The reality of Global Warming in the Modern World - Research Paper Example

The reality of Global Warming in the Modern World Institute: Global warming has been a topic of discussion for a long time now, to the point that to most people, it only sounds like it is just a topic that is an interests for scientists. Most lay people do not think that there is a need to drastically change their lifestyle in order to make sure that the menace of global warming does not catch up with the denizens of the earth. There is therefore a need to revisit this topic and investigate the seriousness of the matter. Some of the questions that need to be answered are as follows; Is global warming warnings false warning by scientists or is it a warning that should be pursued in a serious way by every person? If it really is a real warning and not a false warning, how long does the world have to change the status quo and avoid the dire consequences that scholars have warned about? And finally, what exactly needs to be done in order to turn around the issue of global warning? The evidence for global warming, and its negative impacts has been presented by scientist and scholars over the past years (Jürgen, et ak 2012). Studies have indicated that climatic changes in the past have had dire consequences. Many techniques have been developed to study how for instance the sea levels have changed over the last few millions of years, even before mankind walked the world. Some of the techniques which have been developed include studying annular rings of old trees, coastal fossils, coral reefs and even fossils in the dry land. Most of these techniques have been used to reveal how climatic change has affected the earth and the life in it, even without the help of the human race. Evidence of coral reefs which have been found in what is now dry land indicates that the coastal lines I most places in the world were further inland. This is evidence that temperature changes can and will lead to changing coast lines and this is a very serious issues for the modern world where big cities have been build on coastlines. There is therefore a need to make sure that these issues are well understood by everyone and that everyone understands what hey need to do. Yet, in the modern world, human activities have increased the rate of climatic change in a very drastic way, making it possible for the climate change to be the fastest in the history of the earth. By studying coral reefs, and coastal reefs, it has been revealed that in the past, coastal levels have been changed a lot leading to the extinction of vitreous specials of both plants and live. In the past, climatic change has been in two ways such as towards receding the coastal line as well as advancing it. In both cases, there has been a great cost paid by many species of the world. In the modern world, the danger is not the receding the coastal line but the advancing of the coastal line. This means that the risk of climatic change is towards the human being and other land animals whose natural habitat will have to be taken from them. More than in any era humans have made the costal areas their habitant, building large cities for both commerce and residential purposes. With an estimated increase of the sea level by several feet within the next a hundred years, it is estimated that a very big percentage of the world population would be at risk. Apart from the big risk of many people having to move, there would also be other issues such as the commerce of the world would be buried under water. Most of these coastal cities such as New York have are commercial capitals of the world and having them being affected by rising sea levels will lead to dire economic consequences not only for the cities and the countries where they are but to the whole world (Treasury of Great Britain, 2007). Modern evidence of the issues of global warming can be seen in the polar caps where ice is seen to be reducing everyday. Scientists estimate that the polar caps both on the north and south hold over fifty percent of the earth’s water. This water is held and locked up in ice and therefore does not have any influence on the sea level. However, accelerating global warming has caused most of this water to be unlocked and released to the oceans and seas, meaning that this water is raising the water. This has been seen to be happening at a faster rate in the last century. This increase in the last century ahs been attributed to increased industrialization and the use of green houses. This is enough evidence that the impact of globalisation are already here and that this is not an issue of the future. The melting of the ice caps will not only lead to higher levels but also the increasing temperatures. The polar caps, due to the massive ice layers on them, act as cooling fans for the whole planet where cool air from these regions is blown to the rest the planet thus leading to better weather. With the melting of the polar caps, this cooling effect will no longer be afforded the plant and it will only lead to the problem of more global warning. According to climate scientist Hansen, (2009) the risk of the earth experiencing harsh impacts caused by global warming is so eminent that it will be experienced by the current habitants of the world. Although the impacts of global warming do not occur overnight, it can be experienced from within a span of a few decades to a span of hundreds of years. Scientists have already indicated that there is increasing evidence of dire evidence of global warming in so many areas of the world. Evidence of rising and declining sea levels has been identified by scientists who study fossil materials in coastal areas. According to these studies, there is enough evidence that the sea levels have been changed by up to tens and even hundreds of feet in the past, leading to the cost line retreating or advancing for miles. If for instance what happened after the ice age was to happen today, most of these coastal cities such as New York City would be submerged under water. Yet, according to scientists, these are things that can happen within the lifetime of the current inhabitants of the