Ethical Clarification of the Climate Change Debate
Ethical Clarification of the Climate Change Debate It is clear that neither scientists, economists, environmentalists nor politicians can agree, even with those in their chosen fields of expertise, on whether or not climate change is a real problem. Regardless of the answer to this question - whether or not climate change exists - there are ethical consequences of any course of action or inaction we choose to take. While the debate over climate change may seem to be more scientific, rather than ethical in nature, there are underlying ethical convictions which serve to further complicate the issue. In order to understand the role that ethics play in this controversy we use a five-step method of ethical clarification as it is important in understanding the debate as a whole. Explanation of the basic arguments put forth by each side is the first step towards a better understanding of the issue. Those who believe that climate change is indeed a threat claim that human activity is to blame for the increase in atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases which have intensified and will continue to this effect (Dotto, 1). They advocate immediate action in order to avoid further climate change and adapt to the already altered environment (Dotto, 22). Though most environmentalists seem to subscribe to this viewpoint, it is interesting that both politicians and scientists have found both
Impacts of Climate Change on Loggerhead Turtles
The Impact of Climate Change on Loggerhead Sea Turtles on the Atlantic Coast of Florida Lauren DeGeorge, Kristin Spiess, Chelsea Linman, Jake Fitzgerald, Kate Forsmark , & El Lorenz \ Introduction Loggerhead sea turtles are an iconic beach reptile. In the face of climate change there is a possibility that this species could be lost without proper mitigation techniques. Loggerheads rely on temperature of both water and air and the availability of beaches in order to properly reproduce, nest, provide nutrients to costal ecosystems, and continue life in the ocean functioning as an important species in sea grass, coral reef, and beach ecosystems (Hawkes, L. A., Broderick, A. C., Godfrey, M. H., & Godley, J., 2007, Wilson, E. G., Miller, K. L., Allison, D., & Magliocca, M., 2003). Climate change threatens Loggerhead sea turtles reproduction processes because of changes in sea temperature, increased storm activity and sea level rise. This can be prevented, however; with proper mitigation measures which include educating the public, continued practice of current conservation methods and increasing the amount of protected shorelines. The purpose of this study is to provide an overview and analysis of the current literature and to present an estimate of the future populations Loggerhead sea turtles in a changing climate without mitigation. We will also provide a suggestion of the
Theory of Climate change
Alternative Theory to Climate Change "We have an environmental crisis because we have a people crisis - a crisis of population growth, of wasteful consumption of resources, and a crisis of apathy and inaction." An environmental crisis is an emergency concerned with the place in which every human lives - the environment. A people crisis is an emergency with the community that inhabits the world environment. A crisis of population growth is a turning point where the environment can no longer sustain the amounts of people which it contains. A crisis of apathy and inaction is one where the human race cannot be motivated to solve the problems with the environment that they themselves have created. The claim that we have an environmental crisis because we have a people crisis is valid Because our environmental problems have largely resulted from population growth, which has lead to apathy and inaction with regard to the wasteful consumption of resources. Examples are the desertification of the Sahel in Africa, the one child policy in China and the mis-management of our oceans. The Sahel is a strip of land that extends for more than 6000 kilometres across the southern edge of the Sahara desert. It stretches from Senegal and Mauritania in the west to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east. These nations are among the world's poorest. The area is one of social and biophysical
Is climate change an inevitable consequence on economic development.
(b) Is climate change an inevitable consequence on economic development (15 marks) The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century saw the large-scale use of fossil fuels for industrial activities. These industries created jobs and over the years, people moved from rural areas to the cities. This trend is continuing even today. More and more land that was covered with vegetation has been cleared to make way for houses. Natural resources are being used extensively for construction, industries, transport, and consumption. Consumerism (our increasing want for material things) has increased by leaps and bounds, creating mountains of waste. Also, our population has increased to an incredible extent. All this has contributed to a rise in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas supply most of the energy needed to run vehicles generate electricity for industries, households, etc. The energy sector is responsible for about ¾ of the carbon dioxide emissions, 1/5 of the methane emissions and a large quantity of nitrous oxide. It also produces nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) which are not greenhouse gases but do have an influence on the chemical cycles in the atmosphere that produce or destroy greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide is undoubtedly, the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Changes in land
To what extent is Climate Change caused by Human Activity?
