Effects of Climate Change at Various Levels - Essay Example

Climate Change Climate Change Introduction Climate change refers to significant alterations in the distribution of weather patterns for long periods ranging from a few decades to several years. Climate change may either be alterations in minor weather conditions of a specific place, or significant changes in distribution of weather patterns around the various average conditions. Climate change can be attributed to various factors such as changes in solar radiation reaching the earth, volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics, biotic processes and various human activities (Eric, 2010). Climate change has led to significant and in some cases permanent changes on the earth’s geological, ecological and biological systems. According to the World Health Organization, about 160,000 human lives have been lost since 1950 as a direct result of severe consequences of global climate. These climate change effects have had many consequences on the environment and human life including extreme weather conditions, loss of biodiversity, spread of highly infectious diseases, depletion of the ozone layer and severe effects on human and animal health (Burton, 2006). Some of the effects of climate change had been predicted several years ago, while scientists still predict the situation to deteriorate in the future stringent measures are taken to rescue the planet. The effects of climate change can be classified as regional, national or global effects depending on the magnitude of the resulting consequences. Climate change has also been a major political issue over the years, especially among the developed nations and has been a major determining factor in general elections of some countries like the US (James, 2009). The politics of climate change mainly focuses on issues such as mitigation of climate change, adaptation, technology, finance and the various losses, which result from climatic changes. The urgency to deal with climate change has led to development of different political ideologies, economic strategies and institutional frameworks that all form part of the bigger political discussion on the issues of global climate change. All these factors make the politics of climate change a very complex issue that requires a lot of though and strategy with the participation of every key pay at the regional, national and global level (James, 2009). This essay focuses on examining in detail the various effects of climate change at the regional, national and global levels, while also examining the political approach to the issue. Climate change has elicited many opinions around the globe with major concerns revolving around mitigation and adaptation strategies in order to ensure survival of human species and the preservation of the environment for posterity. This essay will endeavor to look at these issues in detail borrowing from different literature sources leading to a desirable conclusion. 2. Developments in Climate Change at Regional National and Global Levels Climate change is extensively recognized as a major threat to development, especially in developing countries where issues of poverty and unemployment derail economic growth. Climate change has affected all continents and everybody, hence the contribution of every person is required in ensuring climate change is abated (James, 2009). Various developments in the area of climate change have ensued over the years with significant counter measures being taken to make the world a better place (Sahney, Benton, and Ferry, 2010). One key development is the inclusion of the private sector to play part in the efforts of mitigating climate change. In the beginning, efforts to fight climate change were only restricted to government agencies. The outcomes of climate change can be explained in details at various levels as indicated below; a). Regional level Climate change has had a tremendous impact on regional weather patterns and livelihoods. The effects vary in nature and may range from rising ocean levels resulting from increasing temperatures that lead to ice melting down, to significant alterations in weather systems of a particular region. Various regions of the world with regard to climate change include the Polar Regions, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and the small islands (Eriksen, and Kelly, 2007). All these regions have different climatic conditions that respond differently to climatic changes. Regional effects of climate change may in some cases not follow the global trends witnessed in other places due to the differences in regional weather patterns. Some of the most notable climatic change effects on the regional level include changes in the hydrological cycle, forming or melting of ice, and alterations in ocean currents and airflows. Coastal regions mainly suffer from the rise in sea levels. Various developments have taken place regionally in efforts to mitigate and adjust to climate change. Countries in different regions have collaborated and developed strategies, plans and institutions that can counter the effects of climate change in their respective regions. Regional strategies involved in cubing global change include research and creating awareness of the negative effects of climate change. Advocacy campaigns are aimed at educating the public on their role in abating climate change as well as adapting to the current climatic conditions (Burton, 2006). There are various human activities such as farming, deforestation and industrialization that contribute to climate change and need to be reduced to mitigate climate change at the regional level. b). National Level Each country is affected by climate change in a different way hence a different strategy needs to be adopted for each country. The national level entails the strategies and plans employed by governments to fight climate change in order to enable the country reach its full potential in terms of economic, technological, political and social development (Emanuel, 2005). At the national level, the country is involves in various activities such as educating the public about climate change through the education system, conducting periodical research about the impact of climate change and collecting data necessary for policy formulation. At the national level, the country faces a lot of challenges that threaten the country from achieving its objectives. The poor and developing countries are the most affected by climate change and need to device appropriate strategies to overcome these challenges. Most of the developing countries largely depend on Agriculture, and climate change leads to a decline in agricultural production thus affecting a majority of the people and the country’s economy. The developed countries have also witnessed significant reductions in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), affecting their economic structures. There are various developments at the national level aimed at ensuring adaptation and mitigation of the effects of global warming. Some of these include promoting dialogue among key stakeholders in order to ensure there is an understanding about appropriate adaptation strategies, identifying relevant adaptation solutions, and giving commitments to promote adaptation and mitigation of climate change in line with regional and global strategies and established frameworks. c). Global Level According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change poses a great threat to the environment and human systems all over the globe. There are various effects of climate change that can be experienced on the global scale including global warming, the rise in ocean levels, loss of biodiversity, depletion of the ozone layer and challenges to human health. The IPCC predicts that global temperatures are expected to rise in the future, which will only make it hard for humans to survive in such harsh environments (IPCC, 2007). IPCC therefore recognizes that adaptation is mandatory under these circumstances and that all efforts should be made to mitigate the effects of global change. Developments at the global level have seen several countries congregate together at various summits and international organizations to reflect on climate change. These countries endeavor to come up with appropriate strategies in terms of technology, resources, infrastructure and education in order to fight climate change jointly as nations of one planet and to protect human interests on the planet (Eric, 2010). There is an understanding and an agreement reached on the global scene to reduce gaseous emissions to the atmosphere significantly by the year 2050, and this will be a critical step in mitigating the some of the effects of global warming (IPCC, 2007). 