Human Influence on Climate Change and Its Associated Controversies - Admission/Application Essay Example

 Human Influence on Climate Change and Its Associated Controversies Throughout the last few decades, there have been a lot of scientific consensuses leading to the analysis of whether there is a direct correlation between human activities and climate change. Strong scientific proofs assert that human activities have contributed to the rapid rise on the Earth’s temperature, which resulted in often irreversible, life-threatening upshots (Oreskes, “Beyond the Ivory Tower”; National Research Council, 1). While there are some who believe that the world is not becoming warmer, this is something undeniable to most in that the effects are being felt all over the world. Because of the excessive amount of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and halocarbons (NOAA, “How do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change…”), emitted in the atmosphere, which normally comes from belched smoke, cigarettes, factories, fossil fuels, etc., the ozone layer continues to deplete; carbon gases preclude the sun’s heat from being reflected outside the Earth’s surface, and many others. There are various scientific controversies that both directly and indirectly attempt to explain the real causes of various environmental phenomena such as global warming, melting of the polar ice caps, rising water levels, the increasing frequency of tsunamis, tornados, earthquakes, drought and flood. Nevertheless, the most resounding of all would be the increasing temperature of the Earth and how these scientific consensuses affirm human influence on many environmental phenomena including, but not limited to, ice melting in the north pole, increasing water levels in low lying areas, unpredictable and erratic weather conditions, violent storms, tornadoes, typhoons, etc.; and, how come there are those who do not believe that climate change due to the increasing Earth’s temperature is caused by human activities. This paper shall elaborate on the argument of whether human influence is valid or to counter this contention is more rational and acceptable. Also, it shall touch on how greenhouse gases emitted from various human activities cause undesirable environmental phenomena like global warming, melting of polar ice caps, rising water levels, violent tornadoes, typhoons, storms, and the frequency of tsunamis. Is There A Truth Behind Human Influence On Climate Change? In the intensifying debates that strongly argue on global warming’s manmade nature, it is rather difficult to ensure that one gets the real story from all concerned groups. The United States National Research Council believes in the role that science plays in understanding the real nature of climate change. Further, it asserts that the results found by science regarding the causative factors of global warming could have an overlapping effect on other important challenges that the nation is facing, and of course, the world as well. The council adds that although there are doubts and reservations in comprehending the complex system of the Earth’s climate, “there is a strong, credible body of evidence, based on multiple lines of research, documenting that climate is changing and that these changes are in large part caused by human activities” (NRC, “Advancing the Science of Climate Change”). Susan Solomon et al. (1704) believes that the “atmospheric concentrations of key greenhouse gases increased due to human activities.” Human influence on the Earth’s climate system includes the rising concentrations of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons, etc.), air pollution, and the escalating dilution of air particles (American Institute of Physics, “Statements on the Human Impacts on Climate Change”). Main causes of the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases and other airborne particles are attributable mainly to the enormous carbon emission levels of fossil fuel combustion, aerosols, and the production of cement. Greenhouse gases, which are considered to be forced by human activities, contribute to the perceived global warming in the last half-century” (Hegerl, “Understanding and Attributing Climate Change”). Furthermore, the existing increase on the Earth’s carbon dioxide emissions is attributable to industrialization (Dipuccio, 5). There is not much strong dissent on the idea of human influence on climate change considering the fact that science is lavishly providing solid evidence that clearly attribute human activities to climate change; nevertheless, detractors of this scientific consensus are somehow anxious about the downside of this consensus to their political objectives. How Does Rising Concentration Of Greenhouse Gases Cause Climactic Change(S)? The rising concentration of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere likewise increases the Earth’s temperature. The risk of having an escalating water temperature can lead to polar ice loss, shrinkage on the presence of glaciers, ice loss in the arctic sea, changes in the life cycle of most vegetation, and the considerable change on the sea level. Greenhouse gases are natural ozone that regulates the Earth’s temperature based on temperature levels that are ideal for humans to live. Halocarbons that include chlorofluorocarbons such as CFC-11 and CFC-12, which serves as refrigeration materials, was discovered