Fossil fuel use can be discouraged by taxation.
Also, too much money is being spent on researching the possible effects of global warming, when those scientists could be researching how to reduce greenhouse gasses.
VI. Conclusion
A. Global warming could destroy our future or not affect it at all. There is still hope, which grows stronger with each scientific advance.
B. By taking the well-known concept- “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”- to heart, individuals can help reduce the effects of global warming.
C. Global warming is a worldwide issue that must be solved by the world as a whole.
Glaciers melting, animals becoming extinct, islands flooding beyond use, crops withering, rainforests dying, sickness and severe storms plaguing Earth... These catastrophes sound similar to the end of a science-fiction novel, but they could become our future. According to science, there is not much doubt that global warming is occurring right now, and many scientists have speculated the possible effects. Unfortunately, not much is being done to solve this problem, despite the warnings of scientists. Global warming, while still in debate, is a social problem that threatens our future economy, environment, and lifestyle. Despite this, the United States government is doing remarkably little to help solve this problem.
Global warming is the potential warming of the Earth due to heat-trapping pollutants in the atmosphere. Until the 1980‘s, it was considered to be a theory and not worth scientific attention (Lemonick2 25). In the 1980’s, a series of heat waves destroyed crops and caused deaths, so in 1988, when the theory of global warming had been strengthened by research, the United Nations created the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) (Trenberth 25). This group is made up of scientists from around the world who agree or disagree that global warming is occurring (25).
Global warming is caused by greenhouse gasses- methane, nitrous oxide, and especially carbon dioxide (EPA2 1). Carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are produced in the burning of fossil fuels and wood (1). Nitrous oxide is also produced in farms (1). Methane is mostly produced during the production and transport of fossil fuels; in addition, livestock farming and landfills also add methane to the atmosphere (1). Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are more powerful greenhouse gasses than the major greenhouse gasses, but they do not occur naturally; therefore, they exist in much smaller amounts (1). When the sun’s heat tries to leave the atmosphere, some is caught by these greenhouse gasses and sent back, warming the Earth (EPA1 1). Average surface temperatures around the world have risen 0.8-1.0 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 1800’s (EPA3 1).
Global warming has already had effects on the Earth that may be permanent. Out of the past 15 years, 10 of them have been the warmest of the century (EPA1 2). Coral reefs are dying and animals migrate later in the winter and return earlier in the summer (Lemonick2 25). Drought is occurring frequently in Asia and Africa (25). Snow in the Northern Hemisphere and ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased; sea level has risen six to eight inches (EPA3 1). Severe rainstorms are occurring more and more often (EPA1 2). Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, has lost 75% of its ice cover and may have no ice left as early as 2070 (Lemonick2 25). Already, the thick Artic permafrost is melting (25).
Grim predictions of the effects of global warming have been forecasted by scientists. The IPCC recently released a report, composed by 1,500 top scientists from 60 nations around the world (Lemonick1 54). They predict global warming could warm the Earth 6 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100 (55). This may not seem like much, but a 9 degree rise in worldwide temperature ended the last Ice Age (Lemonick2 26). Diseases are predicted to increase, as rodents and insects more farther north, exposing more people to diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever, and encephalitis (26). Insect, bacteria, virus, and fungi amounts and diversity increase in warmer temperatures (Global Warming International Center1 1). If the Earth warmed than 3 degrees Fahrenheit, crop harvests in the United States would begin to decrease (Lemonick2 28). Unpredictable rains and fierce storms are predicted to increase (Tidwell E01). Tuvalu and Kiribati, small islands in the South Pacific, already flood frequently as ocean water expands and ice melts in higher temperatures (E01). Tuvalu’s government is preparing a plan to evacuate its islands (E01). The most vulnerable areas to global warming are polar areas, coastal areas, Africa, large cities, and tropical areas (E02). Polar areas are in danger as ice melts; Antarctic penguins are decreasing and polar bears have less cubs (E02). Sea level is predicted to rise as much as three feet by 2100, this will inundate coastal areas, which contain 70% of the world’s population (E02). Africa’s animal migrations depend on rain patterns (E02). Global warming may disrupt the rain and negatively affect animals (E02). Large cities may suffer in intense heat, which negatively affects air quality (E02). Tropical storms are predicted to increase, as El Nino becomes more fierce (E02).
