of key countries to reduce emissions in specific industrial sectors, Incentives for companies to capture CO2 and store it safely underground, accelerating the deployment of this promising technology; Technology funds to support the development and commercial demonstration of new technologies, such as advanced bio-fuels, with high potential for lowering CO2 emissions.
Until now, negotiators have aimed for a global deal palatable to developed and developing countries alike. While that remains the ultimate goal, it has so far proven devilishly complex to formulate.
A possible stepping-stone would be agreements between smaller groups of pivotal countries to cap emissions from individual high-emitting sectors of their economies. Such agreements could be important building blocks for a broader deal. Sectors to focus on include power generation, which accounts for about 35% of global CO2 emissions, and production of cement, chemicals, and steel.
As a hypothetical example, an agreement on emissions from coal-fired power stations might include large users such as China, the European Union, India, Japan, and the United States, which together account for about 80% of global coal-fired capacity. Such a deal could include mechanisms for transferring clean-coal technology from developed countries to developing ones. Cap-and-trade systems could provide a potential source of funds through the auctioning of emission allowances.
Climate negotiators should also give CO2 capture and storage (CCS) high priority. While increased use of renewable and nuclear energy will help reduce emissions, by themselves they will not be able to keep up with fast-growing energy demand. Fossil fuels like it or not, will remain the world’s main source of energy for decades.
Indeed, “cleaning up” fossil fuel is a necessary and vital bridge to a low-carbon future. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, CCS may contribute up to 55% of the emission reductions that scientists believe are necessary during this century to address global warming. But companies are reluctant to invest in CCS because it adds substantial cost and generates no revenue. If CCS is to fulfill its potential, companies need incentives to invest and a way to make money.
Finally, governments should stimulate the development and commercial demonstration of technologies that hold promise for a low-carbon energy future. The dramatic drop in energy prices in recent months makes it less likely that private investors will gamble on unproven technologies.
No one knows if the economic crisis will last months or years. But a good outcome in Copenhagen will serve the world for decades to come by sparking growth and taking steps to control greenhouse-gas emissions.
Global Warming is Inspiring Scientists to Fight for Awareness
Scientists all over the world are making predictions about the ill effects of Global warming and connecting some of the events that have taken place in the past few decades as an alarm of global warming. The effect of global warming is increasing the average temperature of the earth. A rise in earth’s temperatures can in turn lead to other alterations in the ecology, including an increasing sea level and modifying the quantity and pattern of rainfall. These modifications may boost the occurrence and concentration of severe climate events, such as floods, famines, heat waves, tornados, and twisters. Other consequences may comprise of higher or lower agricultural outputs, glacier melting, lesser summer stream flows, genus extinctions and rise in the ranges of disease vectors.
As an effect of global warming, species like golden toad, harlequin frog of Costa Rica have already become extinct. There are a number of species that have a threat of disappearing soon as an effect of global warming. As an effect of global warming, various new diseases have emerged lately. These diseases are occurring frequently due to the increase in earth’s average temperature since the bacteria can survive better in elevated temperatures and even multiply faster when the conditions are favorable.
The global warming is extending the distribution of mosquitoes due to the increase in humidity levels and their frequent growth in warmer atmosphere. Various diseases due to Ebola, hanta and Machupo virus are expected due to warmer climates. The marine life is also very sensitive to the increase in temperatures. The effect of global warming will definitely be seen on some species in the water. A survey was made in which the marine life reacted significantly to the changes in water temperatures. It is expected that many species will die off or become extinct due to the increase in the temperatures of the water, whereas various other species, which prefer warmer waters, will increase tremendously. Perhaps the most disturbing changes are expected in the coral reefs that are expected to die off as an effect of global warming. The global warming is expected to cause irreversible changes in the ecosystem and the behavior of animals.
It is not easy to attach any particular events to global warming, but studies prove the fact that human activities are increasing the earth’s temperature. Even though most predictions focus on the epoch up to 2100, even if no further greenhouse gases were discharged after this date, global warming and sea level would be likely to go on to rise for more than a millennium, since carbon dioxide has a long average atmospheric life span.
“The future of these beautiful creatures lies in our hands. If the ice caps melt down, these penguins would have nothing to live on, but just dry land.... the glaciers would be replaced by dry rocks.”