The Sociological Aspects of the Climate Change Phenomena - Essay Example

The Sociological Aspects of the Climate Change Phenomena Abstract Current events and the current issues usually receive a lot of attention from the media and from the general public. The events and issues also receive analysis from different sectors. One of the current issues or events that have been receiving a lot of attention from the media and from a lot of sectors including from scientists and from the academic circles is the issue of global warming. Global warming has been said to contribute to climate change, which has become a point of concern. In this paper, a sociological approach will be taken to analyze a news item that addresses the issue of global warming. The papers will discuss the sociological aspects of the climate change phenomena. The sociological perspectives that will be used include deviance, social change, and social stratification among others. The paper also includes a discussion of the measures that can be adopted to reduce the negative effects of climate change. Climate Change Review ‘APNewsbreak Panel says wild weather worsens’ this is the title of the article that will be reviewed and analyzed. The article by Borenstein and it talks about the effect of climate change on weather. In the article, Borenstein asserts that the weather conditions in different areas are becoming worse by day, and that the change is a man-made made disaster. The article goes on to show how man has contributed to climate change and what can be done to reverse the negative effects that are already being experienced with different magnitudes in different areas (Borenstein 2011). There are many events that happen in the world, and these events leave people scrambling to find answers to the different outcomes of the events. Sociology as a discipline therefore offers people a way to explain the different reasons or the motivations behind the economic, social or political issues or events of the day. One of the issues that is receiving global attention and which can be analyzed using the sociological concepts is the issue of global warming and climate change. While there are many explanations and theories that are put forward to explain global warming, the global warming phenomena can be said to be a social phenomenon and is therefore best explained from a sociological standpoint. As global warming is discussed in the media and in the public domain, it elicits different reactions and attitudes. Most of the discussion on global warming is informed by the idea that global warming is a phenomenon that is caused by human activity and can be rectified through human action. There is however a group of people that believe that global warming has been exaggerated and is not in reality as it is presented (Henslin, 2010). Climate change is a significant change that occurs in the distribution of the different weather patterns over given periods of time. The change in the weather patterns is long lasting and may even be permanent (Borenstein2011). In the article it is suggested that some of the effects that climate change will have is a rise in the sea level, an increase in the occurrence of severe weather events (including droughts, hurricanes and floods), the decreased availability of fresh water for use, and the change in the seasons as we know them which will lead to temperature changes and changes in the growing seasons which will in turn affect the availability of food supplies. To understand global warming from a sociological perspective, sociological concepts can be applied as follows: Social Constructionism (Concept 1ID) Social constructionism refers to the way through which the individual members of a given society construct their social reality (Concept 1 df) In order to understand the human decision making processes, it is important that one understands the motivation that led to the specific decision being taken. The social context within which the individual exists is the main motivation behind most of the decisions that he makes and the actions that he takes to cope or deal with the different situations in which he may find himself. It is the decisions that people make in order to achieve various ends within the society. It is the decisions that are made and the actions that are taken that contribute to global warming and climate change. Through making the proper or environmentally conscious decisions, the climate change and global warming can be reversed. Concept 1 app Deviance (concept 2 ID) This is where members of a society deviate from the accepted norms, behavior or standards of the society. (Concept 2 df) The act of deviance can lead to climate change where people deviate from the environmental friendly practices to engaging in unsafe practices. This also includes industries where they deviate from environmentally safe practices to the present situation where they are some of the biggest contributors to environmental degradation. This is based on the fact that action is socially embedded. (Concept 2 app) Social control (concept 3 ID) Rules and regulations have to be put in place so as to regulate behavior of the different members and different organs of the society (concept 3 df). It is important for rules to be put in place so that the factors that bring about climate change can be contained. Some of the regulations that have been proposed is the regulation of the carbon emissions that the different countries release onto the environment. The countries should also improve the infrastructure in place to mitigate the effects of the climate change and global warming. The countries that make the biggest contribution to the climate change or to global warming should also be made to bear the greatest responsibility in the attempt to reverse climate change. This is because it is the poorer countries that contribute the least to the climate change phenomenon yet they bear the greatest responsibility or are worst affected by the result of the climate change. Social Change (Concept 4 ID) The society undergoes changes in the way that things are done, and in the way different processes are undertaken. (Concept 4 def) The different members of the society have to change the practices that they engage in that contribute to global warming and climate change. This means that the companies have to come up with ways that are more efficient in dealing with waste gases and any other forms of waste that they dispose to the environment. (Concept 4 Application) Stratification (Concept 5 ID) In any given society, there are divisions of the society into different classes depending on social, economic, and political status. The stratifications usually have an effect on access to resources. (Concept 5 Def) The different economies have different abilities in terms of access that they have to resources and in their industrial capacities. This means that the different economies produce different amounts of carbon emissions into the environment and therefore have different carbon footprints. The poorer countries are however more burdened by global warming as they do not have the capacity to respond to the effects of the climate change such as drought and floods. (Concept 5 application) Crime (Concept 6 ID) This is where members of the society behave in a way that is contrary to the set rules and regulations of the society. (Concept 6 def) There are laws that govern the various the various environmental activities. These laws incude those that govern waste disposal and chemical use. Some industries and some individuals engage in activities that directly contradict the laws and by so doing contribute to climate change (concept 6 application). It is therefore important to note that the climate change is an issue that should be urgently dealt with this is because failure to address this issue will have disastrous consequences for all and will lead to social disruption. It is therefore important to seek public support and public understanding in the attempt to deal with the issue of global warming and climate change. More efficient ways of energy use and production should also be sought. References Henslin, J. (2010). Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach. 10 Ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon Borenstein, S. (2011) ‘APNewsbreak: Panel says wild weather worsens’. Retrieved on 01 November, 2011 from http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g_vRxk1x0gV6lh77pCUYvzfgPQMw?docId=13969a79a76544b5ba4cdaad78e0d14a Read More