Environmental Issue: Global Warming - Term Paper Example

Is global warming due to human actions?
Mahli et al. (2008) support the production of carbon dioxide through natural activities and the existence of a natural process for balancing the emission and removal of the gas into and from the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide produced by humans is minimal enough to be absorbed by the oceans. On the other hand, Turk and Bensel (2011) attribute the change in carbon dioxide composition to the burning of fossil fuels by humans.

It is believed that no one is sure why the climate keeps changing. The available information on climatic systems is minimal to attribute global warming to specific initiators. Therefore, since the ancient climate was a natural event, even the modern changes could be attributed to natural factors. Opponents of this move argue that the current warming greatly supersedes what was experienced in the ancient period. Hence, there could be some external influence – human activities.

A new ice age had been predicted decades ago based on the previous alternation between about 100,000 years of the ice age and about 10,000 to 30,000 years of warm interglacial periods. Despite the earth completing its 10,000th interglacial year, this appears elusive (Mahli et al., 2008). Global warming has been predicted to exist in many decades to come (Turk & Bensel, 2011).

There has been no measure to prove that the current warming results from global warming. It could therefore be a result of a shift in the planetary reflectivity of the earth thus increased absorption; internal climatic system variation that causes the transfer of heat from one region of the earth onto the atmosphere; or the sun’s increased output (Zahran et al., 2007). However, direct observation negates these arguments.

Can the human race take action to stop global warming?
Human beings being the cause of global warming have the power to stop it. Governments have exhibited a commitment to reduce emissions by between 50 and 80 percent by the year 2050 (Turk & Bensel, 2011). Giles (2008) proposes an increase in gasoline prices to do away with inefficient vehicles. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, ratified by the EU and 37 other countries would see the members reduce their greenhouse gases emission. Developing countries however have not been considered major emitters of emission of greenhouse gases (the United States Energy Information Administration, 2002).

Usage of renewable energies in industries would reduce unwanted emissions. Domestically, using energy-saving bulbs in place of superficial ones would play a critical role in stopping global warming. Households should strive to have efficient refrigerators. Farming techniques should adopt techniques that do not enhance the emission of greenhouse gases like methane from slurry manure and nitrogen oxide from nitrous fertilizers.

Conclusion
There has been a massive release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that has caused global warming. Opponents of human activities as the cause of this phenomenon give debatable reasons for this including the fact that carbon dioxide emission is a natural process and climatic change resulting from natural happenings like the shifting of the orbit of the earth about the sun and breaking up of supercontinents and impact of meteorites or comets. On the other hand, proponents have argued on increased temperatures beyond what could be considered naturally caused. As such, human activities that increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere explain this. Therefore, human activities have contributed largely to global warming and thus, humans have the power to stop global warming by adopting appropriate measures.