Climate Change: Who is Responsible - Essay Example

Climate Change There has been a considerable change in the global climate as witnessed by rising temperatures, longer periods of summer and winter, cyclonic storms, hurricanes, severe droughts, and floods. Scientists, engineers, environmentalists, and political leaders show helplessness as people continue to die because of drought-induced starvation and flood-induced epidemics in densely populated areas. Couldn’t these natural catastrophes be averted? Couldn’t the advancement in science and technology control devastation? Have the satellites failed to predict the massacre of innocent children, youth, and elderly caused by the natural calamities? It is true that these incidents have been caused by climate change, which in the past few years, has shown unpredictable patterns on planet Earth. According to the World Health Organization, “Climate change has already caused an additional 5,000,000 extra cases of severe illness a year” (The Independent, June 20, 2007). It is time for the policy makers to implement strategies lest the deleterious effects of climate change should cause tragic loss of human lives. The World Health Organization also predicted that nearly 200,000,000 humans will be vulnerable to fatal diseases due to consumption of water contaminated by floods (The Independent, June 20, 2007). Since climate change is induced by the greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which are emitted by automobiles, power plants, industries, and agricultural practices, there is a need to check the irreversible phenomenon of climate change (Climate Change Challenge, n.d.). Unless the deleterious man-made activities that cause climatic change are checked by the society, climate change will continue to threaten the health of the individuals and the economy of the nations. It is important to discuss the factors responsible for climate change and then suggest feasible solutions to prevent its spread across the seven continents. Climate change is the result of greenhouse gases that trap the solar radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere, thereby, causing an increment in the global temperature (Climate Leaders, n.d.). Due to continual increase in the levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emitted by automobiles, industries, and energy sector, the global temperature has also increased. Besides these human activities, there are natural activities that also contribute to climate change. Natural Factors Causing Climate Change Volcanic eruptions, ocean currents, earth orbital changes, and solar variations are the natural factors causing climate change (Climate Change Challenge, n.d.). When a volcano erupts, aerosols released into the atmosphere have a cooling effect, while carbon dioxide causes the overheating effect; oceanic currents influence the exchange of main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, with the atmosphere; more tilt in the earth’s revolution around the sun leads to hot summers and cold winters, and an increase in solar activity leads to higher temperatures in the Earth’s atmosphere (Climate Change Challenge, n.d.). However, these natural factors do not contribute significantly to the climate change phenomenon in contrast to the greenhouse gases emitted during eco-destructive activities by humans. Human Factors Causing Climate Change Global climate change is a real phenomenon as witnessed by shrinkage in glaciers, rise in sea level, early breakage of ice on rivers and lakes, and generation of strong heat waves (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, n.d.). Who is responsible for causing devastation of the beauty of nature? Who should take the onus for displacing the human population along the coastal areas that are now facing the threat of floods due to incessant rainfall and rise in level of sea water? Of course, it is the humans who need to take responsibility for abusing the natural resources and emitting uncontrolled amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. When the humans burn oil, coal, and natural gas to run their automobiles, operate power plants as well as industries, and perform numerous household activities that indiscriminately use these fossil fuels, the greenhouse gases, namely, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are emitted into the atmosphere. Since there is no strict regulation that checks the release of these gases, the impact is felt on the environment in the form of climate change. It is astonishing to learn that 65% of carbon emissions come from the power plants and 21% from the automobiles (Climate Change Challenge, n.d.). These unregulated carbon emissions continue to cause climate change and threaten agriculture, forests, wildlife, and human lives. It is ironical that the humans who create goods and services have to suffer the consequences of nature due to their misuse of fossil fuels, which produce greenhouse gases. It was reported that transport, aviation, and industries release at least seven billion tons of carbon dioxide annually by burning fossil fuels (The Independent, June 20, 2007). So it can be clearly seen that the humans are themselves releasing uncontrolled amounts of greenhouses gases, which are the main cause of climate change. Possible Solutions to Check Climate Change The best solution to check the phenomenon of climate change is to curtail the emissions of greenhouses gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and this could be done by reducing the use of fossil fuels and using alternative sources of energy, which do not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. For instance, if people start using the natural resources wisely without indulging in negligent wastage, then the consumption of fossil fuels would be reduced. The society expects the policy makers and the government to introduce effective strategies for curtailing greenhouse gas emissions, but the individuals do not play an active role in checking these emissions. For example, firecrackers are burnt on several occasions throughout the year across the world, and these firecrackers contribute toward climate change by discharging greenhouse gases and other toxic chemicals. Can’t the society stop using these firecrackers that cause air pollution and significantly lead to the irreversible phenomenon of climate change? Is the pomp and show more important than the purity and safety of the environment? It is a pity that the developed countries with less population produce more greenhouse gases than the developing nations. It was reported that the developed countries are responsible for nearly 90% of the greenhouse gases emitted around the globe (The Nature Conservancy, 2011). Hence, the responsibility for checking climate change should be taken by the developed countries since these countries have the technology and the financial resources to tackle this environmental destruction. It seems that the efforts of environmental activists, community, social activists, and political leaders are gradually showing results. It was reported that nearly $30 billion will be given by the developed nations to the developing nations till the year 2012 for checking climate change, and this financial grant may increase to $100 billion to provide technological assistance till the year 2020 (United Nations Environment Programme, n.d.). Hence, it can be concluded that the human factors are responsible for the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing the real phenomenon of climate change across the world. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are the greenhouse gases emitted by automobiles, industry, and power plants, leading to the irreversible process of climate change. The negative impact is being experienced by humanity as illnesses and diseases continue to take human lives, and increase in global temperature is causing floods and violent storms. The developed countries need to take urgent steps to check climate change before it is too late. References Climate Change Challenge. (n.d.). Causes of Climate Challenge. Retrieved January 4, 2011, from http://www.climatechangechallenge.org/Resource%20Centre/Climate-Change/3-what_causes_climate_change.htm Climate Leaders. (n.d.). What is climate change. Retrieved January 4, 2011, from http://www.climate-leaders.org/climate-change-resources/climate-change/what-is-climate-change National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (n.d.). Global Climate Change. Retrieved January 4, 2011, from http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/ The Independent. (June 20, 2007).Who is responsible for climate change: individuals, businesses or the Government? Retrieved January 4, 2011, from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/who-is-responsible-for-climate-change-individuals-businesses-or-the-government-453856.html The Nature Conservancy. (2011). Climate Change Impacts. Retrieved January 4, 2011, from http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/issues/ United Nations Environment Programme. (n.d.). UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun delivers balanced package of decisions, restores faith in multilateral process. Retrieved January 4, 2011, from http://www.unep.org/climatechange/News/PressRelease/tabid/416/language/en-US/Default.aspx?DocumentId=653&ArticleId=6866 Read More