3. Politics of climate Change (Hale & Riordan articles) Politics has a major role in the climate change debate. Politics enables countries to formulate ideologies, strategies and plans to fight climate change in order to ensure countries and regions meet their desired objectives. Climate change has been a topic in contention over the past few years and is predicted to remain a major discussion point among decision makers in to the near future. The politics of climate change is very complex, especially on the global level due to different political interests involved and the challenges in implementing dome of the adaptation and mitigation strategies at both national and global levels. Politicians have generally been described as having failed in terms of being at the forefront in the fight against climate change (Hale, 2010). There are various reasons attributed to the limitations that politicians encounter with regard to climate change. Authors Stephen Hale and Tim O’Riordan have in their articles examined the issue of politics and global change extensively. Stephen Hale looks at the reasons why politicians have reportedly failed in the politics of climate change and the need and goes ahead to give appropriate recommendations on how politicians can succeed in their fight against climate change. Tim O’Riordan on the other hand examines the questions policy formulation in environmental science, sustainable development and governance in the wake of climate change (O’Riordan, 2004). The two articles can be examined in detail as below; a) Stephen Hale Article According to Hale (2010), politicians have exercised caution when it comes to initiating and implementing policies and strategies that will mitigate climate change. They have given a number of reasons or excuses including the fact that they lack public support. Hale contents that such a reason is not strong enough for the failure of politicians because the main role of political leaders is to offer guidance to their followers and not vice versa. Some politicians have been very steadfast in leading the way when it comes to other issues like the economy and foreign policy but have been sluggish with respect to climate change. The few politicians who have tries to make key decisions have failed because of various issues including working in isolation. Climate change is an international issue touching on a lot of people and all stakeholders have to be brought on the platform when it comes to decision making. Hale (2010) recommends that mobilization of key stakeholders is very important for success of political decisions. Mobilization involves bringing on board the community, national leadership, and regional leadership. b) Tim O’Riordan Article O’Riordan (2004) argues that while most politicians focus on ensuring economic and military stability for their countries, they tend to forget that a sound environment and strong social structures are prerequisites for such stability. In the contemporary world, environmental science has been enshrined in politics and the two seem to go hand in hand. In order for environmental scientists to be successful in their quest to change and improve the environment, they need to realize that they work within a broader political framework and should be ready to collaborate with politicians for the sake of the environment. Politicians’ involvement in environmental science mainly focuses on policy formulation and enacting appropriate statutes that can facilitate environmental scientists to fight climate change (O’Riordan, 2004). Environmental scientists therefore need to be aware of changing patterns of governance at the national, regional and global level in order to formulate strategies that have the political support. 4. Current Structures In Terms Of Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change Adaptation and mitigation of climate change are the two main strategies by which the world can be improved in terms of protecting the environment and abating the effects of climate change. Adaptation refers to the various strategies that are directed to minimizing the negative effects of climate change in vulnerable environments. It involves being adequately prepared for impending climatic changes by devising g better operational models that will enable human beings to predict and prepare for future climate changes as well as dealing with presence climatic conditions. Conversely, mitigation refers to the processes and strategies that are meant to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere to control and minimize the impact of climate change in the future (Biermann, Pattberg and Zelli, 2010). There are various structures that have been put n place at various levels of the society in order to ensure the impact of climate change is controlled or reduced to a large extent. Some of the adaptation strategies include efficient use of resources such as water, building dykes to prevent flooding, adopting good farming practices such as planting drought resistant crops, conserving the environment and the endangered species or organisms and adopting good building construction practices to erect structures that can survive extreme weather conditions (Biermann, Pattberg, and Zelli, 2010). Conversely, mitigation of climate change entails strategies such as reforestation to increase the capacity of carbon sinks, reducing emission of greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere, using renewable sources of energy and geo-engineering. 5. Conclusion Climate change is a very complex issue involving many elements and touching on many stakeholders. Successful strategies to deal with climate change must involve all stakeholders with proper mobilization at all levels of the society. Climate change and environmental science have in recent years formed a huge part of the political debate. Politicians therefore have a very important role to play in enacting policies and key strategies to adapt and mitigate climate change at both national and global level. References Biermann, F., Pattberg, P., and Zelli, F. 2010. Global climate governance beyond 2012: architecture, agency and adaptation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Burton, I. 2006. Adapt and thrive: options for reducing the climate-change adaptation deficit. Policy Options 2006(1):33-38. Emanuel K. 2005. "Increasing destructiveness of tropical cyclones over the past 30 years" Nature 436 (7051): 686–8. Eric P. 2010. The Climate War: True Believers, Power Brokers, and the Fight to Save the Planet, New York: Hyperion. Eriksen, S. H., and Kelly, P. M. 2007. Developing credible vulnerability indicators for climate adaptation policy assessment. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 12:495-424. IPCC. 2007. Summary for Policymakers, in Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. James H. 2009. Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity, New York: Bloomsbury Press. ORiordan, T. 2004. Environmental Science, Sustainability and Politics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sahney, S., Benton, M.J. and Ferry, P. A. 2010. "Links between global taxonomic diversity, ecological diversity and the expansion of vertebrates on land" (PDF). Biology Letters 6 (4): 544–547. Stephen H. 2010. The new politics of climate change: why we are failing and how we will succeed, Environmental Politics, 19:2, 255-275. Read More