How to Decrease Global Warming and Save the Environment - Essay Example

Insert due How to Decrease Global Warming and Save the Environment Philander (3) defines global warming asthe phenomenon of indefinite increase in the Earths atmospheres average temperature, which ultimately leads to alterations of the global climates. According to Wang and Chameides (2005; 9), global warming and Enhanced Green House Effects are terms which are used almost synonymously. This relationship, perhaps follows the impact of the greenhouse effects to the earth’s atmosphere. As greenhouse gases continue to increase in the earth’s atmosphere, more solar radiations are kept from leaving the atmosphere (National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) and Royal Society (Great Britain) 12). As a result, the entrapped solar radiations significantly contribute to the increase in the global temperatures, which is essentially global warming (Ibid 12). Being a global issue, every individual should be actively engaged in the pursuit of solving global warming. There are numerous means in which global warming can be solved, but I am particularly inclined to one which seems to be most effective. The employment alternative clean energy sources, is the best way of solving the issue of global warming effectively. There have been various researches which have been conducted about climatic changes especially the global warming. In addition reliable sources are available which have been written about global warming. Though, there have global warming has existed for a very period of time, this paper only highlights the most credible information regarding the history of global warming. Those that have credible data about the history of global warming indicate that the first notable phase of global warming occurred between the years 1919 and 1940 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II, 2014). This was probably the onset of global warming which has escalated in its nature over the years since this period in time. The second phase has been identified to be in the current years that we are living in since the year 1970. Following the analysis that has been provided by recent reports, the average temperature gain in the current phase, the second phase, has risen significantly compared to the first phase. The first phase had recorded a 0.35°C gain in temperature Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II, 2014). However, the second phase, from 1970 to the present day, the earth’s atmosphere has exhibited a temperature increase with a gain of 0.55°C (Ibid, 2014). This is a difference of 0.20°C between the two phases. According to the National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) and Royal Society (Great Britain) (2014), in the past five centuries, scientists have observed the second phase, approximately the last twenty five years, of global warming to have been the warmest. Global warming has substantially important effects on the humankind from all over the world. This is because it results into phenomena that affect the humankind profoundly in almost all aspects if their lives. For instance there have been several catastrophes which have been as a result of global warming. These catastrophes have had effects on humankind which have been considerably vast. Global warming has caused deaths of the humankind and probably the first most important effect that gets the humankinds attention of the global warming. These deaths have been caused by disasters such as killer heat waves which have been as a result of global warming. According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group II, (2014) the chances for the killer heat waves have probably been doubled. This is evident from one of the recent heat wave experienced in Europe in 2013 from the months of July to August. The second disaster that results from global warming is the torrential rains and flooding. Wang and Chameides (2005) note that strong evidence has proven that the second half of the twentieth century recorded an increase in the intensity of precipitation events recorded. This has been as a result of the increasing global warming which has an impact on the degree of vaporization of water from the earth’s surface. This accelerated rate of water vaporization is the one which in turn causes increased precipitation. There are extreme risks associated with the heavy downpours caused by the effects of global warming such as deaths of the humankind. The third and a very characteristic effect of global warming is drought. According to Siva (2013) global warming has been playing a very important role in the causing of drought. There has been an anticipation of severe droughts that are as a result of global warming since scientists started researching the effects of the global warming. (Tolba and Saab (2009), researchers have found that soil usually dries out following the failure of replenishment by precipitation. Therefore, when global warming accelerates the rate at which evaporation of the water content in the earth’s crust precipitations fails to come soon enough, drought usually occurs. Consequently, droughts cause food shortages. Humankind life is usually at a very profound threat whenever deprived of basic human needs. Food shortage, when it reaches to extreme cases, causes the loss of lives of people. Forests and wildfires have been another major threat to humanity. This has made humankind more aware of the effects of the global warming and thus become more careful with their interactions with environment. According to Elasha (2010), global warming has had a major contribution in the occurrence of wildfires and forest fires. With the expectation of droughts as a result of global warming, this cause is also very closely associated with the forests and the wildfires. When precipitation is unavailable, there are higher chances of the prosperity of a forest or wildfire since the conditions for their occurrences are rather ideal (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II, 2014). Moreover, extended warm seasons are an added condition to the contribution of a relatively conducive environment for the onset and prosperity of the forests and wild fires. Also contributing significantly to the increasing wild and forest fires is the risen temperatures due to global warming. Their very existence promotes the onset of the forests and wildfires to a substantial level (Ibid 2014). Whenever there are such cases of fire outbreaks, humankind is threatened. Consequently, humankind suffers losses of lives, properties, heritage, and wealth among other important valuables to the humankind. Humankind is affected when glaciers vanish due to the effects of global warming. According to Siva 2013, following their vanishing, humankind suffers potential food shortages as rains are reduced from the alteration of the rain catchment areas. Another importance of global warming to the