The United States emits more greenhouse gasses than any other country (Kluger 30). Despite the fact that it is only 4% of the world’s population, it produces 25% of the world’s greenhouse gasses (Kluger 30). Earth Science Professor Paul Bieneman of Aquinas College stated in an interview, “Today’s politicians aren’t going to do much about global warming because it is a long-term problem and politicians are in office for a short term” (Bieneman). President Bush refused to accept the Kyoto Protocol, a call for reduced carbon dioxide emissions worldwide (Kluger 30). Despite the surprise and disapproval of other national leaders, Bush abandoned his campaign pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, saying, “Our economy has slowed down. We also have an energy crisis, and the idea of placing caps on [carbon dioxide] does not make economic sense” (31). In a survey taken in Grand Rapids, 56% of the people surveyed agreed global warming was actually occurring (Garchow). 55% want the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are willing to be inconvenienced by new laws that would follow (Garchow). A survey taken by Time magazine and CNN shows similar results. 75% believe global warming is a “very serious” or “fairly serious” problem, 67% wanted the President to do something about it (Kluger 31). After the President’s failure to address global warming, many lesser governments are imposing their own laws (32). Portland, Oregon; Denver, Texas; and Minneapolis, Minnesota currently have plans to reduce carbon dioxide (32).
Scientists have speculated many ways to decrease greenhouse gasses and slow global warming, but none of them actually have been used. The IPCC report recommended obvious but expensive options, using natural gas instead of coal and oil, planting more trees, using nuclear and solar energy instead of fossil fuels, and offering more mass transportation (Lemonick1 57). Major automobile companies have been building experimental fuel cell cars, which run on fuel cells instead of gasoline and produce harmless oxygen as a waste product (Hayden 52). American Electric Power in Ohio is currently trying to separate carbon from their factory’s gas emissions and store it underground (51-52). Moss Landing Marine Laboratories mixed iron sulfate into ocean water in a hundred-square-mile area of the Pacific in the 1990‘s (Knapp 1). They observed plants called phytoplankton growing at about four times the normal rate and in large amounts, about 40 times more (1). Scientist Kenneth Coale described the experiment, “By day four or five, the oceans had turned green” (1). Since plants naturally absorb carbon dioxide, they believe covering the entire ocean with this chemical will reduce the effects of global warming (2). However, this may not be a solution, since the increased plants might cause problems in ocean ecosystems, or the carbon dioxide might be sent back into the atmosphere despite the increased plants (2). The Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre is trying to liquefy carbon and release it, using a giant syringe-like machine, at depths of about 800 meters (JH 10). At such high pressures, it either dissolves or forms blobs, which sink to the very bottom, but the acidity of the carbon dioxide may kill marine life (10).
The closest the world has come to preparing a strategy for global warming was organizing the Kyoto Protocol (Kluger 30). In 1997, national leaders from 84 nations met and discussed greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them (30). The Kyoto Protocol demanded a 5% reduction from 1990 levels in developed countries, but a 7% reduction was demanded for the United States (32). These goals would have to be met by 2012 (32). The Kyoto Protocol also provided for “emissions trading”, each country receives “credits” based on population, if a country makes significant cuts in carbon dioxide levels and does not need all the credits, that country can sell their credits to other countries with higher emission levels than credits (36). Developing nations would be excluded until they could afford emission reductions (32). President Bush and the Senate refused to accept the Kyoto Protocol, until it gave every country equal rights (34).
Professor Paul Bieneman believes “[Global warming] is more complex than most people think” (Bieneman), therefore there is no “one solution” that will solve the entire problem. A variety of solutions have to be employed. First, every developed nation can reduce greenhouse gasses in simple, relatively inexpensive ways. Miami-Dade county recently reduced greenhouse gasses by 900 tons a year; they simply created road lanes for busses only (Kluger 36). This encouraged public transportation, greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Every country can generate power using renewable resources that are easily found in their area. Mexico is already doubling its geothermal power, which is generated by underground heat (35). The European Union generates 15 gigawatts of energy using wind power, and the Netherlands is establishing its own wind power plant (35). Solar power and fuel cell power could also be used, and fossil fuel use could be discouraged by taxation. Also, too much money is being spent on researching the possible effects of global warming, when those scientists could be researching how to reduce greenhouse gasses.
Global warming could destroy our future or not affect it at all. There is still hope, which grows stronger with every scientific advance. By taking the well-known concept- “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”- to heart, individuals can help reduce the possible effects of global warming. To completely solve global warming, governments and scientists from every nation must cooperate. The Kyoto Protocol and the IPCC are significant steps in the journey to solve global warming, and perhaps a solution will come soon.