Human Activities as the Major Cause of Climate Change - Literature review Example

International Studies Introduction The accumulation of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere due to various human activities has resulted to the rise of surface air temperatures and subsurface ocean temperatures. These changes have been observed over the last decades as a result of human activities and natural variability. Edwards and Miller (2001) describes that climate change is the change in the statistical distribution of weather over a long time. It also involves change in climatic conditions and the distribution of events around the average. Climate change may also be defined as the change in statistical properties over a long period of time. Climate change has now ceased being a scientific curiosity or environmental and regulatory concern but is now the main prevailing environmental issue of this era. This study analyses climate change, what scientists say about it and what the latest research shows on climate change? Climate change According to McKibben (2011) climate is the state of the atmosphere, land and water that is said to be average. This is stable on time scales which include seasons, decades or centuries. Climate is describes using various variables which include temperature, wind, humidity, precipitation and sea surface temperature. Edwards and Miller (2001) shows climate responds to climate forcings in a regular manner this may be changed due to changes in warming of the ocean. Climate change is the greatest challenge facing the current environmental regulations. It has been a growing crisis affecting the economic, health and safety, food production and security. Climate change has threatened global food security for example through the increase of volatility of rain and the rise of sea levels. This contaminates freshwater reserves increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding. According to Houghton (2001) the warm atmosphere also increases the spread of pests and diseases which were mostly found on the tropics. The effects of climate change get worse everyday for example there has been continued ice-loss from glaciers and ice sheets. This has therefore contributed to the rise in sea levels that could exceed that predictable in the global scientific evaluation. This has also resulted to disturbing evidence showing tipping points that lead to permanent changes in the ecosystems as well as the climate system. Ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest and Arctic tundra are now be at their threshold of changing as a result of warming and dryness. Currently the mountain glaciers are in frightening withdrawal and the effects of reduced water supply will have a major impact that will go on to the coming generations (Edwards and Miller, 2001). What the scientists say about climate change Scientists have made huge contribution in enabling people understand climate change, its effects and causes. Houghton (2001) shows this is necessary as it enables decision makers to place climate change as a major challenge facing the world. Scientists are for the idea that the most dangerous climate change could be avoided. This would be by changing the hydrocarbon energy systems. The other ways would be through introduction of balanced and financed variation programmes that will assist people to prevent disasters concerning the environment. Susan et al. (2009) explains that scientists such as Stern review focused on the impact and risks brought about by uncontrolled climate change. He also showed the costs and opportunities that are associated with the best action for tackling the problem. It is also shown tat all countries are to suffer the effects of climate change but the poorest countries will suffer more. This is because the risks of climate change will change the physical geography of the planet changing how people live. Susan et al. (2009) shows scientists’ account that the dangers of climate change will equal to 5 percent of GDP annually. Other scientific evidence shows that greenhouse gases will be released in the environment due to the melting of permafrost. This will cause a major economic effect on living things and the entire environment. With these effects, it is estimated that the risks could increase to more than 20 percent of GDP. On the contrary, the cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a way of avoiding the impact of climate change will be reduced to 1 percent of global GDP annually (Ruddiman, et al., 2005). This is because people will be forced to pay more for carbon- intensive goods in order to enable the economy to grow. Ruddiman (2003) puts it that scientists say that it will be necessary to control the emission since if this is not done more damage will be caused considering that one tonne of carbon dioxide causes a damage of about 85 dollars. This has therefore brought about schemes meant for reducing carbon dioxide to cause a damage of 25 dollars per tonne. This reduction will bring about more opportunities for example increase in markets for low carbon technologies. Introducing ways of avoiding climate change is a strategy for pro-growth. Scientists also show that time is still there for avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. To motivate change for example, strong and deliberate policy choices should be introduced by governments (Ruddiman, 2003). According to McKibben (2011) latest research has also shown that the range of natural climate variability