Global Warming in Florida - Essay Example

Introduction Global warming is the gradual increase in the average amount of earth's temperature in atmosphere and the mass water bodies (WWF, 2007). The evidence of the global warming is marked by the increase over time in the global temperatures recorded in weather stations worldwide. Elaborate explanation of the causes and the overall results of the global warming not only in Florida but also worldwide is an active area of scientific research. However, the main cause and effects of the global warming are plain; the build-up of carbon dioxide in atmosphere trapping the heat and increasing the average temperature. In the last 100 years the average earth temperatures have risen by about 1F with predictions at 2-10F in the 21 first century(Southern Alliance for Cleaner Energy, 2007). With 830,000,000 motor vehicles on the world roads today the levels of the carbon dioxide continues to swell, for instance the average amount of carbon dioxide increase per year stands at 0.44ppm. Year 2008 was recorded as the second warmest after year 2005 and the rise in the temperatures (NWA, 2008) concentration in the atmosphere is destined to go up with time. Global warming is serious threat in Florida State today. This paper seeks to show that the global warming in Florida is a reality and matter of public concern. I will explore how changes in the global temperatures pose a threat not only to the natural forests but also the aquatic systems, health and economy of the America's southern state. I will explain why the Floridians need to take up the challenge of protect the environment for the future generations while showing conflicting positions held by various personalities institutions regarding the global warming in the state. The paper shall finally offer possible solutions to counter the effects of the global warming in Florida. Extent of Global Warming in Florida The state of Florida is well known for its tourism attraction due to its excellent beaches, diverse native wildlife species, variety of fish and birds. It has gained status as the fishing capital of the world (NWA, 2008). As a result hunting and angling and salt water fishing are popular sport that attracts tourists in the state providing almost 60,000 jobs to the residents and a source of revenue to the federal government. Today however, the global increase in temperature is destined to affect the natural as well as the physical activities in Florida. Evidence of the global warming is apparent in the gradual immersion of the beaches to the sea caused by temperature rise and thawing of glaciers increasing ocean waters. Change in the weather is another attribute of the global warming; recent times have seen devastating hurricanes sweeping across the state leaving behind enormous loss of property and destruction of vegetation (Southern Alliance for Cleaner Energy, 2007). The average rise in sea level globally has been estimated to be 6 inches in the 20th century. By 2100 the immersion of the beaches is expected to reach 15 inches. The global warming impacts in the Florida state are evidently seen in other areas of wildlife and tourism. The Florida has been stated as a ground zero in terms of the climatic change impacts in the United States of America this statement is based on the extents and effects of global warming already experienced in Florida (NRDC, 2001). On the other hand skeptics do not believe that global warming is a serious problem at all, they are attributing theses changes to effects of evolution rather than those of human activities industrialization. Let us now look at the realities of the global warming and awareness to people. Alertness of Global warming to Floridians According to a research done by the Florida Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation (2006) on March to April 2006 where a group of people were interviewed at the end of the research 63% were aware of the global warming and the its effects in Florida, 27% were unaware while 10% thought otherwise, the global warming in Florida is a fact with effects on the natural habitat intense. The research says that one of such effect is change in the coastline of the gulf coast of Florida. The beaches of Florida are slowly disappearing with a rise in sea levels. With the temperatures forecasted to up in the coming years beaches will eventually be eroded and finally fully submerged in water leaving no recreational areas a big blow to tourism. Furthermore the report says that increase in the ocean temperatures will oversee the destruction of habitats and the ecosystems for coral reefs. Special species of panthers and manatee will be endangered. There will be an algae boom that will be result from higher water temperatures in the seas thus contaminating seafood. Vivid memories of the recent hurricanes like the famous hurricane Katrina that have hit the American southern coast in the recent past are still with us. Such hurricanes are brought about by heat waves that multiply the violence of the hurricane during the hurricane season. Two of the worst hurricanes to occur in the American history were experienced hardest in the state of Florida. The heat waves have been also been responsible for the rise in mortality rate. Scientists have recorded occurrences where salt water from the ocean has started intruding inside the fresh water aquifers this is consistent with early signs of global warming. If the eviromental conservation and pollution reduction measures are not put in place the state is yet to see the worst. Melting of the glaciers will consequently see an almost 400 feet of low lying areas being submerged, forcing out profitable human activities around (Southern Alliance for Cleaner Energy, 2007). The tourist centers and the agricultural farms will run the risk of contaminating their fresh water with the impure salt water this salt water will also affect the Everglades' wildlife. The health conditions of the Florida citizens will undoubtedly deteriorate with increase in pulmonary and respiratory diseases. Though increases in rainfall will favor some food crops lasting impacts may be felt in crops like tomatoes and sugarcanes. Drought and dryness of vegetation may introduce the invader pests not to mention the likely occurrence of forest fires. In addition to those effects the report observes that the migratory patterns of some birds have changed, new pests species have been observed, the plants have been observed to bloom earlier than was the case before. This is a clear indication that global warming has had impacts on the lives of people. Some of these happenings cannot be attributed to any other cause. Take the example of the decrease in the snow cover on the ponds; thawing of water is caused by temperature increase, and therefore less and less snow cover on rivers and ponds is an evidence of temperature increase. However the government of United States of America is slow in accepting the extent of these facts. In a bid to escape from the possible steps that would cut CO2 emissions affecting industries, the government is apprehensive in appreciating the severity of the condition. Much as the government is concerned about hurting the manufacturing industries consideration should also be put on the effects of hurting the environment. Apparently the ministry of the environment thinks that the matter of the global warming is being overstated. But evidence I have shown on the effects of coastline, wildlife and climate, portrays a serious condition that needs to be immediately attended to. In my opinion