Analysis of the Global Warming Problem - Essay Example

Global Warming Every day we come across news about wars, financial crisis, terrorism, natural disasters, manmade catastrophes, and so on. All such news is saddening on one hand and interesting on the other. One big problem that many of us tend to ignore is global warming which is constantly posing threat to man’s existence on earth. As a public policymaker, I believe that the problem of global warming should be given due consideration and necessary steps should be taken for better solutions. After all, we are not going to let anything to make us extinct from this beautiful earth! Causes of Global Warming Firstly, I want to introduce global warming and its primary causes, and identify the problems associated with it. According to the textbook and in the simplest terms, global warming is consistent and gradual rise in temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere actually contains carbon dioxide and other trace gases which include nitrous oxide, methane and water vapor. These greenhouse gases prevent some of the reflected heat from the Earth’s surface from escaping into the space. This results in Earth maintaining acceptable temperature on its surface. When the concentration of greenhouse gases increases in the atmosphere, global warming occurs as these gases catch heat and light from the sun which raises the temperature on the whole. Studies have shown that as the level of the greenhouse gases increases in the atmosphere, the Earth becomes warmer and warmer. According to MBA’s climate change primer report, the most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released through natural processes as well as through the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, beef production, and through the release of CFCs. Industries that manufacture aircrafts and cars like SUVs are majorly responsible for CO2 being released from burning fossil fuel. Another major cause of global warming is deforestation which involves cutting down of trees and plants and thus the absorbers of carbon dioxide are being reduced. Forests are being burnt in order to clear the land which has increased the level of CO2 in the atmosphere. Effects of Global Warming According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC), the Earth has already warmed by 3 to 6 degrees Celsius over the past century. The panel also believes that if societal emissions of the greenhouse gases continue to grow, the Earth could warm by 6 degrees Celsius more by 2100, and this could continue. IPCC also asserts that this increase in the Earth’s temperature is consistent with the increase of concentration level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming will result in several climate changes. Firstly, the sea level will rise. Then, the increase in the earth’s temperature will melt down the ice pole of the earth. According to MBA’s climate change primer report, high seas levels resulting from global warming are dangerous to human life and economies because these would make coastal communities more vulnerable to regular flooding. Moreover, the climate changes will result in the dryness of large agricultural lands which will reduce the level of the agricultural output. In addition, climate changes will generate excessive weather conditions like more frequent and more severe storms, hurricanes which will cause heat and cold waves. A recent winter, Europe experienced one the worst cold waves ever which was the result of consistent global warming. Moreover, the increase in temperature is also harmful for the existence of many a species on our planet. There are also many areas that are politically unstable due to being sensitive to climate change. Climate changes push communities in these areas down the cliff due the resulting turbulence. Stakeholders of Global Warming Humans Many relevant stakeholders are getting affected by the issue of global warming and climate changes and they have different opinions and reactions toward this. First of all, human beings are the most relevant stakeholders of the global warming and climate change issues. In other words, human beings are the cause of global warming and also its victim. I am of the viewpoint that most of human race will stand for and support the global changes that will lead to decrease the global warming dangers. When they will start feeling the dangers they can face sue to this problem, they will start thinking about the solution more seriously. When they will see that they and their communities are at risk due to the rise in seas level, massive damage from storms and hurricanes, and that thousands of deaths can result from the heat and cold waves, they will take the climate change and global warming issue more seriously, and they will try hard to solve this issue. Animals and Plants The second most affected stakeholders by the global warming issues are animals and plant species. According to the MBA’s climate change primer report, the increase in average temperatures will shift animal and plant habitats toward the poles. Many species will be able to migrate with these changes, but some will not be able to cross mountain ranges or bodies of water. Many species such as trees cannot move at all. As shown in the film An Inconvenient Truth, polar bears in the North Pole face the threat of the ice melting. Since, these species cannot stand for their survival by fighting against the issue of global warming, hence the duty goes to man to save them by looking for solutions. Global Governments Another very important stakeholder for the global warming issue are the Global governments whose position of global warming problem mainly depends on the perspectives and beliefs of the people residing in countries running under these governments. I affirm that the global governments can use their legislation power to pinpoint where the problem actually lies and then to search for proper solutions. History has it that there have been some very unsatisfactory governmental movements toward the global warming issue. However, one good example would be of Kyoto Protocol in 1997 is which intended to face the climate change issue. Businesses The only stakeholders that will go against finding solutions for global warming are the businesses. These may also try to stop any efforts that are being done to decrease or eliminate global warming. Business, mainly industries, are the major cause of the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere and no industrialist or businessman would choose to stop the work to reduce CO2 level in the air. Thus, businesses would never favor any movement that would go against the global warming issue because otherwise, they will have to compromise on their profit. However, there are some businesses that still act in a responsible manner by adopting environmental friendly attitude. For example, FedEx is shifting its entire fleet of delivery trucks to hybrids. Many small firms have installed compact fluorescent light bulbs and upgraded their air conditioning. Alternatives to Global Warming After defining the problem, causes, threats and stakeholders of the global warming issue, we will address three possible alternatives or solutions to face this issue. Business-as-Usual The first alternative is the do-nothing approach or “business as usual, that is, allowing businesses and industries to continue their work in a regular manner which results in the emission of greenhouse gases especially CO2 in the air raising the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. This alternative is actually to do nothing to fight the risk of global warming. If we analyze this alternative using utilitarian ethical reasoning method, we come to know that this alternative is not ethical. The overall benefits arising from it do not exceed the cost. The only stakeholder that is benefitting from this approach are the businesses themselves whereas other stakeholders like animals, plants and a large portion of mankind would be left suffering holding all the cost. Right’s ethical reasoning method also suggests that this option is not ethical because doing nothing to deter the risks and letting the businesses continue their tasks in a regular manner would be similar to violating the human rights. Even when this option is analyzed through the justice reasoning method, we realize the same, that is, this option is not ethical. Benefits and cots cost are not fairly distributed. As me a policy maker, I would not at all consider this alternative because only businesses are getting profit from it while other stakeholders remain at loss. Enforcing Legislation Changes The second alternative is to enforce legislation changes around the global governments so that there are laws and legislature to support the decrease of emission of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere which would help to face the climate changes issue. According to utilitarian ethical reasoning method, this option sounds ethical because the benefits are exceeding the cost in this approach. The option being ethical is also suggested by Right’s ethical reasoning method because human basics rights are very fairly protected according to this option. However, from the point of view of the justice reasoning method, this option sounds unethical because it says that this alternative would not support the fair distribution of cost and benefit among all parties. This is because businesses will carry most of the cost while implementing this option. However, I believe that by the time this option gets implemented, business will adjust its practices to fit with this option. As a policy maker, I think this is good solution that would be fruitful in the long run; however, business will have to fight this solution with all the options that they have. Investment The final and very important alternative is to invest in the green and alternative energy projects. Though, solar projects are improving quickly but in the green energy industry, there are many untouched ideas that can be worked upon to decrease global warming. Funding and sensible investment is all that this field needs. Now, from the point of view of utilitarian ethical reasoning method, this option sounds ethical. This is because in the long run the benefits from adopting this option will exceed the costs highly. Since, the basic human rights are protected while adopting this solution, hence it is ethical according to the rights ethical reasoning method as well. The justice reasoning method also affirms that this option is ethical as the benefits and the costs are fairly distributed. Thus, I believe that this option is the most perfect alternative among the three we addressed above since it provides a solution and an alternative at the same time. As a policy maker, I support this alternative because this solution depends on renewable energy source, that is, sun. In addition, this alternative helps decrease the emission of greenhouse gases significantly by using environment friendly energy resources. Conclusion In conclusion, global warming is an issue that should be addressed at international level because it is posing risks to the existence of man, animals and plants on the face of the Earth. The emission of greenhouse gases and the rise in the temperature of the atmosphere are very serious issues that need immediate and effective solutions. Causes are few but adverse effects are many. The only stakeholder that benefits from this issue are businesses but it is also not wise to let them continue their task as this is unethical from many perspectives. Enforcing proper changes in the legislation to fight bad effects of climate changes is necessary. However, the most appropriate alternative that I have found and would like to implement as a policy maker is the investment in green and energy projects as this option is ethical from all perspectives because cost and benefit is fairly distributed and all stakeholders benefit by the implementation of this option. Read More

History has it that there have been some very unsatisfactory governmental movements toward the global warming issue. However, one good example would be of Kyoto Protocol in 1997 is which intended to face the climate change issue. Businesses The only stakeholders that will go against finding solutions for global warming are the businesses. These may also try to stop any efforts that are being done to decrease or eliminate global warming. Business, mainly industries, are the major cause of the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere and no industrialist or businessman would choose to stop the work to reduce CO2 level in the air.

Thus, businesses would never favor any movement that would go against the global warming issue because otherwise, they will have to compromise on their profit. However, there are some businesses that still act in a responsible manner by adopting environmental friendly attitude. For example, FedEx is shifting its entire fleet of delivery trucks to hybrids. Many small firms have installed compact fluorescent light bulbs and upgraded their air conditioning. Alternatives to Global Warming After defining the problem, causes, threats and stakeholders of the global warming issue, we will address three possible alternatives or solutions to face this issue.

Business-as-Usual The first alternative is the do-nothing approach or “business as usual, that is, allowing businesses and industries to continue their work in a regular manner which results in the emission of greenhouse gases especially CO2 in the air raising the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. This alternative is actually to do nothing to fight the risk of global warming. If we analyze this alternative using utilitarian ethical reasoning method, we come to know that this alternative is not ethical.

The overall benefits arising from it do not exceed the cost. The only stakeholder that is benefitting from this approach are the businesses themselves whereas other stakeholders like animals, plants and a large portion of mankind would be left suffering holding all the cost. Right’s ethical reasoning method also suggests that this option is not ethical because doing nothing to deter the risks and letting the businesses continue their tasks in a regular manner would be similar to violating the human rights.

Even when this option is analyzed through the justice reasoning method, we realize the same, that is, this option is not ethical. Benefits and cots cost are not fairly distributed. As me a policy maker, I would not at all consider this alternative because only businesses are getting profit from it while other stakeholders remain at loss. Enforcing Legislation Changes The second alternative is to enforce legislation changes around the global governments so that there are laws and legislature to support the decrease of emission of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere which would help to face the climate changes issue.

According to utilitarian ethical reasoning method, this option sounds ethical because the benefits are exceeding the cost in this approach. The option being ethical is also suggested by Right’s ethical reasoning method because human basics rights are very fairly protected according to this option. However, from the point of view of the justice reasoning method, this option sounds unethical because it says that this alternative would not support the fair distribution of cost and benefit among all parties.

This is because businesses will carry most of the cost while implementing this option. However, I believe that by the time this option gets implemented, business will adjust its practices to fit with this option. As a policy maker, I think this is good solution that would be fruitful in the long run; however, business will have to fight this solution with all the options that they have. Investment The final and very important alternative is to invest in the green and alternative energy projects.

Though, solar projects are improving quickly but in the green energy industry, there are many untouched ideas that can be worked upon to decrease global warming.

Read More