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Global warming refers to the rise in the earth’s temperature resulting from an increase in heat-trapping gasses in the atmosphere, simply put the warming of our globe.  The earth has a natural “greenhouse effect” which is caused by energy from the sun controlling the earths weather and climate, and heats the earth’s surface.  In response to the sun, the earth radiates energy back into space.  “The Greenhouse Effect was discovered in 1896 by a Swedish chemist who was trying to learn why the atmosphere stays warm when oxygen and nitrogen, which are the two main atmospheric gases, do not absorb heat” (Bates, 46).  Atmospheric greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases, trap the energy leaving the earth and retain it as heat, much like a greenhouse ceiling.  This is a natural and necessary effect, without it temperatures on earth would be much lower than they are now and life as it is today would not be possible, but with the greenhouse effect the earth’s average temperature is much more comfortable.  The issue here is that these gases are being produced too much causing them to retain too much heat.  Temperatures are rising and the following observations prove this.  Over the last century research has shown that average land surface has rose from 0.45 to 0.6 oC.  This is due to the increase of these gases and some of these gases occur naturally in our atmosphere and some occur due to human activities. “The naturally occurring gasses include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone” (Hare, 204).  Some human activities intensify the levels of most of these gases, which can lead to devastating impacts on the Earth. Scientists predict an increase of sea levels, which may lead to flooding in the future.  There is also a number of new disease’s appearing in various regions, due to the increase in temperature making it more comfortable for diseases to evolve.  Droughts could also occur leaving many without food or adequate drinking water. These problems and more are linked to human activity, especially Globalization, which has made mankind to be the most destructive towards the environment.  Globalization has increased the threat of global warming in three trends.  The industrial revolution represents the beginning of the global warming crisis and following this came the great increase of greenhouse gases in North America, the Globalization of American consumption, and finally the problem of economic globalization.

The beginning of the Industrial Revolution brought many new and exciting innovations into the world, which lead to vast technological change and economic growth.  The revolution fundamentally changed the world by providing humans with new sources of energy.  This resulted in new technologies, which multiplied one’s manpower many times and subsequently lead to growth of the earth’s carrying capacity.  “Fuel sources in the form of coal, oil and electricity meant many more people then ever where able to live and make money in an urban society” (Waters, 34).  This consumption of fuels essentially lead to growth in all areas of human life.  The population began to rise at an incredible rate and at the same time, factories were increasing in numbers also.  With the increase of people came the increase of consumption and the problems that a pre-revolution society never had to deal with before, became a reality.  Before the revolution, human activity released very few gasses into the atmosphere, but then through fossil fuel burning, population growth and deforestation, the mixture of the gases in the atmosphere were being affected.  With the increase in greenhouse gasses and the growth of industry happening at the same time, it was true that the industrial revolution was the beginning of the great influence that human activity has on global warming.  “This is shown through statistics which state that since the start of the industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly thirty percent, methane concentrations have nearly doubled and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen fifteen percent” (Brennan 56).  The burning of Fossil fuels, solid waste, oil, natural gas, coal and wood in power stations create most of the carbon dioxide which also contributes to the creation of acid rain.  Nitrous oxide is a by-product of factory production and is also released during the combustion of fossil fuels.  These emissions began being created along side the growth of the industrial revolution, which makes them accountable for one another.  “Unless the dangerous levels of gasses created along side the growth of industry are reversed, then a number consequences will result and be felt all over the globe” (Christianson 23).  Although the Industrial revolution has lead to many great innovations in society it has also lead to man's influence on global warming, which continues to this day.

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The North American countries are without a doubt the worldwide leaders in profits and economic growth. This leaves North America and especially the U.S. in a position of superiority over other countries and gives them “the political and economic leverage to do what they please” (Christianson 55). This leverage gives the North Americans an opportunity to dictate global trends and even exercise power over other countries in desission making, using economic sanctions against those countries. And while the United States has used its political power in the past to influence decisions, such is not the case when it comes too ...

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