Introduction:
Hello everyone! Today I will be speaking about global warming but before I begin, how many of you believe that global warming exists and that the human population is the primary cause of global warming? I ask this because there are people who believe that global warming does not exist or that it’s “a hoax created by China”. But that’s not true and global warming is in fact one of the biggest problems facing the world today. There is a significant amount of negative effects for the environment and for all living beings due to global warming. And maybe some of you are not be interested in global warming, but the truth is, global warming is a big part of our world and it affects each and every one of us. It is also a major topic for political debates and it makes a huge impact on our world even if we may not be ready for it.
We should all be concerned with what is happening to our planet and I believe we will be more inclined to help reduce the carbon footprint if we understand what global warming is and what the effects are.
Global warming is the gradual heating of the Earth’s surface, oceans, and atmosphere. It occurs when pollutants, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have entered the Earth and bounced off the Earth’s surface.
According to the National Climate Assessment, human influences are the number one cause of global warming, especially the carbon pollution we cause by burning fossil fuels and the pollution-capturing we prevent by destroying forests. Some of the effects of global warming are increased carbon dioxide levels, increased temperature and severe weather patterns, higher death rates, higher wildlife extinction rates, more acidic oceans, and rising sea levels. Curbing dangerous climate change requires very deep cuts in emissions as well as the use of alternatives to fossil fuels worldwide.
Main Point 1:
Global warming begins with the effects of greenhouse gases. As I mentioned earlier, the greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere which allows radiation to enter the Earth’s atmosphere to the surface. Now normally, the radiation is supposed to escape back into space but the pollutants cause the radiation to remain within the Earth’s atmosphere which traps the heat and increases the planets temperature. Pollutants and gases in the Earth’s atmosphere block the heat from leaving and absorb 90% of this heat and radiate it back to the surface instead. This process is called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse gases primarily consist of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor (LiveScience).
Some atmospheric CO2 is natural. “For example, before the Industrial Revolution, there were about 280 parts per million (ppm) of CO2 in the atmosphere, and during most of the past 800,000 years, CO2 fluctuated between about 180 ppm during ice ages and 280 ppm during interglacial warm periods. Since the Industrial Revolution, though, the amount of CO2 has dramatically increased” which we can see here on the graph that shows a steep continuous incline. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (or the NOAA) have said that currently, the increase is 100 times faster than that when the last ice age ended. According to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, we have officially pushed the atmospheric carbon levels past the 400 ppm. What’s so terrifying about this number is that for several years, scientists have been warning us that if atmospheric carbon were to pass 400 ppm, it would make a serious milestone. In 2012, the Arctic was the first region on Earth to cross this red line. Four years later in the summer of this year, carbon levels have remained above 400 ppm for the entire month and this happened for the very first time since scientists began to record them.
Main Point 2:
The high amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere cause higher temperatures on Earth and cause severe changes in our weather pattern and also affect our overall climate.
I want to take a moment here to explain the difference between weather and climate because it is extremely important we understand that those two words are NOT interchangeable. Weather is simply the atmospheric activity over a short period of time. Whereas, climate is the average weather meaning the sum of weather events averaged over decades, centuries or thousands of years. Global warming has to do with the change in the climate not just the day to day change in the weather. So even though there are regional cold snaps, which is the weather, the overall global temperature or the climate, continues to increase even during winter months in different regions.
So as the global temperature increases, it causes more frequent disasters such as storms, heat waves, floods, and drought. The warmer climate creates an atmosphere where wet areas become wetter and dry areas become drier. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 2015 there were 10 weather and climate disaster events in the United States—including severe storms, floods, drought, and wildfires—that caused at least $1 billion in losses. The increasing number of disasters poses many risks to public health and safety. California is one of the biggest examples we have seen in recent years that has been dealing with lack of water and severe drought in many areas of the state. It has jeopardized access to clean drinking water, fueled large wildfires, and has caused extreme heat waves. On the other hand, it has also caused heavier rains in some parts of the US and this causes rivers and lakes to overflow and flood many areas. Floods damage property, contaminate drinking water, and sets the perfect conditions to spread water-borne illnesses from disease-carrying insects such as mosquitos and fleas.
