The world is around 60% water and 40% land. Now imagine all the costal countries and states being engulfed by water and no longer being a part of that 40%. This may seem like an impossibility, but if the status quo remains the same, this could happen before we know it. Global warming is a serious issue in today’s society, or at least it should be. The world as we know it as stake, not just the habitats of some animal species. If we can fix this major problem in the environment, we as a society can finally stop worrying so much about natural disasters, carbon emission, and greenhouse gases.
Several online journals and newspapers are concerned as well with this growing worldwide problem. An article on Crikey.com written by the former Australian Institute of Company Directors CEO Ian Dunlop vocalizes the importance of not only recognizing this problem, but points out several pieces of evidence that support their claims. Another article from the New American Journal, written by Ed Hiserodt, suggests that global warming is on the decline. An article written by Elizabeth Rosenthal in the New York Times gave suggestions on how to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions in your home.
Global warming is caused by releasing too many carbon molecules into the atmosphere. Carbon can be released many different ways. One of the ways we do without even thinking about: this is the burning of fossil fuels; so everyday when you drive to work or school or just down the street think about how you are a part of the problem, not the solution. Lately, the hot topic in this subject is measuring your “carbon footprint”. A carbon footprint is a hypothetical term that simply means the imprint you leave behind with the use and release of carbon molecules. Both companies and homes should try and monitor their “carbon footprint”, to see if they can decrease the magnitude of their devastation on the environment. For example, Elizabeth Rosenthal of the New York Times suggested “behavioral changes, like carpooling, insulating their homes and drying clothes outside instead of in a tumble dryer” (Rosenthal). Even if it means “going the extra mile” or taking the time out of our schedule to reduce our effect on the world, I strongly believe we should do it.
Should the government be encouraging people to reduce their carbon output at home? Global warming is a growing concern, but should tax breaks and other incentives be offered? Rosenthal certainly believes so. She states one solution to this problem “offering simpler and more immediate financial incentives for insulating a home or buying an energy-efficient appliance” (Rosenthal).
Also in recent history, a researcher by the name of Al Gore did extensive work in this field of work. He did research and presented his work from the late 1990s to the early 00s that followed. It is not until recently did he receive the attention and credibility that he deserved. In 2006, Al Gore helped produce a movie titled An Inconvenient Truth. This movie helped spread the desire to find a solution to global warming throughout the world.
Natural disasters are something that can not be avoided, no matter how hard we try. Global warming is only increasing these terrible occurrences. As the weather increases, different kinds of fronts move and collide with each other more rapidly and destructively. This creates larger hurricanes, tsunamis, and even tornados. Also in recent history, the city of New Orleans was almost completely wiped off the map by hurricane Katrina. According to Dunlop, Hurricane Katrina “killed 1500 people and devastated the city of New Orleans” (Dunlop). On the other side of the world, a massive tsunami killed thousands in India and the Philippines. Dunlop even points out a few natural disasters that some have overlooked. It states “Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar last year killed some 78,000 people with millions homeless; Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh in 2007 killed some 3000 people and destroyed 500,000 homes” (Dunlop). Environmental scientists and meteorologists have concurred that this was directly caused from global warming. Not only is global warming affecting our environment, but its taking human lives.
Humans are not the only species that are affected by this problem with our environment. These green house gases that are causing global warming are causing a global climate change. The polar ice caps, which were once home to many different species, are melting. Many of the animals that once called this home now are left with no habitat or food.
Even after knowing all the facts about how much harm global warming is do, some people choose not to participate as a part of the solution. Given that burning fossil fuels in ways such as gasoline for energy is such an everyday way of life, many are reluctant to change their ways. Some say reducing carbon emissions would cost billions of dollars and would only increase the United States’ national deficit. On the other hand, Hiserodt suggest that global warming is finally on the decline. He supports his claim when he says “Satellite data from NASA shows no increase in average global temperature since 1998, a year when El Niño caused a worldwide spike having nothing to do with carbon dioxide. Alarmists contend this is just a pause in a continuous rise in temperatures and that it will begin to increase again” (Hiserodt 1). Even with the statistics, it is still difficult to not want to do something about this global problem.
The status quo, as it stands now, is terrible. Global warming is only getting worse every year that passes. There are plenty of ways that we can find solutions to the growing problem; the technology is out there. We, as a global community, just need to show the desire to want to better our world. But if we don’t, the percentage of 60% water and 40% land could increase to astounding 70% water and 30% land. This would only increase urban crowding. That, however would increase many problems we already have, such as disease and crime.
Works Cited
Dunlop, Ian. “Global Warning is a Global Emergency.” Crikey. Web. 25 Feb. 2009
Hiserodt, Ed. “A Cooling Trend toward Global Warming.” New American 25.8. 21-23. Web. 25 Sept. 2009.
Rosenthal, Elizabeth. “How U.S. Households Could Cut Emissions of Greenhouse Gases.” New York Times. Web. 28 Oct. 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment