Critical Thinking on Global Warming - Essay Example

? “Global Warming” (Image results at: www.masternewmedia.org/news/2006/11/20/global) Introduction Global Warming is an overall augmentation in temperature of the planet consequently leading to climatic changes. These changes are owing to heat ensnared by various green house gases encompassing carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs and ozone. It refers to the plodding changes that took place with the advent of industrialization and technological emissions. These emissions are depreciating the natural quality of atmosphere causing changes in global weather patterns, consequently have adequate catastrophic potential to fetch environmental imbalance. It is therefore global warming is alarming for the planet ("Global Warming"). Studies reveal that the temperature of the Earth has increased by 1°F ever since 1900 and it is increasing at much rapid pace since 1970. This augmentation in the temperature of the planet is called Global Warming. Normal greenhouse gases allow only sunlight and impede other hazardous radiations from reaching the Earth’s surface. An increase in temperature is due to emancipation of various gases called as green house gases encompassing smokestacks, vehicles, fossil fuels, appending to the standard Earth’s greenhouse effect. Researchers have estimated that if this rise in temperature will continue it is going to have devastating impact on climate patterns resulting in drifts, melting of glaciers and elevation in the sea level ("Climate changes"). Recent studies show that tundra is in threat along with Greenland where 32 glacial earthquakes occurred at Richter scale of 4.6 to 5.1, a mark of destabilization of the planet. Recently, Indonesia faced earthquake of Richter scale 8.4. Catastrophes are on rise, red dust was witnessed by people of Australia and USA, hurricane Katrina is an example! Human race is witnessing a global emergency and climate emergency making global warming an International issue of concern ("Global Warming Is An International Issue"). Such reports from scientist keep on pondering human beings but still no concrete measure could be formulated to prevent global warming. An analysis is required to understand the ignorance towards the environment. With the advent of industrialization and to meet the escalating demands of growing population, more industries are being set up for the production of finished goods and job opportunities. For all these set ups and for residential requirements; forests are constantly depreciating. Deforestation is on the rise to create space for these set ups. Plants are depreciating and therefore lesser number of plants are available to take up carbon-di-oxide, again contributing to Global Warming. Approval for construction is obtained through the politicians. In the name of development and progress, politicians are endorsing majority of the developmental projects without giving a thought and concern about the environmental hazard inhabitants are going to witness due to the construction process. In most of the developing nations there is no control over the escalating population as politicians are concerned about their 'votes'. Had they been concerned, the population of the world would not have escalated. Politicians are the ruling bodies of any nation, and it is highly imperative that they must be aware about the happenings going around and should be judgmental in their thoughts and actions to formulate the policies that can promote growth and development in an environmental friendly manner. The present article deals with the political concern about the global warming and what leaders have to say, how concern and aware they are about this serious issue. International Concern for Global Warming The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is one of the foremost international organizations working for the evaluation of climatic change. It is developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to offer the world with a clear scientific view about the state of the climate and its probable environmental and socio-economic impacts on the world. Observing the efforts of IPCC, the UN General Assembly also certified its actions along with WMO and UNEP ("Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Organization"). The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental organization which mainly aims to provide a detailed view about the factors responsible for the climatic changes and its impact on the life of human beings. IPCC's Task Force of Inventories (TFI) wished to analyze the facts regarding the Emission Factor Database (EFDB). The EFDB is a recognized library, which can be used to examine the emission factors as well as other parameters with various background documentation or technical orientations so that it can be used for calculating the estimated emissions and removals of greenhouse gases in the environment. Along with EFDB, IPCC also invented new software to evaluate the estimation of these gases which would be valuable for the future examination and assessment ("Renewable Energy and Climate Change. Renewable Energy As An Option To Mitigate Climate Change"). Moreover, the former IPCC Chairman, Mr. Bob Watson and Bureau member Mr. David Wratt also decided for the preparation of ‘Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation’ (SRREN), for the improvement of climatic changes. The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) described that fossil fuels provided about 85% of the total primary energy in 2004, which is quite significant. Furthermore, the ignition of fossil fuels accounted