is quite large. This shows that the mean temperatures have increased to 18 degrees. McKibben (2011) shows it is also observed that the warming of the past 50 years is as a result of increase in concentration of greenhouse gas. The degree of confidence in this has also increased though there are various doubt which involve the level of natural variability intrinsic in the climate system for example that showing time scale from decades to centuries. Scientists have also been doubted on the ability of models which suggest natural variability regarding the long time scales. The other uncertainty is on the degree of confidence put on the changing of the global mean temperature as a result of alternative evidence. What latest research suggest about climate change The latest research have found out that the use of solar powered water heaters saves a great amount of energy for example in hot and sunny countries though the cost is also too expensive to many people. This system could help to reduce emissions in most countries. Over the last decades, various changes have been observed for example those caused by human activities. Houghton (2001) describes that climate change induced by human activities and the rise in seal levels is expected to continue throughout the 21st century. Research has also shown that other effects are those reflected from computer model simulations as well as other physical observations. These have indicated an increase in the rate of rainfall and increased vulnerability of drought semi-arid areas. These effects however depend on the magnitude of warming and the rate at which climate change occurs (Ruddiman et al., 2005). According to Houghton (2001) in order to advance our understanding of climate change, various areas of science have to be studies further. These involve the building of greenhouses gases and the behaviour of climate system. The issues to be addressed include how fossil fuel will be used in future, and how the emission of methane will affect the climate in future. This shows that in future, fossil fuel carbon will remain on the environment releasing a radiative force which will try to compete with the oceans. It is also shown that feedbacks in the climate system are an issue for example in determining the magnitude and time history of increase in temperature. To effectively understand climate change, one requires observing the global system that supports long term climate monitoring. It is also necessary to concentrate on supercomputing and human resources. Finally efforts should be made of ensuring that research on climate is managed. This ensures innovation, effectiveness and efficiency (Ruddiman, 2003). The international agreements that have been reached Following the impact of climate change for example by affecting the global economy, various techniques have been introduced in a bid to curb the spread of the effects. One agreement is where the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has helped in the developing countries. The programme has ensured reduction of vulnerabilities and built flexibility to the impacts of climate change. UNEP (2009) shows the programmes have also been effective in building and strengthening capabilities for evaluation of vulnerability and adaptation planning. They have also supported the effort made by nationals of integrating adaptation measures of climate change for example use of developmental planning and the management of ecosystem practices (Ruddiman et al., 2005). UNEP has also introduced environmental leadership which helps to reduce climate change to the UN system, international organisations, governments and civil society. This climate change programme gives guidance for example by advising governments on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the importance of it. The programme also shows various people how to prepare for the effects of climate change for example reduction in economic growth. International agreements on climate change have significantly developed. These include sensitising people to move towards the use of low carbon systems (UNEP, 2009). Conclusion In spite of the fact that the world’s greenhouse emission contribute to change in climate, human activities are the major cause of climate change. Climate change represents a major and growing challenge to the Arctic and around the world. Though the concerns are important, their implications have greater effect on the future generations. Tit is therefore important to implement a strong and rapid method of reducing emissions as this will change the future of warming stimulated by human activities. Action plan should also be introduced in order to adapt to the occurring warming. References Edwards, P. & Miller, A. (2001). Changing the atmosphere: Expert knowledge and environmental governance. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Houghton, J. (2001). Climate change 2001: The scientific basis contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. McKibben, B. (2011). The global warming reader. New York: OR Books.  Ruddiman, W. (2003). The anthropogenic greenhouse era began thousands of years ago. Climate Change. 61 (3): 261–293. Ruddiman, W. Vavrus, S. & Kutzbach, J. (2005). A test of the overdue-glaciation hypothesis. Quaternary Science Review, 24(11). Susan, S. Gian-Kasper, P. Reto, K. & Pierre, F. (2009). Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions. National Academy of Sciences of the USA. UNEP (2009). Climate change, viewed 24 June 2011, Read More