The International Debate Concerning Global Warming - Research Paper Example

Whilst this may seem to be absurd, it is a fact that we are now living in a world that is characterized by extreme climatic changes as a result of the effects of global warming. Against this background, this analysis seeks to explore one interesting aspect of the debate where the other people argue that global warming is not a crisis whilst others say that it is.

Basically, global warming can be defined as the heating of the planet as a result of excessive temperature generated from greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which traps heat causing increases in temperature (Brown 1996). The greenhouse gases allow light from the sun to come into the atmosphere and trap the outward-bound infrared radiation to warm up the earth. However, the more greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere, the more heat gets trapped causing extreme climatic conditions which can negatively impact the welfare of the people. Extreme climate conditions such as floods or recurrent droughts can be witnessed as a result of the effects of global warming.

The melting of ice as a result of global warming results in increases of more water to the ocean and its level rises. As a result of the rising sea level, people living in areas below that sea level will be displaced. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been studying global warming over the past few decades. Their most recent report, issued in February 2007 entitled: “Evidence is now ‘unequivocal’ that humans are causing global warming,” shows that the activities of human beings are responsible for the cases of increasing global warming conditions. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the earth has already been showing many signs of worldwide climate change (United Nations News 2007).

An increase of about three degrees is expected this century according to this report. The report notes that surface temperature has increased by about 0.74 degrees over the last 100 years. Larger values of glacier melting of about 1m are expected by about 2100. Global warming has a number of negative impacts on the welfare of human beings. “Major impacts of climate change will be on rain-fed crops (other than rice and wheat), which account for nearly 60% of cropland area. In India poorest farmers practice rain-fed agriculture,” (Chattopadhyay 2008).

Some scientists argue that the increase in temperature is simply the result of a natural climatic adjustment which is seen as a normal thing in climate change. This helps create a fine balance in the ecosystem. Large quantities of carbon dioxide are inevitably emitted into the atmosphere when fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, or oil are burned to produce energy. In a debate entitled: "Global Warming Is Not a Crisis," it can be seen that in a vote conducted before the debate, about 30 percent of the audience agreed with the motion, while 57 percent were against and 13 percent undecided. Some believe that the warming of the earth is something that is normal so as to make the earth habitable. In terms of food production, global warming is advantageous in that it will help increase agricultural productivity the whole year-round. Irrigation can be promoted especially during winter periods which usually experience very cold weather conditions (Rosenzweig & Hillel 1995).

Over and above, it can be noted that global warming is the heating of the planet as a result of excessive temperature generated from greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Read More