The Problem of Danger from the Climate Change - Report Example

Climate change Introduction Earth as we once knew it will go through drastic climate change in the next few decades. The next generation will experience earth warming effects ten times worse than present. They will experience times of famine, drought and drastic temperature change. Some experts state that climate change is a myth and it is not treated seriously especially due to mass media. It has not been determined yet if this change will lead to warming or some other changes of climate. However, there are scientific facts, which testify that the change of climate may have bad consequences and, thus, should be controlled. The given paper will prove that climate change really takes place and further scientific research is needed to learn how to control it effectively and turn it into benefit. The scientific facts of climate change The investigations held by different researchers show that the climate on the Earth have undergone serious change, however, the main consequences are still ahead. Much has been written and said about the meaning of climate change and its implications for the environment. Many scientists and researchers question the validity of climate change theories and assumptions. That the climate is changing has been abundantly established: the current body of literature provides compelling evidence that the planet is undergoing a serious climate shift. Books and articles provide a wealth of evidence supporting the relevance and existence of the global warming phenomenon. Temperature, sea level changes, and precipitation serve the main indicators of global warming (Maslin 23). Scientists use these indicators to estimate how the global climate changes under the influence of the industrial revolution (Maslin 23). Scientists were able to reconstruct changes in surface temperatures over the last 1,000 years – based on this information scientists produced a continuous record of temperatures, which indicate changes in surface temperatures of 0.74oC over the last 130 years (Maslin 25). The 20th century witnessed considerable fluctuations in temperature: the 1960s-1970s were the period of cooling (Maslin 25). However, generally, the planet is warming and even temperatures in the lower troposphere have been steadily increasing, approximately 0.1-0.2oC every ten years (Maslin 25). Global sea levels and precipitation are another two indicators used to judge the scope of the global warming phenomenon. The two most important precipitation data sets include the Global Historical Climate Network and Hulme (Maslin 30). It is noteworthy, that no definite global trends in precipitation have been found so far, but regional changes in precipitation are more than obvious (Maslin 30). North and South America experience significant increases in precipitation (Maslin 30). The seasonality of precipitation is changing, too (Maslin 30). Scientists observe long-term changes in precipitation in southern Africa and the Mediterranean (Maslin 30). The data on changes in sea levels adds to the body of evidence supporting global climate change: over the past 100 years, global sea levels have risen at least 12 cm (Maslin 31). Between 1961 and 2003, global sea levels were rising by almost 2 mm per year, and between 1993 and 2003, global sea levels steadily increased by 3.1 mm every year (Maslin 32). Scientists use these data to prove that global warming does exist and has serious implications for the future of the planet. Climate change is a proved thing Notwithstanding that climate change seems a common concern, there are still very little research on the issue. Rodenhouse, Christenson, Parry, Green (2009) in their research project “Climate Change Effects on Native Fauna of Northeastern Forests” refer to a possibility of global warming and its impact on mammals, birds and other forest inhabitants in the Northeastern America. Climate change is presented as a hazard exerting a negative influence on food distribution in the forest. There is a need to combine natural factors of global warming mitigation and anthropogenic drivers (Rodenhouse, Christenson, Parry, Green, 2009). The research did not prove the fact of global warming, but proved the fact of climate change: “Even under low emissions scenarios, effects on native fauna may be profound, affecting iconic species, endangered species, and species that provide economically valuable services, such as pollination and regulation of insect populations. However, much research that is essential to assessing the effects of climate change on the native fauna of northeastern forests remains to be done” (Rodenhouse, Christenson, Parry, Green, 2009). From another point of view, there is a need to make investments in potential negative outcomes of climate change. For example, in order to prevent abundance of GHG emissions, there is an alternative decision made by Australia, the CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) industry. With regards to regulations presented in the Australian Guide and the IOGCC Guide there is a need to improve conditions for carbon storage. Scientists have failed to develop a single, universal theory of climate. Thus, there is no definite explanation to climate change. Simultaneously, the global warming hypothesis have failed all three tests to which it was subjected (Carter 62). Here, it should be noted that “the currently favored hypothesis of dangerous global warming includes the presumption that the late 20th century warming was substantially caused by human emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide” (Carter 62). However, no definite relationship between temperature changes and changes in the levels of carbon dioxide was ever found (Carter 62). Furthermore, and as previously said, changes in temperatures fall within the natural limits of change during previous centuries (Carter 62). Finally, and this is what Robinson and Robinson were able to prove, modern computer models cannot predict long-term changes in temperatures. An intimidating impact on ecosystems is also the issue of the crucial importance. This testifies that though global warning is not a proved fact, but climate change really takes place. The doubts around the issue is caused by media Press and mass media fuel the controversy surrounding the issue of climate change. Actually, it is the media that distract public attention from the scientific data and provide biased coverage of the factors affecting temperature changes and their consequences (Boykoff & Boykoff 125). The media play a huge role in how the public interprets the meaning of climate change, and often turn the subject of climate change into the source of commercial profits. Failures to transmit relevant information from scientists to the public are not uncommon. Nonetheless, the media greatly contribute to the construction of environmental problems by the public (Boykoff & Boykoff 127). Apart from the fact that scientific evidence does not support the existence of the global warming phenomenon, the media distort the scientific message and do not let the public evaluate this evidence in its entirety. The results of the web research suggest that global warming is a myth rather than reality, and the press coverage of climate change in the U.S. distracts public attention from the scientific evidence, which denies the existence of the climate change phenomenon. In accordance with Schroeder et al (2009), there are the following direction in the development of global warming: “To date, most analysis has focused on the role of nation-states in the design, promotion, and implementation of various "post-2012" policy architectures and instruments” (Schroeder, 2009). Thus, the media and researchers must work collaboratively, to produce an objective picture of climate changes on the planet. Conclusion As far as we can see, there are basic strategic measures taken by the majority of the countries. Climate change remains controversial issue but this is not a reason not to take necessary measures to control it in order to take care about the future generations. The first direction of global warming prevention is focused on the reduction of GHG emission; the second step is usually focused on wild nature protection and the third step concerns ecosystem safety. Moreover, humanity should pay attention to effective measures taking for global warming prevention. Global warming is one of the most important concerns of the modernity and there is a need for researchers, scientists, politicians and economists to concentrate on global warming prevention strategies. Workds Cited Kulshreshtha, S. N. “Climate Change, Prairie Agriculture, and Prairie Economy”. Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 59, 2011: 19–44. Logan, T. J. “Carbon Down Under-Lessons from Australia: Two Recommendations for Clarifying Subsurface Property Rights to Facilitate Onshore Geologic Carbon Sequestration in the United States”. San Diego Intl L.J. 561, 2009-2010: 562-598. McFarland, Jeffrey M. "Warming Up to Climate Change Risk Disclosure." Fordham Journal of Corporate & Financial Law 14.2 (2009): 281+.  Rodenhouse, N. L., Christenson, L.M., Parry,D., Green, L.E. “Climate Change Effects on Native Fauna of Northeastern Forests”. Can. J. For. Res. 39, 2009: 249-263. Schroeder, Heike, and Harriet Bulkeley. "Global Cities and the Governance of Climate Change: What Is the Role of Law in Cities?" Fordham Urban Law Journal 36.2, 2009: 313+.  Boykoff, Maxwell T. & Jules M. Boykoff. “Balance is Bias: Global Warming and the US Prestige Press.” Global Environmental Change, 14, 2004: 125-136. Web. 20 April, 2014. Carter, R.M. “The Myth of Dangerous Human-Caused Climate Change.” The AusIMM New Leaders’ Conference, 2 May 2007. Web. 20 April, 2014. Maslin, Mark. Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2009. Web. 20 April, 2014. Robinson, Arthur B. & Zachary W. Robinson. “Global Warming Is a Myth.” The Wall Street Journal, 4 Dec 1997. Web. 20 April, 2014. 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