The Global Warming and Extreme Weather Conditions - Report Example

Report on Global Climate Change Table of contents Executive Summary 3 Reference 4 Introduction 4 Objective 5 Methodology adopted 5 Discussion 5 Conclusion 7 Recommendations 8 Bibliography/ References 11 Executive Summary In the contemporary environment of fast advancing technology and rapid globalization, climate change has become a major concern for the environmentalists. Fast depletion of natural resources has disturbed the eco system, resulting in change in global environmental conditions like global warming, increasing number of climate related natural disasters etc. The interdependence of the systems becomes important factor for the widespread implications of climate change. Indeed, the most alarming thing is that the climate change is causing unprecedented natural disasters, resulting in loss of lives, food products and other natural resources. Human activities and managed system seem to be primarily responsible for the fast depletion of natural resources and climate change. The survival of human race is at danger from the effluents and waste material, consisting of various chemical and organic contaminants that are let lose in the water that is consumed by the masses and marine life. The report discusses these vital issues in climate change and makes recommendations. Reference The short report is prepared for Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts so as to generate awareness of climate change and need for environment conservation and preservation to meet the challenges of the global climate change. Introduction In the contemporary environment of fast advancing technology and rapid globalization, climate change has become a major concern for the environmentalists. It has also brought about a massive change in our lifestyle which has not always been in our best interest. Some of the ways and means, which have contributed towards our better living conditions, have also brought certain challenges in its wake that needs our urgent attention. The limited natural resources like water, land and fresh air are being taken for granted with scarce regard for future legacy that our children are going to inherit from us. Fast depletion of natural resources has disturbed the eco system, resulting in change in global environmental conditions like global warming, increasing number of climate related natural disasters etc. The report would be discussing the identification and mitigation of the factors that contribute towards climate change in Australia and make appropriate recommendations for controlling measures. Objective To investigate the impact that climate change is having across the world with special emphasis on Australia. Methodology adopted The methodology primarily comprised of secondary information sources such as libraries, commercial bibliographic databases for peer review, internet resources and e journals. Discussion The human threats to the environment comprise of many significant factors that are important ingredients of development process. Population growth in the last quarter of the century saw an unprecedented increase in population bringing new challenges in its wake. Pielke et al claim that climate change causing extreme weather conditions and natural calamities are much greater when they occur in regions having poor infrastructure, huge populations etc. (Pielke et al., 2003). The fast advancing technology and rapid globalization, including local migration, has adversely affected the ecological conditions. Carbon emission and green house effects are also major factors for climate change. The various drivers of climate greatly contribute towards sustenance of life and determine characteristics and distribution of ‘natural and managed system including the cryosphere, hydrology and water resources, marine and freshwater biological systems, terrestrial biological systems, agriculture and forestry’(Parmesan and Yohe, 2003; Thomas et al., 2004). Managed system can broadly be defined as systems that have considerable human input like agriculture, health etc. Recent droughts in Australia have been the result of increasing temperatures and more variable rainfall over the past 50 years (Whetton et al. 1993; Nicholls 2004). Scholars have also said that Australia is the driest populated continent and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. Increased water stress is likely due to higher temperature and evaporation. It has a net moisture balance (difference between evaporation and rainfall) deficit (Jones et al. 2001). Hence, interdependence of the systems becomes important factor for widespread implications of climate change. The global warming and extreme weather conditions and change in weather have become huge concern for the environmentalists. The last few years have seen long and hot summers in Australia and Europe. The melting of Antarctica and arctic oceans and rising of sea levels at alarming rate are few of the repercussions of damaged ozone layers. Fast depletion and pollution of natural resources has disturbed the eco system, resulting in change in global environmental conditions like global warming, increasing number of climate related natural disasters etc. Scholars also assert that ‘Studies of observed changes in regions influenced by an oscillation may be able to attribute these changes to regional climate