To what extent is Climate Change caused by Human Activity? Palaeoclimatic records have allowed scientists to determine that the last 2 million years climate has fluctuated between periods of warmth and cold. Global average surface temperatures have fluctuated by as much as 5°C between the two climatic regimes. In the longer term i.e. the last 50 million years the Earth has become much colder. The size of the ice caps has repeatedly grown and shrunk every 100,000 years. (Figures UNFCCC 2001). At present we may be coming towards the end of the latest warmer interglacial period, although mankind's alteration of the atmosphere through greenhouse gas pollution makes predicting the long term future of our global climate difficult. Climate change refers to the average state of the climate, where climate is taken to mean 'the mean weather over an extended period of time in a specific location' (Earth Under Siege 1997) or its variability, this being the level of persistence over an extended period of time, typically decades or centuries. Climate change is caused by a number of factors, these include natural internal processes or external forcings, as well as the possibility of these changes resulting from human activities; 'Anthropogenic' changes in a specific location. (Government of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests) The very nature of the question implies that climate
Effects of Climate Change on monsoon in Bangladesh
Climate Variability and Change in Bangladesh The global climate is changing and it is likely to change further over coming decades due to increasing concentrations of 'greenhouse gases' in the earth's atmosphere caused largely by human activities. This will result in greater variations in weather patterns, a greater frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and tropical storms, and gradual rises in average temperatures and sea-levels. Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts because of its geographical location, high population density, high levels of poverty, and the reliance of many livelihoods on climate-sensitive sectors, particularly rural agriculture andfisheries. These impacts will be falling more heavily on the women and girls of Bangladesh. Climate change therefore threatens both previous achievements and future efforts to reduce poverty in Bangladesh to date, particularly by reducing water and food security and damage to essential infrastructure during more frequent disaster events. Bangladesh has always been vulnerable to climate variability. This is due to its geographical features and location, high influence of monsoon and regional flow patterns, too much water in monsoon and too little water in the dry season, etc. These have significant effects on the socio-economic realities, i.e. population density, inequity
Why does climate change present potential dangers for the African Continent?
Why does climate change present potential dangers for the African Continent? From the risk of malaria to desertification to the debt crisis, Africa suffers potential danger from not only social elements, but economic and environmental factors too. This makes it a zone under threat. Although the countries within Africa, do not contribute heavily towards climate change in comparison to the scale of western countries, such as the USA, it is the one suffering from its consequences. Such global warming effects seen are desertification for example, which then leads to famine and the threat food security sees. Desertification has both human and natural causes. Human is seen through overcultivisation and overgrazing leading to desertification. Where as due to the change of climate, fertile land turns into desert. However, you could argue that although climate change is thought to be a part of the earth's natural cycle, human actions are said to fasten its process leading to the effects that it has. Moreover, desertification leads to not only famine and the threat of food security. Due to the land turning into desert, the growth of crops is unsustainable which leads to many people whom rely on the growth of crops for their personal food source to starve. This begins famine. Famine sees the struggle to receive food and a long suffering demonstrating here of both social and
Australia's Contribution to Environmental Law and Climate Change.
AUSTRALIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND CLIMATE CHANGE BY SARAH BONE INTRODUCTION: Climate change is considered to be among the most serious threats to the sustainability of the world's environment, the health and well being of its people, and the global economy. Therefore it is essential that relevant government authorities take the appropriate actions in order to prevent further climate alteration. This paper will focus upon the attempts made by the Australian Government to ameliorate the impacts of climate change by committing the nation to a number of international instruments. These active tools include instruments such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Montreal Protocol, all of which are aimed at solving the problem of climate change. It is hoped that this paper will explore the international obligations associated with the application of these instruments in relation to Australia's commitments and contributions. Instruments for environmental and natural resource management can be defined as administrative mechanisms adopted by government agencies to influence the behaviour of those who value the natural environment, make use of it, or cause adverse impacts as a side effect of their activities1. In response to climate change, the
How UK is being affected by climate change
How UK is being affected by climate change? Global warming has a significant effect on the climate in UK. Four of the five warmest years for more than three centuries have occurred in the last 10 years. By the 2050s, annual temperatures in the south east of the country could be on average more than 2C warmer than they are now - 30 years later that may rise to more than 3C. Predictions by the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia put global sea level rises between 12cm and 67cm by 2050.due to increased rainfall and rising sea levels. Parts of East Anglia as well as parts of the south east could end up under water. The threat of rising sea levels is compounded by the fact that the UK is gradually tilting (not equal in height). The south east of the country is sinking while the northwest is rising. Studies of long term trends of climate change at the Climate Research Unit have found that winter precipitation (the amount of water fall in winter) could increase by more than 20% by the 2080s. By contrast, in summer, central and southern UK could be much dryer than it is now with up to 18% less rainfall by 2080s. However northern England and Scotland is likely to experience the double whammy (double consequences) of both wetter summers and wetter winters. With hotter weather, the demand for water would increase significantly as would evaporation from reservoirs
The Car Industries Response Towards Climate Change Issues
The Car Industries Response Towards Climate Change Issues Introduction Climate change is currently a very important issue. A large number of scientists and industry experts are of the opinion that, if the damage that humanity is causing to the earth's environment goes on unchecked, there will be a drastic shift in the climate towards a more inhospitable environment. (see appendix 1 for more information) This report aims to analyse the responses of some companies in the automobile market to the environmental problems faced by the industry and to determine if they are making enough of an effort to combat the damage they, and their products, are causing to the environment. This report will be looking at Toyota, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Ford and using the pyramid of social responsibility model and the stakeholder theory to determine these organisations positions on environmental issues. How Organisations respond to Climate Change Issues. Countries, individuals and organisations are responsible for emissions. Recently, governments have come up with a 'carbon footprint' scheme to encourage individuals to cut their carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol was created in 1997, but went into force in Febuary 2005 with the aim of dropping CO2 emissions by 5.2% of the 1990 levels by 2012. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4269921.stm) Some countries are more worried
