Climate Change: Threat to Planet & Humanity - Essay Sample

Introduction

Because of the threat that it poses to the planet earth and the whole of humanity, climate change as a topic has been widely discussed in many forums and the public domains. Climate change refers to the gradual change in weather patterns, and the related alterations in oceans and land surfaces lasting for at least a couple of decades (Avi-Yonah & Uhlmann, 2009). Or, it can also be described as alterations of statistical properties of a climate system that gradually lasts for years. The causes of climate change are numerous including the release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere-a phenomenon known as global warming. This causes the earth's temperatures to change to the extremes. Other causes of global warming are through natural processes like the changes in the radiation of the sun, volcanoes or internal variability occurring in the climate system. Climate change is also caused by certain human activities that result in high concentrations of gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. Some greenhouse gasses like halocarbons are chemically manufactured and enhance the greenhouse effect that warms the earth surface. The effects of climate change are being felt globally whereby the temperature rises to very high levels, ice sheets on top of mountains are melting at higher rates resulting to floods in the lower areas, and environmental degradation is increasingly affecting people. Industrial food production, use of biotechnology, and ineffective environmental policies are some of the contributions made by human beings that cause environmental degradation and climate change. These effects are dangerous to the survival of human and plant life on earth. The role of human beings to take charge and change this cause is needed for the sake of the future. This paper presents how human beings can play a role in mitigating climate change.

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It is beyond doubt that technology has been an integral part of human growth and has resulted in certain advancements in various areas including production, machine operations and more. The industrial production of food is one of the benefits that have been brought by technology. While food production is good for food security, industrialization itself has greatly contributed to the emission of toxic gasses into the atmosphere altering the natural process and properties of climate. Pollan (2008) observes that human decisions and choice, even though not enough, can be of great help in curbing the effects of climate change. According to this author, people should consider using cheap energy that does little in causing climate change. Instead of using biotechnology for manufacturing food, people should revert to the farms, how it was initially. Planting gardens and growing food, rather than manufacturing it, can be a great choice if many people around the world did it. Clean sources of energy like wind energy should be considered more often as compared to others like coal and nuclear energy whose effects can be detrimental to human life and the state of the environment. While motor vehicles make the world move faster, the emissions of gases in the atmospheres especially in urban centers, daily lead in building up of harmful gases in the atmosphere which later interferes with the natural process and climatic properties. There is nothing wrong with using less of that and embracing other means such as walking or using bicycles if the distances are not too long. Making such a choice can also contribute positively to one's health.

Chemical industries have been in focus for years when it comes to contribution to pollution of the atmosphere through the release of toxic gasses. While the concentration of most chemical industries has been on profit-making, relevant environmental laws have always put them back on track to be conscious of the end product or waste that get released into the atmosphere or deposited on the surface as wastes. Environmental responsibilities given to chemical companies are effective but are not enough. Hoffman (1999) suggests that institutional change of attitude is core to being environmentally conscious. People need to be influenced and persuaded that it is crucial to protect the environment. Environmental education enlightens people on the consequences of environmental degradation, hazardous effects of climate change and the benefits of protecting the environment for future generations. This strategy of persuasion has the potential to influence and drive people to protect the environment for the ecosystem to be sustainable. One of the causes of climate change is deforestation which involves felling of trees for various purposes including the settlement, setting up of industries, creating spaces for agricultural purpose and many more (Read et al., 2009). While people see the short-term benefits of clearing forests to set up industries like creating jobs, which is reasonable, the long term consequences are far much dangerous for humanity as a whole. Preventing cutting down of trees, as well as planting more trees, can be useful activities that people can do to help reduce climate change.

One sector that is greatly affected by climate change is the agricultural sector and by extension threatening food security. Unpredictable rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, melting of glaciers, and increasing global population coupled with depleting agricultural resources reflect poorly on global food security. Some environmental historians, researchers, and enthusiasts have come up with the idea that green biotechnology can be used to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gases (Batchelor, n.d.). Biotech crops have been used to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide for almost two decades. The practice of soil sequestration, combined with the use or application environmental friendly energy and fertilizers have enabled farmers to venture into farming techniques that reduce emissions. For instance, insect resistance biotech crops do not require much use of pesticide sprays. This results in savings of tractor or fossil fuel and by extension contribute to less emission of gasses and chemicals into the atmosphere. Merchant (2004) has backed up the idea of using biotechnology especially in the production of genetically modified organisms including foodstuff to help in sustainable food production. The author also proposes that people should revert to farming and creating a new Garden of Eden that has abundant food with a balanced ecosystem. People should always try out new things and experiment on ways through which the environment can be improved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, climate change is one of the current major global problems that require serious attention because the environment cannot protect itself especially from the human causes of environmental degradation and pollution. The use cleans cheap energy, reducing emissions of gasses and chemicals into the atmosphere, deliberate efforts for conservation, persuasion to conserve, avoiding deforestation and use of means like biotechnology are some of the mitigation measures of climate change.

References

Avi-Yonah, R. S., & Uhlmann, D. M. (2009). Combating global climate change: Why a carbon tax is a better response to global warming than cap and trade. Stan. Envtl. LJ, 28, 3.

Batchelor, S. Biotechnology to combat climate change. Retrieved from https://www.focal.ca/en/publications/focalpoint/274-july-august-2010-stephanie-batchelor

Hoffman, A. J. (1999). Institutional evolution and change: Environmentalism and the US chemical industry. Academy of management journal, 42(4), 351-371.

Merchant, C. (2004). Reinventing Eden: The fate of nature in Western culture. Routledge.

Pollan, M. (2008). Why bother?. New York Times Magazine.

Read, D. J., Freer-Smith, P. H., Morison, J. I. L., Hanley, N., West, C. C., & Snowdon, P. (2009). Combating climate change: a role for UK forests. An assessment of the potential of the UK's trees and woodlands to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The Stationery Office Limited.