Mitigation Strategies and Solutions - Term Paper Example

Mitigation Strategies and Solutions Detailed Earth is the ‘birthplace’ for the vast and numerous varieties of lives, as various life facilitating conditions were on the favorable side during the early years of the earth’s evolution. Those favorable conditions were visible and were helping human lives thrive in an optimal manner till the first part of the 20th century. However, today, particularly from the past two decades, the complete ‘anatomy’ of the earth is changing, with the humans themselves through some of their detrimental actions, proving out be the ‘destructors’ of the earth. Ironically, humans themselves are suffering or facing a lot of problems due to those detrimental actions. An optimum temperature was one among the biggest reasons why Life selected earth as its habitat. But, the earth’s temperature is reaching higher and higher, with the earth getting hotter and hotter, year by year, day by day and even minute by minute, resulting in global warming. Global Warming, in simple words is increase in the average temperatures on the planet, particularly on the Earths near-surface air as well as in the oceans in recent past. The decade of 2000-2009 is the warmest on record, with an average global surface temperature of 0.54°C (0.96°F) above the 20th century average, ocean surface temperatures are at 0.48°C (0.86°F) above the 20th century average, and surface temperatures are at 0.77°C (1.39°F) above the 20th century average. (Nodvin, 2010). Due to these increases, earth and importantly its people are witnessing various changes in the environment of the earth, which is negatively impacting the human lives. So, this paper will discuss global warming, focusing on its living and non-living causes, negative impacts, solutions, sustainability, challenges, required government, societal, and global support Nonliving and living factors that contribute to or are affected by the problem Global warming is a combination of both living and non-living factors, as it is mainly initiated by living lives and as the process continues, non-living factors also contribute to run or even aggravate it. As the human race is moving towards success in terms of technology and in terms of development, they indulge in certain activities, which are acting as the starting for global warming. Before the onset of massive industrialization and technological development particularly in the second part of 20th century, there were not any major temperature increases and climate change. However, both industrialization and technological development carried out by humans has led to various industrial processes, tools, machines, environment destroying activities and even vehicles, which outlets greenhouse gases, which in turns leads to global warming. “IPCC agreed that human activities are the likely cause of most of the global warming that has occurred in the last 50 years” (Breslin, 2001). Greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. These gases absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. Most greenhouse gases occur naturally, but industrial fumes and vehicular exhaust are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This tremendous increase in the gases has led it, to act in a detrimental manner as they block the heat in the earth’s surface temperature from going out, hence trapping the a lot of heat inside the earth’s atmosphere, causing rise in earth’s temperature, resultant hotness and global warming. Among the greenhouse gases, Carbon dioxide has the most action and is the major cause which is emitted maximally by the human actions. The average rate of carbon increase in the atmosphere from 1960 to 2005 was 1.4 ppm per year, but over the decade from 1995 to 2005, the average increase was 1.9 ppm per year, and in 2007 it increased to 2.14 ppm. (acoolerclimate.com). With humans going on the pursuit of more advancement and comfort, and so as they indulge in various actions including running a lot of industries, using a lot of non-green fuel options, using various vehicles, deforestation, etc, etc, Carbon dioxide will keep on emitting into the atmosphere causing more global warming. Deforestation is also a key caustic factor because plants can consume or utilize carbon dioxide for their living, but with forests and plants being destructed in many places on the guise of advancement, there are not enough plants to ‘consume’ all the excess carbon dioxide emissions. With rise in temperatures, there is heightened melting of polar caps and various other glaciers, which is raising the sea levels around the world, leading to many lands and countries being ‘consumed’ by the sea. This is one example of how human initiated global warming, continuously runs because of non-living factors, leading to further destructions and negative impacts. Thus, it is clear that both living and non-living factors work in tandem to cause global warming. Negative human impacts Global warming creates overall climatic changes in the earth, which negatively impacts the environment and thereby human lives in various ways. Global warming is prominently proved to destroy the ozone layer - a layer in the earth’s atmosphere which contain high concentration of ozone and which mainly prevents the harmful ultra violet (UV-B) rays from the sun into the earth. Ozone is mainly destroyed by greenhouse gases particularly Chloro-Fluoro Carbon (CFC). CFC’s are mainly emitted from industries and from certain household appliances like refrigerators, and its build-up in the atmosphere and entry into the ozone layer, damages it and creates holes in it. Also, with the heating of earth’s atmosphere due to global warming, the stratospheric temperatures or particularly the patterns of atmospheric circulation undergoes major changes, and this will further accelerate the chemical reactions will destroy and create holes in the ozone. The resultant holes will let UV rays and those rays will affect the humans by causing many diseases and other health-related problems. (UV-B) radiation causes skin cancer, cataracts and immune suppression in both animals and humans.” (ess-home.com). UV-B’s negative impact will not just be on the humans but also on other two key components of our environment, animals and plants, which will indirectly affect the humans as well. UV-B harms amphibian eggs, midge larvae and trout. UV-B also damages plants including hardwood forests, and phytoplankton (an alga is a type of phytoplankton which is the building block of the oceanic food chain). Crops that are damaged will reduce food availability. (ess-home.com). The increasing temperatures have made summers even more hotter, resulting in heat related deaths primarily due to heat stokes and heart attacks. “An increase in the frequency or severity of heat waves would cause increases in heat related mortality and illness… The extent to which increases in the numbers of heat related deaths would be offset by a reduction in the number of cold related deaths”. (Population Council, 1997). The increase in temperature leads to increase in stress levels causing heart attacks, mainly among aged people. Heat stroke deaths in European countries are very common and there are old age people are the main victims. An abnormal intensification in weather conditions have also resulted in forest or bush fires. Therefore, warming temperatures is also an abusive life threatening condition to the animals living in forests and bushes. Warm conditions offers excellent environment to Vectors like mosquitoes to grow in large numbers, and global Warming has introduced such favorable conditions, especially in tropical regions. “The incidence of mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue, and viral encephalitides, are among those diseases most sensitive to climate” (Patz et. al, 1996). Another major repercussion of global warming is the melting of the polar caps and other glaciers, and the resultant sea-level increases. Due to abnormal hotness, polar caps particularly the Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, along with glaciers and mountain snows throughout the world. Several images received from NASA Satellites have provided sufficient evidence to prove that the permanent ice cap is contracting at a tremendous rate. With this severe melting, the sea level in major parts of the world has increased, leading to severe problems. This increase has resulted in heavier rainfall causing flood in many regions. That is, there are evidences that global warming resulted sea-level increases has led to intense increase in the tropical cyclone activity, as well an the increase in the frequency and strength of number of hurricanes. Increase in sea levels causes floods and this is a threat to the coastal cities and aquatic life, with coral reefs all over the world being destroyed, thus destroyed a lot of marine life that live in those reefs. Solutions, Sustainability, challenges, required government, societal, and global support IPCC suggests that over the next 50 years, it is likely that nearly all land areas will warm more rapidly than the global average, and the warming will be more notably seen in the northern regions of North America (Berliner, 2003). The natural occurrences caused by global warming cannot be changed but the artificial events carried out by human actions can be changed and importantly stopped. First among those actions is the reduction in carbon production. Implementation of steps to reduce or limit carbon emissions from industries, transportation modes, domestic products, etc through tough laws and restrictions can aid a lot in reducing global warming. The burning of fossil fuels, coals, etc must be curtailed along with the reduction in conventional energy consumption. Instead, extensive use of renewable energy sources or fuels can bring up an optimal solution for reducing this natural hazard, as they can decrease carbon pollution. Cleaner energies options like solar power, wind power, LNG, hydrogen fuel cells, etc can be used by industries, or even can be fitted in automobiles, which will not only improve the health of the employees but as well as the common people. “Expansion of renewable energies should appreciably improve the health status of the 700,000 US workers employed in the energy sector, according to a commentary by Medical College of Wisconsin researchers, in Milwaukee.” (sciencedaily.com, 2009). Although, it is a challenge to stop all industries from emitting carbon dioxide, limiting is possible and also introduction of renewable energies can be done in phase-by-phase manner. With many industries and mainly countries focused on economic growth, they need a lot of energy options particularly non-renewable sources to run fulfil their energy needs, thus leading to pollution and global warming. Another challenge that could impede sustainability of the solution is the lack of awareness among various sections of the society, who does not think global warming is that bigger issue, which they need to solve, limiting their economic profits and importantly comforts. Also, they do not thing it is a big problem, for which they have to start acting now itself. So, to ensure sustainability and make the efforts concerted, it is important to understand global warming is a scientific state of reality which requires public and private interventions to save our planet from being extinct in not so distant future. Every change first begins from home and this should be the primary intention of all to help in creating a pollution-free environment. On the personal and societal front, adaptation to changes and emphasising on risks of global warming through debates and discussions, banners, messages and images will create awareness among common people, thereby minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases, leading to reduction of temperature variations. Even small things like planting a tree can save the earth from global warming to some extent. By blocking deforestation and by planting number of seedlings to support afforestation, effective counter measure for global warming can be initiated. All these initiatives have to supported or even initiated by the government as well. Apart from strictly implementing tough laws against emissions and other global warming related pollutions, government can create awareness among the public. Importantly, teaching younger generations about methods to reduce hazardous chemical emissions into the atmosphere through illustrations and demonstrations can help enormously to slow down the process of global warming. Thus, it is the responsibility of government, administrators, business organisations or industries, society and individuals to create alertness about global warming and take up steps to limit. This way we can keep our planet ‘healthy’ for us and for our forthcoming generations to live in good health. References: acoolerclimate.com. Facts About Global Warming: Do You Know the Truth? Retrieved on October 16, 2010 from http://www.acoolerclimate.com/facts-about-global-warming.html Berliner, M. L. (2003). Uncertainty and Climate Change. Statistical Science. 18 (4): 430- 435 Breslin, K. (2001). Hot New Report on Climate Change. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109 (4): A157 ess-home.com. Earths Protection Shield is Being Destroyed - Ozone Depletion and Global Warming. Retrieved on October 16, 2010 from http://www.ess-home.com/news/global-warming/ozone-depletion.asp Nodvin, S. C. (2010). Global warming. Retrieved on October 16, 2010 from http://www.eoearth.org/article/Global_warming?topic=49491 Patz, J. A., Epstein, P. R., Burke, T. A and Balbus, J. M. (1996). Global Climate Change and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Journal of American Medical Association. 275(3):217-223 Population Council. (1997). Climate Change and Human Health. Population and Development Review. 23 (1): 205-208. sciencedaily.com. (2009). Renewable Energies Will Benefit US Workers Health, Expert Predicts. Retrieved on October 16, 2010 from. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818182004.htm Read More