Humans Are Not to Blame for Global Warming - Essay Example

Humans are not to blame for global warming The concept of global warming has become controversial in the modern world. Diverse opinions are held regarding whether global warming is a natural progression occurrence or human contributory occurrence. The cardinal rule of natural justice requires that one should be considered innocent until proven guilty (Lupo, 1). However, the global warming debate has applied the direct opposite of this cardinal rule, by holding that humans should first be considered guilty for causing global warming, and then the ones in doubt can now try and prove to the world that this is not the case (Lupo, 1). My fellow student arguing for human factor as the cause of global warming in fact conceded to the fact that there is no prove that humanity is responsible for this problem that the world is facing. This is because; in pursuing the argument, the student first observed that “the earth’s temperature is a delicate balancing act and no single factor determines it” (EPA, n.p.). This being the case, the student concurred with the fact that there is no foolproof evidence that can show that global warming is a purely human contribution (Thornhill, n.p.). Thus, the opinion that is held by the vast majority that global warming is purely a human-contribution occurrence becomes misleading and unfounded. In any case, if the humans are to be blamed for causing global warming, then they should be blamed for partial contribution to it, if there arises any evidence that would show the human-factor contribution, as opposed to blaming humanity entirely. According to my fellow student, carbon emissions are a human-factor that have contributed to global warming, especially arising from the greenhouse gases emissions. It is true that the contribution of the human-factor in creating greenhouse gases that are eventually emitted into the environment has increased in the recent few decades (Richardson, Steffen and Liverman, 21). Nevertheless, there is no absolute proof that global climatic change is occurring due to these emissions, since carbon dioxide is a nature gas component on the earth’s atmosphere since the earth’s existence (Lupo, 1). While carbon dioxide is blamed for being the major cause of global warming, the fact that carbon dioxide is an essential gas for the continued natural flora and fauna processes such as the growth of plants has been ignored completely. Secondly, while the carbon emissions is being blamed for causing global warming, there does not exist accurate data that indicates the actual carbon volume in the earth’s atmosphere historically. Additionally, there does not exist an accompanying evidential data that shows how the carbon volume has changed in the atmosphere to present day (Lupo, 1). The only true proof that carbon emission is the major contributory factor to global warming could only arise, if the accurate historical data of carbon volume is available for comparison with the current carbon volume. Thus, the proponents of the view that carbon emission is responsible for increased global climatic change should first ponder over this fact. They can only blame the carbon aspect after there is certainty that there is a way to prove the historical and the present carbon volume discrepancy in the earth’s atmosphere. The other argument that is held by my fellow student’s argument is that those holding that global warming is not a human-factor contribution are nervous of the global warming consequences and stubborn, such that they are unwilling to change their lifestyles. My question to the fellow student would then be; why change our lifestyle when there is no absolute proof that our actions are causing the adverse effect of global climatic changes? The adoption of human lifestyle is based on several critical and relevant economic, political, social and cultural considerations, which define or even at times dictate the lifestyles that humans should adapt (Richardson, Steffen and Liverman, 22). Thus, the change of lifestyle would require very solid basis and not a scare of a global warming attribution to human factors that cannot be proven. The other question that I would like to ask my fellow student who has ardently defended the position that human factors are responsible for causing global warming is; is climate a regional and physical geography factor or a global factor? This question is relevant in determining whether an occurrence in one part of the world can be inferred to be of impact globally. Historically, climatic factors are regional as opposed to global, such that different regions in the world have different climatic conditions (Lupo, 1). The fact that human factors are detrimental to the environment in one region is not likely to impact wholesomely on the global climate, unless such adverse human actions are simultaneously occurring globally. For example, Europe, America and some parts of Asia experienced industrial and other technological revolutions that account for gaseous emissions into the environment much earlier than other regions such as Africa. Therefore, if climatic change was to occur as a result of these human-factor contributions, then it should start with America, Europe and Asia, before occurring in Europe. The fact that the current global climatic change is facing the whole world then disputes the fact that human factor is the major contribution to global warming. The other factor disputing the argument that human factor is the major contributor to global warming is the pace at which the global warming is affecting the world. The occurrence in climatic change globally has been drastic and rapid (EPA, n.p.). This cannot possibly be accounted for by the amount of carbon and other gaseous emissions that the human factor contributes into the environment (Thornhill, n.p.). Further, even the regions that account for less carbon and other greenhouse gases emissions have been equally affected by the global warming trends as does the highly emitting regions. Thus, this points to the possibility that there is another factor, more that the human factor that is accounting for the rapid, drastic and uniform change in the climatic conditions globally. The world has registered drastic climatic changes historically, long before the human actions started affecting the environment negatively in a great way. Therefore, the only possible conclusion is that natural progression, more than human factor, accounts for the major share of global warming occurrence. Works Cited Lupo, Anthony. Global Warming Is Natural, Not Man-Made. NASPA. p1. Print. Richardson, Katherine, Steffen, Will and Liverman, Diana. Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions. Cambridge University Press. 21-23. Print. Thornhill, Ted. “Humans are NOT to blame for global warming, says Greenpeace co-founder, as he insists there is 'no scientific proof' climate change is manmade”. Mail Online, 27 February 2014. Web. November 27, 2014 < http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2569215/Humans-not-blame-global-warming-says-Greenpeace-founder-Patrick-Moore.html> United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Causes of Climate Change”, March 18, 2014. Web. November 27, 2014 < http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html> Read More