Global Warming Is Myth or Reality - Essay Example

GLOBAL WARMING: MYTH OR REALITY due: Introduction If I wrote this paper twenty years ago, maybe its contents could recount information about ‘global warming as a domineering myth. However, for the last five years, the world has been engulfed by global warming crisis that has led to changing weather patterns, rise in temperatures and rising sea levels. One result of this is that, it has become evident that several of the fundamental declarations of global warming discourse cannot bear up to the empirical facts with which nations, companies and people face on a daily basis. This paper examines the effects of this new situation in terms of discursive effects as well as in international policymaking. As specified by the title of the paper, the focus will be to explore how different myths of ‘global warming’ are constructed, and significantly, how the myths are beginning to extricate. ‘Myths ‘of the contested signifier ‘global warming’ In this discussion, the word ‘myth’ endorses key claims taken from critiques of global warming discourse that global warming is a “typical environmental problem” and a “scientific consensus problem” (Victor 2011: 49). Without doubts, it is true that most tormenting consequences of climate change are concerned with the influences in nature. Studies by Chung (2013: 14) reveal that most of the myths supporters argue that there is no scientific consensus that human beings could reduce the ozone layer. Interestingly, most regulatory policies emphasizing on the regulation of ozone-reduction gases were designed preceding any scientific accords. In addition, the policies were influenced by non-scientific factors (Victor 2011: 43). For example, the United States regulations on the burning of CFC’s in the late 1970s. I am convicted that the scientific consensus myth still exists because of the clash between scientists and non-scientists. Most non-scientists do not appreciate the changes created by scientific advancements. In addition, science does not set goals where meaningful consensus is available. Perhaps the global pollution could delineate the meaning of nature given that high atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas exist, and so far, no connections to human activities have been identified (Victor 2011: 39). Effects linked to the support of this myth have tremendously failed. Policymakers have focused on solutions that have not worked due to mismatching policy tool kits to other regulatory tasks. This has been characterised by an environment whereby most environmental problems are handled by ministers or through simple regulatory policies and technological changes. As a result, most policies do not reflect on the need to address global warming. However, the re-branding of global warming as a global and environmental problem has particularly helped major nations particularly led to the development of universal policy instruments. The globalization of environmental mediation has at least brought a relief to the effects caused by global warming. For example, the establishment of the Kyoto protocol in Japan has encouraged nations to reduction of CO2 gas emissions by assisting countries in adjusting to the unfavourable effects of climatic changes through developing and deploying technologies that help in fighting the impacts of climatic change (UNFCC, 2005). Empirical Discourse on Global Warming Five years have elapsed since the ‘Copenhagen’ nations and other supporters of ‘man-made’ global warming discourse could not agree on a solution. Interestingly, during the preceding of the summit, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) presented an international treaty that established compulsory obligations on developed nations to trim down emissions of greenhouse gases in an effort to cut down global warming. What continues to mesmerize me is how this dialogue, notwithstanding its multitude, has continued to hypnotize economics, scholars, publics and politicians in the prevailing years. A lot of analysis had been done focusing on the discursive practices and government relations underpinning the success of this discourse. However, there is still clear evidence that a number of flaws of this discourse have been made empirical and conceptual events that have misguided scholars, politicians and publics. Recent studies (Victor 2011: 39; Shakun et al. 2012: 50-4) suggest that the regulation of global warming has proved to be a hard problem to solve due to the emissions of CO2 gas to the ozone layer. This requires to be considered in relation to the slow process of cleaning the atmosphere as empirical evidence confirms the average lifetime of CO2 emissions to a hundred years. In addition, more evidence reveal that gas emissions build up in the atmosphere at slow rates forming patterns that are hard to reverse (Chung 2013: 12-3) Scholars (Shakun et al. 2012: 50-4; Chung 2013: 12-4) suggest that fundamental steps towards the reduction of global warming would command serious cuts in gas emissions. In addition, if nations decided to restrain emissions constantly, concentrations of CO2 gases would still build (Chung 2013: 14). For this reason, bringing to a halt and reversing the accumulation of long-living atmospheric gases would command reductions of more than 50 percent in decades to come. In the present day, major world economies are powered by fossil fuels that contribute to about 85 percent of CO2 emissions Victor 2011: 40. In addition, other human activities such as deforestation especially in the trophies increase atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Global warming has been characterised by a series of causes and effects beginning with production of warming gases that end with ugly and significant consequences to ecosystems and humans. It is tricky to understand how bad climatic changes would become given that, global warming has to do with stressing complex climatic systems faster than it has ever been witnessed. As effects of global warming continue materialising, chances, even though small indicate that catastrophic effects focussing on human health and economic minds would be felt. Conclusion The signifier ‘global warming’ will not fade away instantly, save for what it signifies is going through spectacular revolution. ‘Global warming’ will no longer be a sign of prerequisite for privatization, liberalization, and deregulation in the face of global warming effects that nations allegedly cannot contain or manipulate. To the contrary, expansive and synchronized strategies by international bodies and governments of many of the world’s leading countries to restore the ozone layer and minimize greenhouse emissions has dismissed one of the fundamental myths of global warming discourse: the earth’s temperatures have tremendously risen in the last century due to human activities. This will does not discourage advocates of this discourse from supporting policy recommendations, particularly when the crisis lessens. Bibliography Chung, S. Y. (Ed.). 2013. Post-2020 Climate Change Regime Formation (Vol. 3). Routledge. Shakun, J. D., Clark, P. U., He, F., Marcott, S. A., Mix, A. C., Liu, Z & Bard, E. 2012. Global warming preceded by increasing carbon dioxide concentrations during the last deglaciation. Nature 484, 7392: 49-54. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) (2005), Kyoto Protocol: Monitoring emission targets. Retrieved March 22, 2014, from http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php Victor, D. G. 2011. Global warming gridlock: creating more effective strategies for protecting the planet. Cambridge University Press. Read More