Main Point 3:
Global warming has also lead to higher death rates. As temperatures rise, so do the number of illnesses, people in hospitals, and number of deaths. Not everyone can afford to have proper air-conditioning and when a heat wave strikes, it leaves people helpless and eventually leads to severe health issues. The higher temperature also worsens the air pollution because the gases trap the pollution in the atmosphere. The Natural Resources Defense Council has included information about “An increase in ground level ozone, which is created by pollutions from cars, factories, and other sources when they react with sunlight and heat”. An increase in ground level ozone results in increased smog levels which shows they are correlated.
The biggest contributors to global warming emissions are energy supply (like coal mining), industry (like factories that release harmful gases into the air), and deforestation.
Main Point 4:
As humans we face many challenges due to global warming but we are not the only ones who face the struggles of the rising heat on this planet. As land and sea undergo rapid changes, the animals that inhabit them are also severely affected and may come to the brink of extinction if they do not adapt quickly to the environment. “A 2015 study found in the American Association for the Advancement of Science showed that vertebrate species—animals with backbones, like fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles—are disappearing 114 times faster than they should be, a phenomenon that has been linked to climate change, pollution, and deforestation”. Oceans are also becoming more acidic as it absorbs the pollutants and excess emissions. As the acidity in oceans accelerates, it poses a great threat to underwater life such as mollusks, crabs, and corals. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the biggest examples where global warming has affected underwater life. A study, done by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, measured the extent of coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef found that “as much as 93% of the 2,300 km (1,429 miles) reef suffers from some level of bleaching”. Bleaching occurs when algae, that live inside these corals and give them their color, are expelled out of the corals — either due to increased sea temperatures or extreme weather events. Coral reefs play an essential role in everything from water filtration and fish reproduction to shore line protection and erosion prevention. According to an article on CNN, “Coral reefs are important to ocean ecosystems and continued bleaching events from ocean warming and acidification will damage reef-based fisheries and increase exposure to coastlines from waves and storms. It also will damage economies that depend on ecotourism, such as those in Australia and the Caribbean”.
Main Point 5:
Another devastating effect of global warming is the rising sea levels. The polar regions are most affected and vulnerable to the warming temperatures because the poles are covered in ice. The world’s ice sheets are melting faster than ever and temperatures in the Arctic region are rising twice as fast as anywhere else on Earth according to the NRDC. This will have a serious impact on people, wildlife and plants in that region. The National Climate Assessment has said that “By the year 2100, it’s estimated our oceans will be one to four feet higher, threatening coastal systems and low-lying areas, including entire island nations and the world’s largest cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Miami as well as Mumbai, Sydney, and Rio de Janeiro”. Polar bears are in great threat as the ice sheets melt because they use the ice to travel across the land and hunt. As the sea-ice platforms move further apart, the swimming conditions become more dangerous. The U.S Geological Survey done by the National Wildlife Federation predicts that by the year 2050, two thirds of all polar bears will disappear. Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the Adelie penguins in Antarctica and reported the numbers have fallen from 32,000 to only 11,000 over the last 30 years.
Main Point 6:
And while some scientists say that reversal of the effects of global warming is not possible, others believe that the Earth has the ability to heal itself with the help of humans to lessen the effects of global warming.
One solution is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and stabilize the levels of gases in the atmosphere. This can be done by decreasing the rate at which fossil fuels are being burned and switching from oil, coal and gas to more renewable energy like solar and wind energy. Another solution is “More-sustainable transportation options, such as mass transit and alternative-fuel vehicles, will also reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere” (Science Advances). Planting more trees and reducing deforestation is another way to reduce emissions. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which would help cut down carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and provide cleaner, pollution-free air. “At the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris, 195 countries—including the United States—agreed to pollution-cutting provisions with a goal of preventing the average global temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times. Scientists say we must stay below a two-degree increase to avoid catastrophic climate impacts” (NRDC).