planet. This means that the negative impacts of climate change is not a problem of the future generations, but a problems of the current generations as well. With the current rate of global temperature increment of about 2 degrees Celsius, it may lead to extinction of over 30% of the current species in the world. Scientists have also considered, using well developed models that up to seventy percent of the current species in the world would face high risk of extinction if the global temperature exceed the 3.5 degrees Celsius threshold. Solutions One of the most important things is for every person to realise the seriousness of the issue of global warming and global climatic change. One of the major causes of global warming is the use of fossil fuel which release carbon in the atmosphere (Rosen & Glasser, 1992). As a result, finding alternative sources of energy has been identified as one of the main ways in which climatic change can be identified. One of the main questions which many people ask is how an individual can help in managing the issue of global climatic change. Although the big corporations and governments have the biggest responsibilities in solving the issue of global warming, individuals also have several avenues which they can use to offer their contribution towards this menace of global warming. One such avenue is refraining from negative habits such as using dirty energy such as fossil energy. Such activities such as carpooling, walking and cycling is another important way to help in solving this issues as it helps in reducing the amount of fossil fuels thus reduces the carbon release into the environment. People can also refrain from using products from firms which are not environment sensitive. In the modern world, any business is expected to be responsible with regard to the way in which it relates with the environment. Those firms which fail to treat the environment with care and responsibility should be avoided even if their products are cheaper, because these products are more expensive when their environment costs are considered. Individuals can also try to cut down on utilities such as water and electricity. Every individual should find the most efficient way in which to use electric and water without any wastage. This will not only reduce their bills but will save the environment little by little and this will lead to a big impact on the environment. Of course, as already identified, corporations and government have the biggest responsibilities with regard to saving the environment. This means that big organisations should be able to look at the various ways in which to make sure that they are protecting the environment. Modern organization need to account not just for the economic activities but also for environmental costs. This has come to be called the third bottom line which refers to the fact hat as the firm accounts for its financial costs, it must account for the costs it has incurred on the environment. The government is highly responsible in enforcing these principles. Many big firms are reluctant with regard to enforcing these principles because they cost a lot of money. Those which are ready and willing to implement these principles are then affected because they lose their market strategic edge to those firms who don’t account for their environ costs. This is because those firms which don’t account for their environmental costs have lower costs and thus able to deliver their products with cheaper prices. In this regard, it is necessary for these firms to be able to look at the ways in which they can regulate themselves. Forming associations and guilds will help in creating an enforcing environment which will make sure that every firm is being responsible with regard to the environment. At the same time, the government has a very great role to play in enforcing these principles and should be at the foremost part of protecting the environment. However, with regard to this, history has indicated that government alone is not able to entirely enforce these principles to the firms, due to corruption issues and also due to economic difficulties. This is why non governmental organisational are very important in acting as the society’s voice. The NGOs should be more vigilant in making sure that big corporations are not damaging the environment at the expense of the society. In a summary, it can be said that it is everyone’s responsibilities to make sure that they protect the environment, by doing every little thing they can. This can only be achieved through first of all knowing how serious the issue of climatic change is and why it must be tackled. Conclusions The issue of global warming and global climatic change is in that has been around fro so long hat people have started taking it for granted. Climate scientists who have tried to raise a warning about the serious issues have been accused of being false alarmists and prophets of doom. However, a more sober look at the issues of global warming and climatic change indicates that this is an issue which needs serious solutions. Is also indicates that if people are not serious about it, the risk of dire consequences having to be experienced by not only the future generations but also by the current population of the world. In this regard, everybody needs to be able to look at the ways in which they must contribute to the solution and not be part of the problem. Reverences Hansen, J. (2009). Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth about the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing USA. Jürgen, S. et al. (2012). Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict: Challenges for Societal Stability. New York City, NY: Springer. Rosen, L. & Glasser, R. (1992). Climate Change and Energy Policy: Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Climate Change, Its Mitigation Through Improved Production and Use of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory, October 21-24, 1991, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. New York City, NY: Springer. Treasury of Great Britain. (2007). The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Read More