Global warming mitigating strategies and solutions research paper
This paper strives to present the environmental problem of global warming and its anticipated impacts on Earth. To confront the issue, a mitigation plan has also been outlined. Global warming is, in fact, a perfect example of climate change and it is necessary to highlight the detailed description of the problem. Global warming have serious and negative impacts such as rise in sea levels and more precipitation etc, which can increase the intensity and frequency of severe weather events such as heat waves, hurricanes, floods and tornados etc. The benefits as well as challenges of the mitigation plan have also been presented in the paper.
Detailed Description of the Global Warming
Global warming is the continued increase in the temperature of the Earth. This constant rise in temperature is the basic reason for an irreparable harm and damage to this planet in the specific form of extinctions of animals as well as plant species. The idea behind global warming is simple: gases that accumulate specifically in the atmosphere as by-products of agriculture and human industry. (Revkin, 2008) As such it is of utmost significance that extraordinary and exclusive efforts should be made to avoid the contribution toward global warming. To accomplish this vital objective, greenhouse gases should be emitted at much higher rate to affect atmospheric concentrations of such gases to rise.
However, if atmospheric concentrations are sustained at the current levels, the overall global temperatures will ultimately cease to rise, and supposedly, there will be no more damage, irreparable in nature, along with no further increase in the possibility of some significant environment failure.
The current opinion of scientists on climate change concludes that most of the global warming observed in the last fifty years is attributable majorly to human activities. The earth, without greenhouse gases, is estimated to be colder by thirty three degree C as compared with the current temperature. (Maslin, 2007)
The major causes of global warming are:
· Presence of water vapor
· Presence of certain gases like methane, chlorofluorocarbons and carbon dioxide.
· Building up of troposphere ozone in the atmosphere mostly due to human activities.
The above-mentioned gases are released by; land clearing; burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of generating electricity, driving cars and operating businesses and homes; and agriculture etc, leading to an overall amplification of the greenhouse effect. (Maslin, 2007)
Nonliving and Living Factors that Contribute to Global Warming
Some of the nonliving factors contributing to the problem of global warming are: Sand, water, soil, sunlight and precipitation. Whereas, the living factors that contribute to global warming are: carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. Carnivores are the animals that feed on other animals. Herbivores are the animals that feed on plant, whereas omnivores eat both plants and other animals. (Maslin, 2007)
Although, some scientists are of the view that there will be either no or positive impacts of global warming, most agree that negative impacts will significantly outnumber the positive impacts. The main impact estimated by the scientists is the considerable increase in the average temperature of the world. It is strongly believed that the average increase in the air temperature during last hundred years was due to the observed increase specifically in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations which ultimately leads to the lower atmosphere and warming of the surface by increase greenhouse impact. As the temperature of Earth continues to rise, scientists believe that there will also be more impact on people and natural systems, particularly in the developing and poor nations.
Other impacts of global warming comprise a rise in sea level. The sea level is in fact a primary reflection of changes made in the volume of ice sheets and as such of change in global temperature. Future seal level rise depends on intensification of greenhouse gases that will determine the large volume of global warming. (Hansen, J, 2006)
Moreover, there may be more intense and frequent weather events like tsunamis, hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornados and blizzards etc; even though it is difficult to link particular events with global warming. Significant changes are being recorded in the world, attributed to the global warming, in agricultural yields, reduced stream flows in summer, glacier retreat, species extinctions and considerable increases in the variety of disease vectors. The increased volumes, particularly of carbon dioxide as well as other greenhouse gases are the primary reasons of increase in the global warming over the last fifty years. (Maslin, 2007)
It is, therefore, concluded that impact of global warming on human life and environment is grave as well as negative, from a rise in the sea level to increased air temperature to severe storms. Although, it is a real challenge to estimate the impacts of global warming and their severity, most of the scientists strongly believe and predict that global warming will have grave and negative impacts on Earth as well as way of life and severe climate change. It is also pertinent to mention a contrary opinion present in the scientific circles that global warming cannot become the greatest threat to humankind until and unless the sun has its next hiccup in about billion years or even more. (Rancourt, 2007)
Evaluation of Current Sustainability Strategies and Solutions
Since there are mostly negative impacts of global warming, it is necessary to address the issue with the required concern and due attention. Critical evaluation should be made of strategies and solutions being designed to attend the problem. It is, therefore, prudent to highlight and analyze some of the solutions so they would prove much beneficial in case the world face global warming problem in future.
Another purpose of evaluating these strategies and solutions is to asses whether they aim to reduce the volume of greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere and prevent as well as mitigates a harm connected with global warning. Moreover, it is necessary to estimate and validate that the solutions being framed to address the issue provide extra capacity for confronting the problems linked with the issue of global warming without diverting the overall economic activities or imposing major costs.
One solution presented to confront the issue of global warming is eliminating all subsidies to the usage of fuel. Although this solution could be considerably small, given the overall size of local energy markets, they could serve as a useful solution while subsidizing huge corporations at the expense of taxpayers. The predicted threat of global warming is a major reason to eliminate such programs of subsidy.