humankind is the rising sea levels. This is a consequence of global warming that has caught the attention of the humankind profoundly. Therefore, researchers have been in a pursuit to determine the rate at which the sea levels are rising globally due to global warming (National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) and Royal Society (Great Britain) 17). There are also in an indefinite pursuit of finding out ways of maintaining the sea levels to their normal levels in order to avoid the consequences that are associated with rising sea levels. Pollution has had vast and profound effects on global warming. Whenever the topic is pollution and global warming, their relation give rise to certain definite factors. These are, especially, the human-emitted greenhouse gases. To begin with, carbon dioxide is one of the major greenhouse gases that have contributed to a significant level in the existence of global warming. Castro (2014), human activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation and the production of cement among others increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Methane is the second important greenhouse gas as far as far as global warming is concerned. According to Philander (2008) human activities such as filling landfills, growing paddy rice as well as raising livestock contributes to a substantial amount of the methane released into the earth’s atmosphere. Nitrous oxide is another important greenhouse gas which has risen in the second phase of global warming (Parry 18). According to Siva (2014) this has been observed to be due to the increase in use of such fertilizers that are nitrogen-based. The last pollutant that contributes to a significant level of global warming is the halocarbons (Parry 18). The halocarbons are mostly emitted from the chemicals used as fire retardants or those used as refrigerants (Ibid 2007). The chlorofluorocarbons present multiple threats in the issues of global warming. This is because these gases double as greenhouses as well as damagers of the ozone layer (National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) and Royal Society (Great Britain) 37). There is already a substantial amount of greenhouse gases which are already into the earth’s atmosphere. However, this does not imply that global warming is therefore unmanageable. There are geoengineering mechanisms which can be employed to manage the amount of the greenhouse gases which are already into the earth’s atmosphere. I will highlight two of them which are already underway and which have given impressive results so far. The first mechanism is the carbon dioxide capture and storage (National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) and Royal Society (Great Britain) 2014). The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is injected into the underground geological formation. By so doing, the atmosphere is ridded off the excess carbon dioxide which could cause global warming. The second mechanism is that of injecting stratospheric aerosols into the earth’s atmosphere (Ibid 2014). This is expected to restore the global temperature to relatively lower ones. However, these two geoengineering mechanisms of countering global warming have several limitations as well as uncertainties in the outcomes they are anticipated to achieve. The most effective way of solving the global warming issue is by the use of clean energy (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II, 2014). This will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the earths’ atmosphere. In addition using cl energy also will stop the corrosion of the ozone layer. Following the compliance with the requirements of the Kyoto protocol, the international climate policy has a profound vision in the pursuit of solving the global warming issue (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II, 2014). It has employed a strategy of the Clean Development mechanism. The Clean Development mechanism has seen the reduction of the emission of greenhouse gases. This is attained by the implementation of project activities which do not promote the emission of the greenhouse gases. This is an important step in the course of countering the climate changes which have been due to global warming. Before concluding, it is important to highlight a case of Mahrain. Mahrain being a small island is faced with heightened risks of the effects of the global warming. First, with the rising of the sea level and the increasing sea temperatures, it is vulnerable to varied risks. This includes the erosion of its beach. The levels of the waves could also cause flooding on the eroded island beaches. Mahrain is also vulnerable to face climate-sensitive diseases therefore depleting the health of the inhabitants. The infrastructure of the island is also vulnerable to damages by high energy waves (Al-Haidan 2008). Consequently, the aforementioned factors combined with several others affect the economy of the Mahrain negatively (Ibid 2008). The humankind is also threatened by the changing global climate. This is one reason why people need to take care of the environment the best way possible. In conclusion, the most effective way of solving the global warming issue is by the use of clean energy. Not only will this lessen the amount of greenhouse gases in the earth’ atmosphere but also will halt the corrosion of the ozone layer. As much as there is the employment of alternative tools of mitigating the environment like carbon dioxide capture and storage mechanism, every individual needs to be accountable on environment care. Works Cited Al-Haidan, Khalid A. Towards a National Spatial Data Infrastructure for the Kingdom of Bahrain. N.p., 2008. Print. Castro, P. Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries: A Critical Assessment of the Clean Development Mechanism. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2014. Print. Elasha, Balgis. Human Development Report 2010: Mapping of Climate Change Threats and Human Development Impacts in the Arab Region. New York: United Nations Development Programme, 2010. Print. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II,. Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. [Stanford, CA] : IPCC Working Group II, 2014., 2014. Print. National Academy of Sciences (U.S.), and Royal Society (Great Britain). Climate Change: Evidence & Causes. Washington D.C.: National Research Council, 2014. . Parry, M L. 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: Cambridge UP, 2007. Print. Philander, S G. Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2008. Print. Siva, Kumar M. V. K. Climate Change and Food Security in West Asia and North Africa. N.p., 2013. Print. Tolba, Mostafa K, and Najib Saab. Climate Change: Impact of Climate Change on Arab Countries. N.p., 2009. Print. Wang, James, and Bill Chameides. Global Warmings Increasingly Visible Impacts. S.l.: Environmental Defense, 2005. Print. Read More