for about 56.6% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (which include CO2) in 2004 ("Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Home"). Thus, to retain a sustainable economy which is necessary for presenting essential goods and services to the populace of both developed and developing countries, and to preserve an encouraging global climate system, a major shift is required in the techniques of energy production and utilization. The idea of renewable energy technologies came into existence which releases quite lower amounts of CO2 as compared to the fossil fuels and so the demand of the renewable energy is growing at a rapid pace. Renewable energy (RE) sources play a major role in providing the energy services in a sustainable way so as to mitigate climatic changes. The sources of RE are more preferred as it offers prolong social and economic development thereby reducing the impact of global warming. It also includes evaluation of obtainable RE resources and technologies, costs and co-bene?ts, barriers to up-scaling and integration requirements, future scenarios and policy options so as to diminish the intensity of global warming from the environments of earth. Among the various renewable energy sources, the highlighted ones are bio-energy, direct solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy and wing energy among others ("Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Events, Presentations and Speeches"). Thus, globally, it is expected that RE amounted to 12.9% of the total 492 EJ of primary energy supply in 2008. The largest RE supplier is biomass (10.2%), as well as the majority of the biomass fuel is used in traditional cooking and heating purposes in developing countries. Apart from this, hydropower is the other important source which represented about 2.3%, and other RE sources accounted for 0.4% in 2008. Moreover, in 2008, RE added around 19% of global electricity supply, bio-fuels added 2% of global road transport fuel supply, and traditional biomass (17%), modern biomass (8%), solar thermal and geothermal energy (2%) together fuelled 27% of the entire global requirement for heat. Hence, it can be depicted that the RE is one of the primary energy sources which varies considerably from one country to the other. Thus, RE contribution might enhance the future growth and development of human life thereby diminishing the issue of global warming ("Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories"). Global Warming Beliefs 78% Democrats, 71% Independents and 53% Republicans consider the occurrence of global warming, while 53% do not pronounce the occurrence of global warming. However, 34%, Tea Party members pronounce the occurrence of global warming. Of these, 62% of Democrats believe that global warming occurs due to human activities. on the contrary, 50% of the Tea Party members believe that it is a natural process while 21% do not favor the occurrence of global warming. 55% of the Democrats believe that majority of the scientists propound the happening of global warming, the view is supported by 56% of Republicans and 69% of Tea party members, but they have their view that there is a difference of opinion persisting in the scientific community regarding global warming. The concern about global warming was shown by 72% Democrats, 53% Independents, 38% of Republican and 24% of Tea Party individuals. However, 51% of the Tea Party members are not concerned with the global warming. On the other hand, 45% of the Democrats, 33% of Republicans and 51% of Tea Party members believe that global warming does not impose any harmful impact on the inhabitants of United States ("Politics & Global Warming: Democrats, Republicans, independents and the Tea Party" ). These views highlight the concern of the different parties about the persisting problem of global warming. It is highly essential that politicians must be provided with the accurate information and should be updated on a regular basis to understand the repercussions of ignoring the prime issues related with the environment. The following section presents the opinion of different leaders about the global warming. Standing of Political Parties For Global Warming Liberals have the view that global warming is caused by the increase in carbon-di-oxide concentration, which occur due to burning of fossil fuel. 25% of this concentration is contributed by USA alone. On the contrary, conservatives differ in their opinion and consider global warming to be a natural process taking place since long periods and proposed laws are of little help to overcome the issues related with the carbon emission ("Conservatives' Doubts About Global Warming Grow"). Politicians direct the thoughts of the mass, this could be grasped from the variation in the views observed under various kinds of governments namely, Liberal, Moderate and Conservative. However, there is no change in the thoughts about global warming, a global issue of concern when liberals are considered. In 2008, 72% of liberals believed that effects of global warming is already occurring and the percentage enhanced to 74% in the next two years, in 2010, indicating that they are concerned with the global issue of global warming and consider it as an issue which needs immediate action. But, the similar trend was not observed in moderate form of government, as a decline in view of people was observed, 66% of the people believed that global warming is already showing its impact in 2008, while the percentage decreased after two years in 2010 and only 60% of the population agreed to the fact that global warming is already existing and displaying