to cause “stratospheric ozone depletion” (NOAA, “How do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change…”). Dissenting Views on Human Influence on Climate Change While overwhelming scientific evidence proves undisputed in showing that there is an indirect correlation between human activities and climate change, yet, there are those who oppose this argument. A lot of the opponents of the consensus perspective on climate change have expressed divergence, completely or partly, on the scientific agreement regarding the various environmental risks of climate change that include ozone depletion, passive smoking, and organic pollutants such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (Jacques, “Environmental Scepticism”). This dissenting stance over the scientific consensus on the human influence on climate change is considered to be politically motivated, which started in the Bush administration, wherein there is a prevalent rejection of scientific evidence on the real cause of global warming to give way to political ideologies, in order to further certain political objectives. Of course, economic issues that determine the position of a country in the international arena would be a significant, influential factor in the complete acceptance of the scientific consensus on climate change. Most of the detractors of the consensus are coming from the political side of the fence, which would always favour their political agenda over mitigating the effects of climate change by absorbing the idea that indeed human influence on climate change is valid. If they accept this as a fact, it means that as leaders they are expected to create policies that would regulate the use of fossil fuels, regulate the manufacturing industry, increase patronage on alternative energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal energy sources. What is the significance of all of these consequences to them? If politics gives in to the scientific consensus of climate change, they would somehow reduce global shipment cost on products that are potential contributors to climate change; hence, there is less monetary gain on their part. In addition, some opponents of the scientific consensus on climate change and global warming have contended that the inclusion of political issues in a scientifically-inspired matter should not be carried out as this can be regarded as an “ad hominem” assault. Pielke Jr., a renowned political scientist, believes that politics and science are unavoidably interwoven with each other (Pielke Jr., 17). Human Activities, Excessive Greenhouse Gases Emission, and Environmental Phenomena As discussed earlier, human activities such as fossil combustion, cement manufacturing, and other related activities such as smoke belching, burning plastics, and excessive energy consumption contribute to global warming. Due to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, aerosols and halocarbons in the atmosphere, irreversible climate change developed (Solomon et al., 1), which results in global warming and other violent environmental phenomena to take place. There are reliable proofs from the dimensions and quantities of “sea level pressure, wind, and temperature over the twentieth century for the decadal changes in the atmospheric circulation and some evidence for similar ocean changes.” Kevin Trenberth (12) asserts that the melting of glaciers and other ice forms all over the world, and the rising water levels in seas suggest of the global rising of temperature. Erratic weather conditions are to be expected like violent storms, El Nino phenomenon, unpredictable weather patterns and the like due to the varying conditions on the “winds over the North Atlantic and Europe related to the phenomenon known as the North Atlantic Oscillation” (12). Works Cited "Advancing the Science of Climate Change." Nationalacademiespress. National Research Council (NRC), 2010. Web. 13 November 2012. Dipuccio, William. "A Glimpse Inside the Global Warming Controversy: Why You Need to Consider Both Sides." spii. Science & Public Policy Institute, 17 December 2008. Web. 13 November 2012. Hegerl, Gabriel. "Chapter 9: Understanding and Attributing Climate Change." ipcc. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007. Web. 13 November 2012. "How Do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change and How Do They Compare With Natural Influences." oceanservice.noaa. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2007. Web. 13 November 2012. Jacques, Peter. Environmental Skepticism: Ecology, Power and Public life: Global Environmental Governance Series. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2009, Print. Oreskes, Naomi. "Beyond the Ivory Tower: The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change." Science . Science Magazine, December 2004. Web. 13 November 2012. Pielke Jr., Roger. "Accepting Politics in Science." Washington Post Online 10 January 2005. Web. 13 November 2012. Solomon, Susan et al. "Irreversible Climate Change Due to Carbon Dioxide Emissions." Proceedings of the National Academic of Sciences 106.6 (2009): 1704-1709. Web. 13 November 2012. “Statements on the Human Impacts on Climate Change." aip. American Institute of Physics, 2012. Web. 13 November 2012. Trenberth, Kevin. "Stronger Evidence of Human Influences on Climate: The 2001 IPCC Assessment." Environment 43.4 (2001): 10-19. Web. 13 November 2012. Read More