Ethics and Global Warming - Assignment Example

? Ethics and Global Warming Introduction Global warming is one of the hottest debatable topics in environmental studies. The rise in the average temperature of the oceans and atmosphere of earth is known as global warming. Major consequence of this global warming is rapid global climate change. Increasing greenhouse gases’ concentration due to several human activities like deforestation and huge consumption of fossil fuels is resulting in unequivocal warming of climate system. Climate change has become the most critical and challenging issue that is affecting the environmental balance of the world. This study will illustrate how the ethical analysis and evaluation can help to realize the nature of climate problem and restriction on potential solutions. In order to do so, the study will concentrate on how the climate change threatens the essential value. Moreover, this study will raise serious concerns of responsibility and fairness. Global Climate Change and Ethical Action Challenges Global climate change is most serious challenge towards ethical action. Climate change can be described as the appropriate moral storm as it brings several key challenges to the ethical action. Climate change is truly a global phenomenon. Emission of greenhouse gases is the major consequence of global warming. This greenhouse gas emission is affecting the planet. Increasing greenhouse gas emission can increase the average surface temperature of globe. It is true that all countries in the world are collaboratively trying to reduce the level of green house gas emission, but on individual basis, each country prefers to continue greenhouse gas emitting. Several unethical business practices and increasing green house gas emission is one of the major reasons behind the global climate change. Therefore, it is important for all the countries and states to minimize the harmfulness of the climate change in order to save future global generation. Emission of green house gases should be reduced significantly as soon as possible (Jamieson, 1992). Moreover, it is the responsibility of the developed countries to take serious initiatives so that other countries and states can follow the pathway. Current greenhouse gas emission has huge intergeneration effects. Carbon dioxide is the most prominent and deadly greenhouse gas. Emission of this greenhouse gas is contributing to negative impacts on climate for centuries. It is unfair if these negative impacts are cumulative and severe. Moreover, temporal diffusion can create several collective ethical action problems. It is more challenging comparing to the common traditional tragedy. Underdeveloped theoretical tools in several relevant areas, such as intergenerational ethics, international justice, scientific uncertainty and strong relationship between nature and human being is another significant challenge to the ethical actions. For an example, global climate change can raise questions about the moral value of several nonhuman natures, such as obligations to protect unique place, nonhuman animals and rest of the nature. In addition, potentiality for catastrophic results and existence of scientific uncertainty put pressures internally on several standard and effective economic approaches to several environmental problems. Moreover, these will play an important role in the arguments for the defensive approach in the environmental policy and law. Global climate change is raising several questions about how an individual should relate to the nature and nonhuman animals. Addressing Global Climate Change Environmental damage has become one of the most important global threats. Heating up atmosphere due to deadly methane and carbon dioxide gas emission is affecting modern day civilization. Majority of the individuals feel that acceptance of the global warming is a natural phenomenon. On the other hand, according to various environmental scientists, global climate change is the major consequence of global warming. Several unethical and irresponsible human activities are major key drivers of global climate change. The above figure is addressing that the current rate of greenhouse gas emission can affect the future generation due to increasing temperature of global atmosphere. It is important for all the individuals to reduce or minimize the threat of global warming by implementing several ethical activities in daily life (Adger, 2005). Deforestation and huge consumption of natural energy resources are damaging ecological balance. It is true that several nonhuman elements and plants wiped out from the planet due to dramatic and rapid global climate. These animals and trees are losing the fight for existence. Every individual has effective and major contribution in the ecological balance. Lack of favorable environment is affecting the ecological balance. Route of Future Emissions It is clear from above discussion that current human generation has huge responsibility to reduce the amount or number of several climate damages. Determination of more accurate route of future emission necessitates more significant thought about intergenerational, ecological and global justice. It considers three issues as an illustration which is provided below. From the vulnerable species and future generations’ perspective it is necessary to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emission as soon as possible. This process will help the society and all the individuals to reduce the future climate damages. However, several activities can be conducted by the countries or states. Moreover, these activities can be time consuming and expensive but it will pose significant benefit to the future generation. It is true that the level of green house gas emission in underdeveloped and developing countries is quite low comparing to the developed countries. It is possible that these underdeveloped and developing countries can transform themselves to the advanced level through effective implementation of industrialization and technological strategies. They need to focus on maintaining environmental balance for the sake of future generation. Global climate change is threatening the nature and nonhuman animals in several devastating ways. For example, human beings may have an obligation to shield coral reefs to protect fragile, biodiversity and exclusive ecosystem. However, over a long period of time, it is identical that global climate change continuously brought several new species. It remains unclear that how human beings should realize and understand their responsibilities in the light of this rapid global climate change. The future route of concern is still theoretically underexplored. Particular quantitative target requires effective and appropriate ethical defense in light of several conflicts and issues. Majority of the environmental studies writers argued that all the developed countries have to undertake major responsibility in reducing the emission level of greenhouse gases. The developed countries are majorly responsible for dramatic climate change. Beside of this, it is the responsibility of states, governments, all individuals and the leading organizations to take several effective initiatives. People should try to conduct sustainable activities in their daily life. On the other hand, several leading organizations need to implement sustainable business strategies in their business process. Lastly, governments and states should try to develop several effective environmental policies. Maintaining ethics will help to bring sustainability in global environment that can minimize the pace of rapid climate change. This will reduce the environmental threats. Several individuals argue that the countries are not responsible for the rapid global climate change. On the other hand, some individuals argued that it is the organizations that are majorly responsible for the climate change. Impacts