Changing Climate, Global Warming and Role of the UK Government - Essay Example

?Introduction Climate change has become one of the most critical issues of contemporary times. The inter-dependency of resources between the civil society and business institutions have increasingly become important paradigms of social consciousness. The technology and globalization have brought forth tremendous changes in the contemporary lifestyle of the people. The current generation has given scarce attention to use of limited natural resources like water, land and fresh air. Indeed, in the recent times, the indiscriminate use has resulted in fast depletion of natural resources. It has seriously disturbed the eco system which has resulted in fast changing environmental conditions like global warming, increasing number of climate related natural disasters etc. Thus, both government and business are faced with huge challenges of issues related to climate change and global warming across the globe. Changing climate and global warming Climate change broadly refers to drastic change in weather conditions that adversely impact the living conditions across the globe. The recent changes observed in the global climate have become a huge concern for the environmentalists. The last few years have seen long and hot summers in Australia and Europe. The rising of sea levels at alarming rate due to melting of Antarctica and arctic oceans and climate related disasters are few of the repercussions of using natural resources with little or no sense of responsibility. Pielke et al (2003) assert that climate change that causes extreme weather conditions and natural calamities is much greater in regions having poor infrastructure, huge populations etc. In the recent times, the huge damage to the coral reefs and their gradual decline has been a great concern to the scientists. Wilkinson (2002) claims that about 30% of coral reefs are already seriously damaged and close to 60% may be lost by 2030. This is highly distressing because coral reefs are major facilitator of ecosystem services to the human societies. They contribute through industries like fisheries, coastal protection, building materials, new biochemical compounds, and tourism (Hoegh-Guldberg, et al, 2007). Thus, threat to their existence would not only have adverse impact on environment leading to climate change but would also have long term repercussions on the survival of human societies. Drivers of climate change Dyson (2005) says that economic development is correlated to the fossil energy – coal, oil and natural gas. The industrial revolution has been a catalyst to the exploitation of natural resources like coal, wood and other types of natural resources. The technological advancements and globalization has further accelerated the misuse of the same. The conservation and preservation of natural resources become vital part of survival because they are important part of population dynamics as its sustenance depends on the available resources. Indeed, human threats to the environment incorporate significant factors that are intrinsic part of development process. Social scientists have contested that various drivers of climate change contribute towards sustenance of life forces and determine the characteristics of natural and managed system comprising of cryosphere, hydrology and water resources, marine and freshwater biological systems, terrestrial biological systems, agriculture and forestry etc. (Parmesan and Yohe, 2003; Thomas et al., 2004). Managed system broadly refers to systems that are dominated by considerable human input like agriculture, fisheries, health etc. Another important fact is that an unprecedented increase in population growth in the last quarter has introduced new challenges in its wake. While it has put great burden on the land resources, availability of the other natural resources like clean drinking water and fresh air have also been adversely impacted. Carbon emissions, green house effects etc. are also key factors that have direct impact on climate change leading to global warming and erratic weather schedule. Management initiatives taken to mitigate the impact of CC Global warming has influenced all areas of human activities and population at large faces the risks associated with climate change on a regular basis. Thus, most important role of government is to provide well articulated guideline of governance through well defined constitution and policy framework. The policy frameworks are critical ingredients of administration processes that are designed to improve and improvise the diverse welfare programmes of the public at large. The climate change and global warming are also global phenomena and therefore requires more coordinated efforts by the global and local bodies across the world. The sustainable development has become the fundamental need for preserving our natural resources for our future generation. It can be broadly defined as maintenance of ecosystem that facilitates a continuous supply of natural resources like water, clean air, energy and food with proper waste disposal system. World Bank (2010) has been emphatic in its report for Climate change responses and says that proactive participation of the development community comprising of government, business and people is vital for ensuring adequate and effective adaptation and mitigation measures for climate change. Awareness regarding sustainable development needs to be created amongst the public so that despite advancement in technology, environment is preserved for our future generation. Thus, world agencies have time to time come together to promote measures for environment conservation and preservation. Rio Earth Summit of 1992 was promoted by United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and was primarily concerned with the sustainable development processes that need to be adopted within the wider