variations’ (Rosenzweig et al, 2007). In Australia and around the world, coral reefs have become intrinsic to the welfare and survival of living organisms. In the recent times, the huge damage to the coral reefs and their gradual decline has been a great concern to the scientists. Wilkinson says ‘30% are already seriously damaged and close to 60% may be lost by 2030’ (Wilkinson, 2002). Coral reefs facilitate ecosystem services to the human societies and industries through fisheries, coastal protection, building materials, new biochemical compounds, and tourism (Hoegh-Guldberg, et al, 2007). The need for conservation and preservation of coral reefs, therefore are vital to the existence of life in general. Scientists and environmentalists are especially concerned about the serious threat to the coral reefs across the globe primarily due to increased fishing activities, over-population and pollution caused by chemical industries, agriculture greenhouse emission etc. Researchers assert that ‘the scale of human impacts on reefs has grown exponentially… these changes to reefs, which can often be managed successfully at a local scale, are compounded by the more recent, superimposed impacts of global climate change’ (Hughes et al, 2003). Conclusion The most alarming thing is that the climate change is causing unprecedented natural disasters, resulting in loss of lives, food products and other natural resources. Human activities and managed system seem to be primarily responsible for the fast depletion of natural resources and climate change. Recommendations Effective control measures needs to be adopted to mitigate the pollution of coral reefs, marine life and water sustainability. The survival of human race is at danger from the effluents and waste material, consisting of various chemical and organic contaminants that are let lose in the water that is consumed by the masses and marine life. These are vital issues in climate change that promote extreme weather conditions. Well defined guidelines and laws for sustainable use of water, emission of greenhouse gases and other measures to mitigate must be promoted and adapted within the governments’ policies to the climate change. Greenhouse gases help to regulate earth’s temperature but indiscriminate increase in the greenhouse gases like carbon di-oxide and methane etc have damaging impact, changing the earth’s temperature disproportionately resulting in extreme weather conditions. Kyoto Protocol is one of the most important frameworks Convention on Climate Change that had become legal entity on 16 February, 2005. Its basic objective is to restrict greenhouse emissions by the developing and developed countries by setting targets for them and must be adopted by the countries across the globe. Environment preservation and conservation must become intrinsic part of corporate social responsibilities of global businesses that are working in developing economies that need to be more proactive towards the socially relevant issues. ‘Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is defined in terms of the responsiveness of businesses to stakeholders’ legal, ethical, social and environmental expectations’ (UNIDO, 2002). Environment concern needs to be inculcated amongst the general public through dissemination of information, radio messages, public concern advertisements in different media and public campaigns for promoting goods and services that incorporate good environmental paradigms within their work schedules. The children should be taken to educational tours in the coral islands and estuaries and disseminated information about our heritage and create awareness for environment conservation and preservation. Development of cleaner technologies, use of recycled paper, buying goods from people who promote environment and doing business with people who are sensitive towards the environment issues are few of the ways, individuals can contribute constructively towards the preservation and conservation of environment. (1187) Reference Jones, R. N., McMahon, T. A., & Bowler, J. M. (2001). Modelling historical lake levels and recent climate change at three closedlakes, Western Victoria, Australia (c.1840–1990). Journal of Hydrology, 246, 159–180. Hughes, T.P., A.H. Baird, D.R. Bellwood et al. 2003). Climate change, human impacts, and the resilience of coral reefs. Science, 301, 929-933. Hoegh-Guldberg O, et al.(2007).Coral Reefs Under Rapid Climate Change and Ocean Acidification. Science 318, 1737 Nicholls, N. (2004) The changing nature of Australian droughts.Climatic Change, 63, 323–336. Parmesan, C. and G.Yohe. (2003). A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature, 421, 37-42. Pielke, R.A., J. Rubiera, C. Landsea,M.L. Fernandez and R.Klein. (2003). Hurricane vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean: normalized damage and loss potentials. Natural Hazards Review, 4, 101-114. T. P. Hughes, et al. (2003). Climate Change, Human Impacts, and the Resilience of Coral Reefs. Science 301, 929 (2003) Thomas, C.D., A. Cameron, R.E. Green et al. (2004). Extinction risk from climate change. Nature, 427, 145-148. Rosenzweig, C., G. Casassa, D.J. Karoly, et al. (2007). Assessment of observed changes and responses in natural and managed systems. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate. Change, M.L. 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