that cannot be avoided Considering the inertia in global climate system, it can be stated that people are already committed to the several serious and negative impacts. The harmfulness of these impacts can be reduced through adaptation of several effective strategies. If people of modern era keep on avoiding the impacts, it would be disaster for them. Rising temperature of atmosphere and sea level can change the definition of ecosystem. The organizations need to consider greenhouse gas emission as a serious concern (Arnold, 2011). They should try to maximize their business profit in an ethical way. Effective environmental ethics considers the ethical relationship between the global nature and people that should not be hampered or violated. The individuals should stop the cutting down of rain forests. Rain is an important natural element that maintains the balance of ecology. Deforestation is reducing the percentage of rain in several areas. Now-a-days, people and organizations have the technology to manufacture eco-friendly vehicles. Therefore, the time has come to reduce the consumption of bio-fuel as these are necessary for the environmental balance. Burning of fossil fuel can increase the emission of greenhouse gases that are harmful for climate. In this present era of globalization of advanced technology, people around the globe are trying to maintain luxurious life style. Usage of air conditioner, refrigerators and fossil fuels has become common habit of maximum individuals. Maximum people of higher income group cannot maintain simple life style due to their ego and changed mentality. Therefore, it is important to council their mindset. It is important and effective for the future generation. As it is discussed earlier, several human activities and business practices of the organizations are responsible for the increasing greenhouse gas emission, the government and state should develop ethical policies regarding climate change to reduce the threats. Responsibility of Individuals, Organizations and Government The scenario of global environment is significantly changing. All the human beings should have the responsibility to keep the environment healthy and pollution free. Pollution free natural environment is the major source of effective health and wealth of the individuals. Rapid global climate change is the most critical and dangerous aspect. High greenhouse gas emission and increasing ozone layers are the major reasons behind the global climate change. Individuals can take several actions in order to minimize the threat of the global climate change. People use natural energy resources in order to minimize their daily workplace stress. Electricity is one of the important forms of the energy. Individuals need to reduce the consumption level of energy. It will help to reduce the environmental strain. Reasonable and limited utilization of energy resources can help global community during several serious crisis situations (Vanderheiden, 2008). People should switch off their CFLs, music players, TVs, refrigerators and air condition machine while leaving their rooms. These strategies can help people to reduce the consumption level of energy. Burning of fossil fuels can increase the emissions level of the greenhouse gases. Government should motivate the automobile organizations to manufacture fuel efficient cars and cars that can run by substitute energy resources. Buyers of cars should consider this fact that limited fuel consumption can minimize the emission level of the greenhouse gases. Consumption and utilization of eco-friendly products and services will help the individuals to reduce the environmental harm. Increasing carbon footprint in food products is affecting human bodies. People need to avoid the consumption of fast food products. Fast foods are junk foods that can create child obesity and increase calorie level in the body of human beings. The government should try to motivate food production organizations to offer organic foods. Consumption of organic food will help to maintain the nutrition level in human bodies. Moreover, government should promote several awareness programs in order to motivate the people to conduct several basic things in order to maintain their good health. Before, taking foods individuals should wash their hand properly. This awareness program will help to reduce the spread of harmful bacteria and chemicals. Moreover, before cooking and eating, people should carefully wash several fruits and vegetables. Water is the major source of life for all animals and trees. It is important for the human beings to utilize water carefully. Rain is the major source of water. People should try to understand the value of rain forest. Maintaining ethics and conducting ethical operational strategies will help the organization to maintain sustainability in their business process (Postel & Richter, 2003). Moreover, government should undertake some strategies in order to store the rain water. If the climate temperature rises, the storage of water can be affected. Therefore, government should develop several policies like water recycling and zero solid waste for the organizations. Implementation of water recycling strategies will help to maintain the balance of sufficient water in the world. This strategy will help to prevent natural resource utilization. Implementation of recycle bank strategy will help the organizations to collect, gather, recycled and reuse the water. This strategy is both time and cost effective (Rijsberman, 2006). Last but not the least; the global organization should focus on conducting several CSR strategies. Effective green strategy can minimize the threat of global climate change. Conclusion Global climate change involves several critical ethical issues, especially in its intergenerational, ecological and global dimensions. Global climate change is the serious and negative consequence of global warming. Increasing emission of green house gas and ozone layer is the major reason behind the global warming that result to dramatic and rapid global climate change. Several developed countries and leading organizations are responsible to reduce the risk of global climate change as this can hamper the balance of ecosystem and affect future generation. High consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation are increasing the emission of greenhouse gases. Several government and states are collaboratively trying to minimize the level of greenhouse gas emission in order to protect future civilization. It is true that government needs to initiate several awareness programs in order to educate the people about the impact of this rapid global climate change. Organizations need to maintain ethics in their business process. They should try to implement advanced technology in order to reduce the emission level. People need to reduce the consumption level of the fossil fuel. They should focus on purchasing fuel efficient cars. Limited fuel consumption will result minimum pollution. Government of several countries should motivate their organizations and people to use substitute energy resources to avoid crisis situation. Lastly, it can be stated that government should try to develop rain water storage strategy as water is the major source of life. References Adger, N. (2005). Fairness in Adapting to Climate Change. New York: MIT Press. Arnold, D. (2011). The Ethics of Global Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Jamieson, D. (1992). Ethics, public policy and global warming. Science, Technology, & Human Values, 17, 139-153. Postel, S., & Richter, B. (2003). Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature. The Nature Conservancy, 20, 34-35. Rijsberman, F. (2006). Water Scarcity: Fact or Fiction? Agricultural Water Management, 18, 12. Vanderheiden, S. (2008). Atmospheric Justice: A Political Theory of Climate Change. New York: Oxford University Press. Read More