goals and objectives of business dynamics. More than 178 nations took part and adopted ‘Agenda 21’ which was to be reviewed every five years for effective evaluation and progress (Agenda 21). President Bush of America was one of the main signatories. It laid the roadmap of sustainable development that would significantly influence business decisions and government internal control mechanisms. Kyoto Protocol is considered as important framework of Convention on Climate Change. It had become legal entity on 16 February, 2005. It was created with the objective to restrict greenhouse emissions by the developing and developed countries by setting targets for them (BBCNews, 2005). Greenhouse gases help to regulate earth’s temperature but arbitrary increase in the greenhouse gases like carbon di-oxide and methane etc have damaging impact. They significantly contribute to the changing of the earth’s temperature disproportionately that result in extreme weather conditions. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen in 2009, (UNFCCC, 2009) also popularly called Copenhagen Protocol is distinct in its efforts to unite major developing countries like US and China to curb their carbon emission for the wider welfare of the global community. The accord exhorts the developed countries to set target but does not make it legally binding. UNFCCC in Cancun, 2010 was a major breakthrough vis-a-vis understanding towards a more integrated approach towards environment conservation and emission of greenhouse gases. Cancun Climate change Agreements (Cancun, 2010) were more satisfactory as major areas were identified and decisions were taken with regard to the adaptation of mitigating measures for various drivers of climate change. The various issues that were included comprised of development and adaptation of green technology, financing, reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. Role of government UK has been the first country that has formulated Climate Change Act 2008 which promotes a legally binding long-term framework to cut carbon emissions. It also encourages development of a framework for building the UK’s ability to adapt to climate change’(defra, 2008). Indeed, the well defined guidelines and laws for emission of greenhouse gases and other measures to mitigate and adapt to the climate change are important aspects of the act. While cut in the emission of greenhouse gases is extremely welcome step, need to inculcate habits that promote environment conservation within the lifestyle of common man has become vital part of government initiatives. Social responsibilities of business Hall (1996:63) has been categorical in his definition of CSR. He says that it redefines the ‘rules of economic game in order to move from a situation of wasteful consumption and pollution to one of conservation, and one of privilege and protectionism to one of fair and equitable changes open to all’. Indeed, all corporate activities are intrinsically linked to people and all business decisions have wide ranging implications on the interests of its various stakeholders. Climate change has become major issue within the sustainable business practices. Hence, businesses across globe are increasingly adopting sustainable development practices within their operations so as to encourage measures that promote environment conservation and preservation at all levels of business activities. The businesses are adopting green technologies that promote environment conservation and using recycling to reduce waste. Lash and Wellington assert that businesses like Wal-Mart, Caterpillar, Honda, GE etc are promoting measures that reduce emission of harmful gases. Fuel efficient engines in Honda and Toyota cars, low emission diesel engine by Caterpillar, use of biofuels etc are some of the way, business is constructively contributing towards sustainable development. People have become more aware of the needs of sustainable development and are therefore increasingly prefer goods that are backed by sustainable development practices. Transparency in operations and carbon footprinting has become major compulsions of businesses that not only attracts new customers but also helps the organizations to maintain competitive advantage against their rivals in the industry. Conclusion It can be concluded that environment policy in the twentieth first century incorporates global thought while ensuring that it significantly contributes locally towards conservation and preservation of environment through stringent measures. Indeed, environment protection agencies, business institutions across the globe and action groups have become major facilitators of sustainable development processes. They have not only created and developed innovative measures to mitigate impact of global warming, but they have also used it as important element of competitive advantage. Thus, business community has indeed taken the challenges of climate change as a proactive means to improve the living conditions of not only present generation but also that of future generation. (words: 1624) Reference BBC News. (16 February, 2005). Kyoto Protocol. Available from: [Accessed 2 May, 2011]. Cancun Climate summit. (29 November, 2010). Retrieved from: [Accessed 2 May, 2011]. DEFRA. Climate Change Act 2008. Available from: [Accessed 2 May, 2011]. Dyson, Tim. (2005). On Development, Demography and Climate Change: The End of the World as We Know It? Population and Environment, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 117-149. Hall, D T. (1996). The Career is Dead – Long Live the Career: A relational approach to career. San Fransisco: Jossey Bass Publishers. Hoegh-Guldberg, O et al.(2007). Coral Reefs Under Rapid Climate Change and Ocean Acidification. Science 318, 1737. Parmesan, C. and G.Yohe. (2003). A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. 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