Another strategy for confronting the issue of global warming is reforming and improving Air Traffic Control System. The increasing demand for air travel means greater usage of fuel due to more flights. The general rule is that less fuel is consumed in case of shorter flight. Even then, neither pilots nor airlines have the necessary freedom to make a choice between an economical and direct route. The freedom if given to pilots, of mapping the course as per their own choice, could prove a desirable and attractive change and may have tremendous impact on the environment. Moreover, it could save substantial volume of greenhouse gas emissions. (Maslin, 2007)
Facilitating and supporting electricity competition is presented as one of the solutions to address the problem of global warming. By rejecting the paradigm of central regulation and permitting suppliers to effectively meet the needs of their customers, the issue of energy waste. In this manner, the related emissions can also be reduced to a huge extent. The reduction in the energy waste may prove beneficial in economic terms also- even if emissions do not create problems by themselves.
Plan to Reach Sustainability- Benefits of Plan- Challenges
It is pertinent to outline an action plan to reach sustainability in reducing global emissions fairly and equitably. A high-quality and descent plan, if implemented successfully, can stop emissions reaching dangerous levels, the consequences of which will be disastrous for everyone. Global warming is mostly a result of the consumption of fossil fuel in world and already serious impacts are being experienced. Consequently, residents of regions, that have a high temperature, are under continuous stress of changing climate. A range of measures are available that could be implemented across the transport, buildings, energy supply, agriculture, waste and industry sectors.
The main objectives of the plan for reaching sustainability are; reducing fossil fuels consumption; clean up and reduce all types of pollution with the aim to reach zero pollution; more emphasis on clean as well as alternative energy sources having much lower carbon emissions; and sustainable usage of land, water and different scarce resources.
The main goal is to reduce the fossil fuels consumption which is highly significant to confront the issue of climate change and ultimately global warming. Fossil fuels are the main cause for global warming. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere during combusting fossil fuels. As such reducing carbon dioxide emission is the most significant element in the war against global warming. However, currently the fossil fuels are the cheapest source of generating additional energy. Proscribing fossil fuels would require heavy reliance on solar and nuclear technologies which in fact are higher energy costs.
The plan recommends designing effective strategies to clean up and reduce pollution which is also a highly significant task. Pollution not only creates harmful environment but also causes serious health problems as well as different diseases. To reduce fossil fuels, loads of energy is needed and as such an essential ingredient of the plan is creation different options of energy sources. More and diversified energy sources can amply satisfy the energy needs of world. The alternative energy sources comprise solar power, wind energy and hydro-energy. These sources present huge potential and are acceptable ecologically. Efficient supply, nuclear power and shifting to less polluting gas from coal can play a vital role in the fight against global warming. It is, therefore, needed to formulate effective policies for managing this transition.
For the purpose of reaching sustainability, it is recommended in the plan, that the scarce resource of water should be preserved, specifically for future generations. Moreover, the sustainable utilization of water, land and different other scarce resources is critical to facilitate future life on Earth. Soil, vegetation and trees provide a significant carbon store while better management of land and forestry present some of the cheapest and easiest emissions savings.
Other measures that could be adopted to confront the issue of global warming are improving the overall energy efficiency of most of the buildings. It is not only helpful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but is comparatively a low-cost measure. Last but not least is the element of ‘waste’. Waste management is in fact a primary component of the plan as the waste minimization and recycling provides indirect benefits for mitigating greenhouse gas.
Required Government, Societal and Global Support
At the global level, it is essential for all the countries to express a robust and firm commitment to confront the issue of global warming. Climate change is in fact a global problem and as such requires suitable actions from the international community. Countries all over the world should work together and provide support in sharing experiences, technologies, talent and resources to lower greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately reducing the threat of climate change in the planet.
As countries continue to develop and grow, cooperation from society and governments becomes more significant. The global society should hunt for ways that can meet challenge of climate change more effectively and efficiently. The key for successful cooperation is the support by government and society to achieve the developmental, environmental and economic objectives in a climate-friendly manner.
It could be concluded from the arguments presented in the paper that there are certain grave and negative impacts of the global warming, mainly an increase in the average temperature of the Earth. As such a mitigation plan has been outlined to confront the issue, while the benefits and challenges of the plan have also been highlighted. The plan can only be successful if ample support is provided at government, societal and global level to express a robust and firm commitment in tackling the grave issue of global warming.
Hansen, J. (2006) The Threat to the Planet. The New York Review of Books: 53.12. A Peer reviewed article. Retrieved September, 14, 2008 from http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19131
Maslin, M. (2007) Global Warming: Causes, Effects and the Future. Voyageur Press; 2nd edition
Rancourt D. (2007) Global Warming: Truth or Dare? Activist Teacher. A Peer reviewed article. Reviewed in the issue of ‘The Dominion magazine, April 2007’. Retrieved September, 14, 2008 from: http://activistteacher.blogspot.com/2007/02/global-warming-truth-or-dare.html
Revkin, A. (2008) 1988-2008: Climate Then and Now. The New York Times