We also have to plan and adapt to the environment we live in now. The goal is to reduce vulnerability to the harmful effects of global warming. Many cities and local communities are working to build flood-defenses, planning for heatwaves and higher temperatures, installing water-permeable pavements to better deal with floods, recycling more, and improve water storage and use during droughts.
Even on an individual level, there is a lot we can do to reduce global warming and our carbon footprint. One way is to reduce wasting food and actually eat the food you buy. Approximately 10 percent of U.S. energy use goes into growing, processing, packaging, and shipping food—about 40 percent of which just winds up in the landfill. Landfills are the major contributor of methane and other greenhouse gases. When the waste is burnt, it releases toxic gases in the atmosphere which result in global warming. If you’re wasting less food, you’re likely cutting down on energy consumption. Another way is to buy compact fluorescent lightbulbs or LED lightbulbs, which use up to 80% less energy than conventional incandescent lightbulbs. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. They’re also cheaper in the long run: A 10-Watt LED lightbulb, for example, that replaces your traditional 60-Watt bulb will save you $125 over the lightbulb’s lifespan. Even something like checking your tires can make a difference. When you drive, make sure your tires are inflated properly. If they are not, your vehicle might consume more fuel which in turn releases more CO2 in the atmosphere. Keep your engine properly tuned and drive less aggressively. Aggressive driving and frequent applying of brakes hampers the engine and can even lower the mileage of your car. These are just a few of the many ways, we can contribute to reducing our carbon footprint on the planet.
Conclusion:
I am asking you to take part in saving our environment with these simple readjustments of our lives. All of what can be done to reduce the negative effects global warming are simple and do not require much effort at all. It will only make our planet a better place to live for us and for the future generations. We have to act now because if we do not take the steps necessary to slow down global warming, it can turn into something very destructive for all living beings on Earth. As Joe Lieberman said, “Global warming is not a conqueror to kneel before – but a challenge to rise to. A challenge we all must rise to.”
Works Cited
“ADMC HD Common Year Writing: Problem and Solution.” ADMC HD Common Year Writing: Problem and Solution. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.admc.hct.ac.ae/hd1/english/probsoln/prob_solv_gw2.htm>.
“Global Warming 101.” NRDC. N.p., 11 Mar. 2016. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101>.
Bradford, By Alina. “What Is Global Warming?” LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.livescience.com/37003-global-warming.html>.
“Are the Effects of Global Warming Really That Bad?” NRDC. N.p., 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <https://www.nrdc.org/stories/are-effects-global-warming-really-bad>.
“Global Warming Effects Information, Global Warming Effects Facts, Climate Change Effects – National Geographic.” National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects/>.
Ceballos, Gerardo, Paul Ehrlich, Anthony Barnosky, Andres Garcia, Robert Pringle, and Todd Palmer. “Accelerated Modern Human–induced Species Losses: Entering the Sixth Mass Extinction.” Science Advances. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/1/5/e1400253.full>.
McKirdy, Euan. “Study: 93% of Great Barrier Reef Bleached.” CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/20/asia/great-barrier-reef-coral-bleaching/>.
“Global Warming and Polar Bears – National Wildlife Federation.” Global Warming and Polar Bears – National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Polar-Bears.aspx>.
“The Causes of Global Warming.” The Causes of Global Warming. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.climatehotmap.org/about/global-warming-causes.html>.
“National Climate Assessment.” National Climate Assessment. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/report-findings/future-climate>.
“What Causes Global Warming?” Australia: Global Environmental Conservation Organisation. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016. <http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/people_and_the_environment/global_warming_and_climate_change/science/global_warming_causes/>.