its impact. On the other hand, conservative form of government could influence people to a greater extent as there is a marked reduction in the percentage of people's belief was observed. In 2008, 50% of the individuals believed that global warming is persisting and this percentage decreased to 30% in the year 2010. Such a change in the opinion could be the result of political ideologies which rule the minds of mass. An augmentation in the percentage who say significance of global warming is overstated in news due to political ideologies, in 2008, 13% of the liberals believed this which enhanced to 26% in the year 2010, while 34% of moderates believed this view in 2008 which was enhanced to 40% believers in the year 2010. A marked increase in believers was observed among conservatives, where 51% believed this fact and later in the year 2010, 67% of the believers started believing upon this fact ("Conservatives' Doubts About Global Warming Grow"). The view of Republic Party The global warming view is not appreciated by the ideologies of conservatives and considered global warming to be hoax. Individualists believed that during this era of recession where markets have failed, economy of the world is fragile, steps to reduce the carbon emission will prove to be of little help and in turn is going to elevate the prices. The governor of Texas, Mr. Perry states that " global warming is an unproven scientific theory that has been advanced, at least in part, by scientists who have "manipulated data," and programs intended to limit climate change are costing the nation "billions if not trillions" of dollars that could be better spent elsewhere." ("Los Angeles Times"). Similar view was also presented by Mitt Romney, when a voter asked, "What is your position on man-made global warming and would you reject legislation, such as cap and trade, which is based on the idea of man-made global warming?". Mitt Romney explained "My view is that we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet. And the idea of spending trillions and trillions of dollars to try to reduce CO2 emissions is not the right course for us. My view with regards to energy policy is pretty straightforward. I want us to become energy secure and independent of the oil cartels. And that means let’s aggressively develop our oil, our gas, our coal, our nuclear power" ("On whether humans contribute to global warming"). The view of Liberals Liberals firmly believe in resolving environmental issues, cease socioeconomic disparity prevailing in the society, and developed nations are contributing to the pollution to the greater extent, seek nature's protection and are willing to fight human evil and consider it as moral responsibility to protect the nature ("Why Liberals Fear Global Warming More Than Conservatives Do"). The Democratic Party View Al Gore, campaign to highlight the issue of global warming as a distinguished issue across the world as he stated that, "Two thousand scientists, in a hundred countries, engaged in the most elaborate, well organized scientific collaboration in the history of humankind, have produced long-since a consensus that we will face a string of terrible catastrophes unless we act to prepare ourselves and deal with the underlying causes of global warming" ("The Inconvenient Truth"). The President of United States, Barack Obama, presented his view on global warming as, "All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it's here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster" ("Think Progress"). These views suggests that global warming is attaining concern on the international stage and people who follow the path of politicians, must be provided with all the issues in an apprehensive manner so as to create an awareness about the burning issues such as global warming among the mass in an appropriate and methodological way. Conclusion In this era of globalization and industrialization, global warming is one of the significant as well as an alarming issue, which is quite perilous for today’s world. Thus, global warming requires serious deliberation so as to make the world free and healthy from this predicament, which might prove deleterious for the individuals of the world. Throughout a long period of time, the temperature of the Earth has been fluctuating repeatedly. However, due to the climatic changes the planet conventionally received sunlight as a result of delicate shifts in its paths, which resulted in global warming. Global warming is referred to as the recent rise of the standard temperature of the earth’s environment and the oceans and its predictable persistence. In the preceding 100 years, the typical surface temperature of Earth has been increasing at about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F) with almost two thirds of the increase mainly taking place within the last three decades (Houghton, 2004). Mass and common man are the onlookers, they see and follow what their politicians ask them to follow, as was observed in the trend witnessed in opinion modifications in two years interval (2008 & 2010). It is highly imperative that the politicians must be aware about what they say and do as their statements influence mass and must be aware of the facts and truth from all aspects including social, scientific and educative besides political aspect. Work Cited "Climate changes". Web. 23 Jul. 2012. . "Conservatives' Doubts About Global Warming Grow". Web. 23 Jul. 2012. . "Global Warming". Web. 23 Jul. 2012. . 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"Why Liberals Fear Global Warming More Than Conservatives Do". Web. 23 Jul. 2012. . Read More