Recent International Contribution on Climate change - Essay Example

Recent International Contribution on Climate change Global warming is the consistent rise on the earth’s average temperature as well as that of the ocean due to the accumulation of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Robinson 188). The accumulation of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is caused by the ever increasing human activities that involves deforestation and burning of the fossil fuel. Carbon (IV) oxide gas is one of the greenhouse gases that if concentrated in the atmosphere, lead to increase in the temperature (Berne 187). Deforestation in this case contributes to global warming in the sense that the absorption of carbon (IV) oxide will be limited due to fewer trees on the earth surface to use the gas in the photosynthesis process (Ciechanowicz-McLean 243). Global warming has lead to significant climate change around the world due to the unchecked human activities and the consequences of the global warming can be observed in very many ways; there is glacial melting in the world highest known mountains (Grover 145). The glacial melting is caused by the rise in the global temperature to the extent that the bonds holding the water molecules in a solid state are weakened allowing the ice to flow down the slope. Sporadic weather and climatic have also characterized the global climatic change leading o varied agricultural yields as well as extinction of indigenous flora and fauna (Silver 146). Global warming thus is perceived by the environmental experts to worsen in the future if the necessary mitigation measures are not taken in the most opportune time possible. The effect of the global warming in climate change has attracted the attention of the international bodies and several conventions have been held to find a lasting solution in ending human activities that accelerates global warming. In the conventions, some of the factors that have been singled as the major contributors of the global warming include, industrial emissions in the industrialized countries coupled with wanton clearing of the natural forests in the developing countries. All these activities contribute to the accumulation of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a recipe for global warming (Robinson 132). All the international concerns about the global climatic change are directed at reducing the emission and accumulation of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or factors that increases the accumulation of the gases in the atmosphere. With regard to that, the United Nations has taken the lead in the fight about the restoration of the global climate (Berne 178). It organized a climate change conference in December 7th-19th, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark with the sole aim of devising strategies to combat the menace of the climate change. In Copenhagen, several state heads, ministers Non-Governmental Organizations, religious organizations, and industrials heads convened a meeting to set limits for the industrial emissions in the developed countries (Robinson 156). It had been noticed that with the mushrooming of industries in the developed countries, there is enormous increase of the greenhouse gases that are released in the atmosphere to mitigate on the accumulation of the gases accelerating climate change (Silver 233). The green belt movement has also been involved in the issues of the climate change in other aspects. The movement has tremendously echoed planting of trees as a sure way of checking the rapid climate globally. Planting of trees will help in providing a large reservoir for the absorption of the greenhouse gas carbon (IV) oxide, the utilization of the gas in the process of photosynthesis reduce it concentration in the atmosphere allowing the light rays to bounce back effectively without any retention in the earth’s troposphere (Ciechanowicz-McLean 202). Green movement has also employed other ways of conserving the environment like enlightening the people on the alternative sources of fuel other than reliance on the wood fuel. This is aimed at increasing the vegetative population so that greenhouse gas intake can be efficient and quick (Grover 203). The international community also hatched in 1997 the Kyoto protocol that involved many countries that wanted to mitigate on the uncontrolled emission of the industrial carbon gases (Robinson 239). The Kyoto protocol was designed to limit the developed countries from discharging into the atmosphere carbon gases without limits (Silver 200). The Kyoto protocol though was set in 1997 came into action in 2005 after Russia ratification due to the minimum requirement of 55 countries that were to ratify the agreement Russia being the 55th. The Kyoto protocol stem from the United Nations Frame work Convention on Climatic Change, UNFCCC (Robinson 245). In the Kyoto protocol, the key concern is not only to cut the release of the carbon (IV) oxide gas but also to limit the release of all other greenhouse gases; Nitrous oxide, Hydrofluorocarbon, Sulphur hexafluoride and perfluorocarbon (Berne 189). The Kyoto protocol stipulated the amount of the emission for each country that ratified the agreement contained in the document. The countries are to maintain their share emission and if they surpass the set level then they have to trade with those able to maintain their e mission below their target. The Kyoto protocol envisaged that with the ratification of the agreement, the total greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere will be effectively reduced by 5.2% in 2012; this is believed to be below that of 1990 emission (Robinson 259). With more countries ratifying the Kyoto protocol, it is apparent that the concentration of the greenhouse gases will reduce and subsequently salvage on the climatic change adversaries. The formation of the international Youth Climate Movement change has brought together several youth organization around the world and are under one obligation-to spread the need to exercise healthy environmental relationship by human to avoid the catastrophe of global climate change (Berne 245). The movement creates awareness on the need to conserve world vegetation in an effort to help prevent further environmental degradation that contributes to the rapid climatic change. They have also engaged the local leaders and the religious leaders in disseminating the looming danger of global climate change. They educate people on the need to plant and conserve trees and to opt for other alternative methods of fuel provision other than wood (Grover 199). The concern on environmental matters, global warming as well as the climatic change has attracted other personalities in adding their voices on the importance of taking the measures to ensure there is no further climatic change. The Nobel Laureate and former vice president of the United States of America, Al Gore formed the Alliance for Climate Protection Movement in 2006 (Robinson 273). The alliance engages in enlightening the world about the danger of the global climate change and supports any initiative to further the campaign on mitigating climatic change. In conclusion, global climatic change is no longer a hoax as thought by many people in the past. It is real and if there is no quick remedy enforced then the whole world will be at the mercy of the climate change. It should be noted that this is not about race, color, tribe or specific groups of people but a collective responsibility for everyone to shoulder in achieving a common goal. Works Cited Robinson, J. Climate Change Law: Emissions Trading in the EU and the UK. London: Cameron May, 2007. Print. Berne, Emma Carlson. Global Warming and Climate Change: Current Issues. Referencepoint Press, 2007. Print. Ciechanowicz-McLean, Janina. Global Warming and Climate Change: An Overview of International Legal Process. World Jurist Association, 2001. Print. Grover, Velma I. Global Warming and Climate Change: Ten Years After Kyoto and Still Counting. Taylor & Francis, 2008. Print. Silver, Jerry. Global Warming and Climate Change Demystified. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008. Print. Read More