all Floridians should be aware that the global warming is a real problem affecting individuals in real time and not a virtual one waiting to happen like the government tends to think (Southern Alliance for Cleaner Energy, 2007). Reducing the global warming Scientist says that the best action to take to minimize the global effects of the warming is to cut the carbon dioxide emissions by 80 % (Karner and Fuller, 2008). The governor of the state Mr. Christ has in response to that call signed an executive order aiming to attain that rate in addition to ensuring the construction of more energy efficient homes and environmental friendly automobiles by the year 2050. A criticism to this order is the duration taken for the action of cutting the emissions to be fully implemented. With the rapid rise in the temperatures as earlier indicated the year 2050 deadline is not soon enough to curb the problem in time. A better solution could possibly have been to cut the emissions 50% by the year 2020 and then to extend the rest 30% cut on the remaining 30 years. All parties in Florida, the individuals, the environmentalist and the organizations should support such a decision. The process of reversing the global warming in Florida alone will cost about $6.2 billion per year but the long term benefits would be numerous. Florida's environmentalist are collaborating with different stakeholders in this field in ensuing that policy are put in place and implemented to oversees that the state successfully reduce global warming pollution. This is a good beginning considering that the government of Washington has taken no action in addressing the menace. However, the process of reducing the global warming is a collective responsibility that should be taken by the government as well as the individual resident of Florida. Along with reducing carbon dioxide emissions by the main polluter of environment power plants and the automobiles individual should also ply their part in bringing down their home level of emission. For example; citizens should rather than using the incandescent light bulb use the fluorescent one since it uses 60% less energy. This single switch will hold on about 300 pounds of CO2 emitted per year. Clothes line instead of dryers, insulating homes, reusing bags rather than recycling, reducing wastes, planting trees, buying fresh foods ,using more energy efficient home appliances , eating less meat , cycling instead of riding ,among other things. The use of cleaner energy sources like the solar and the wind energy are being encouraged in the state of Florida. A plan in place to offer lesser mortgage rates for energy efficient homes is underway. Apart from that I expect to sees the government of the Florida prioritizing the issue of global warming just as the case of health and food. Having done that then some funds will be set aside to help the wildlife and habitat conservation. The Florida solar energy centre should with the government aid produce solar panels able to completely meet the demands of a typical home to reduce overreliance on fuel energy. Incentives can also be offered on those people who use the renewable energy resources to encourage their usage. The Florida's farm to fuel startergy of 2006 at a cost of $15 million has an aim to increase supply renewable biomass energy to the Florida residents instead of the fuel energy. A hindrance to all these attempts is the American government consistent accusations of the Kyoto protocol as being an inefficient method of dealing with the problem of the global warming. The argument advanced is that the cost of reducing the greenhouse emissions would far much exceed the benefits that would be obtained thereof. However some energy companies and organizations are taking the initiative of cutting on the energy expenses and adopting a sticker environment friendly control (Karner and Fuller, 2008). Benefits of reducing the global warming The solution tom the global warming just like global warming will have multiple effects on the various fields. Pierce (2000) says that the up to 40,000 can be created solely from actions that have to do with the reduction of the global warming. Still, the Floridians can save hundreds of dollars individually each year from the same. These benefits come from saving on the energy used at home. Unfortunately common people are yet to know the steps they can take to fight the problem. Others who know take the global warming less seriously. Other than saving on the energy expense reduction in global warming will lead to cleaner environment, cleaner air, cleaner foodstuffs, and minimal contamination of our foodstuffs with dangerous chemicals. People's health would improve thus a reduction in health care expenses. The chain of impacts will trickle down l mean better economy and prosperity for all. It is therefore my obligation and your obligation to derive these benefits from reducing the global warming (Maurizio, 2008). Conclusion No body can now provide any argument to belittle the effects of the global warming in Florida based on what we have found out. With confirmation of the global warming it is up to the Floridians and everybody else to take a positive step now. According to scientists the threat of the global warming can be overcome by a 40 year 2% reduction in the greenhouse emissions (Ponce, 2008). The governments together with the environmentalists and the individuals have a role to play in reduction of the global temperatures. Failure to take an action will seen the nature's anger in form of adverse climatic effects on human being and wildlife alike. Man has an obligation to protect the environment against pollution effects since he will be the chief loser once the polluted environment decided to hit back. Cases of such have been seen in form of hurricanes in Florida, El.nino rains in various parts of the world and excessive droughts in Africa (Maurizio, 2008). How long the man decides to wait before taking firm steps in controlling the world temperatures will determine how soon such disasters are bound to happen. Of course Florida's attempts to reverse the global warming would be in vain without the cooperation of the other states and countries. I therefore call for the implementation of an international policy of reducing the global warming by all countries in the globe for in stance the Kyoto protocol. With the intergovernmental panel on climate change forecasting the temperature to rise by 4-11% in the 21st century, implementation of policies should be underway to alleviate the occurrence and the magnitude of such disaster as has been experienced in the recent past across the world (Southern Alliance for Cleaner Energy, 2007). References Karnas, J. & Fuller, M. (2008). Global Warming in Florida. Solutions to Global Warming. Maurizio. (2008).50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming: global warming facts. Creative commons. National Wildlife Federation ( WWF). (2007). Target Global Warming in Florida .South Eastern Natural Resource Center. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). (2001). Feeling the heat in Florida. Global Warming Threatens Florida.1-4. National Wildlife Action. (NWA). (2008). Global Warming and Florida. Retrieved June 11, 2008 from http://www.targetglobalwarming.org.html Pierce, K. (2000).Global Warming and Its Threats to Florida. Florida environment. Ponce, V.M. (2007). Global warming facts: Retrieved June 11, 2008 from http://globalwarming.sdsu.edu Southern Alliance for Cleaner Energy. (2007). Global Warming Pollution in Florida. Florida Read More