Global Warming, a Modern Day Monster

On September 9, 2005, during a speech at the National Sierra Club Convention, Al Gore said, “Two thousand scientists, in a hundred countries, engaged in the most elaborate, well organized scientific collaboration in the history of humankind, have produced long-since a consensus that we will face a string of terrible catastrophes unless we act to prepare ourselves and deal with the underlying causes of global warming.” Today’s society faces many problems: war, poverty, economy, healthcare, etc. However, global warming is an even more serious problem because this is not something that can fixed by negotiations between two opposing countries or by passing a bill that allows people to receive cheaper medical coverage. Human have tampered with the very nature of Earth, and the result, to say the least, can lead to a series of natural disasters that will wreak havoc unlike anything seen before. There is still hope; there may still be time to fix the global warming problem. This calls for massive change of the way things used to be, but some people just do not accept change of any sort. Global warming is an increase, over time, in the temperature of the Earth (Morris). The Earth’s temperature used to be regulated by the Greenhouse Effect. The process is simple: sun’s rays heat earth’s land and sea, over one-third of sun’s energy reflects of Earth and moves back towards space, and certain gases in the atmosphere prevent the sun’s energy from escaping by absorbing some heat (Morris). Through this process, the Earth retains the sun’s heat in the same way glass traps heat in a greenhouse. The Greenhouse effect existed long before humans were on Earth. Humans have become more and more industrialized. This industrialization led to the consumption of fossil fuels. Recently, humans have used more and more fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases into the air. As more of these gases are released into the atmosphere, the Greenhouse Effect becomes even stronger which causes more of the sun’s heat to be trapped within Earth’s atmosphere. This is what leads to global warming.


Over millions of years, scientists believe that the average temperature of Earth has increased and decreased. During the times of ice ages, the Earth’s average temperature decreases, and when the ice ages pass, the temperature goes back up. This change in climate is caused by natural forces – humans had no affect on the increase in temperature during prehistoric times. “Experts think, however, that the rise in temperature in recent times – especially in the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century – has been influenced or even caused by human activities” (Morris). Some people argue that this is just the nature taking its course as it did in the past during the increase and decrease of Earth’s temperature. However, it was not until the past century that people began to burn fossil fuels all over the world. During this time, the average temperature has risen by 1.44 degrees Fahrenheit (Morris). This is not a coincidence and if these people do not understand the severity of global warming, then they are in for a surprise. Like any problem, there are consequences of global warming. Global warming can cause climate change, icy meltdown, rising seas levels, human health problems, and endangerment of species (Morris). As the average temperature of the Earth increases, sea levels start rising. Warm water is less dense than cold water; this means that a rising average temperature causes oceans to expand. Furthermore, as global warming progresses, the two polar ice caps will begin to melt, and this will cause a massive increase in the sea levels. This, in turn, will leading to severe flooding all around the world, especially in the low-lying islands which are home to about half a million people, but this is just one consequence of global warming. Human health also greatly depends on the climate. Global warming will increase health problems and the spread of disease. “Scientists warn that climate change may already be causing 160,000 deaths a year and that heat-related fatalities could double by 2020 (Morris). Furthermore, global warming will lead to poor soil conditions which will lead to less food. If farmers cannot not produce food, more people go hungry. As of now 800 million people – 12 percent of the world’s population – is starving, and this number will increase if something is not done to stop global warming. Hope should not be lost because there are solutions to global warming. However, these solutions might not put an immediate stop to global warming, but it will slow the warming down and eventually prevent it. There are three solutions that can and are going into affect which will help the fight against global warming. The solutions are alternate energy sources, Kyoto Protocol, and energy efficiency.

There are alternate energy sources that would not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; however, there are some complications. These sources are not used because burning fossil fuels is much cheaper, and certain technologies have to be used to harness the power of these energy sources. A 2006 British Treasury report calculated costs and risks associated with switching from fossil fuels to other forms of energy. “It estimated that the switch would cost 1 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (the market value of all goods sold) each year until 2050 (Farrar). This may seem like a tremendous amount. However, if this went through, the yearly share of the United States, one of the richer countries, would be less than the cost of the Iraq war, and it could compare to the amount of money spent on anti-terrorism activities after September 11, 2001 (Farrar). If it can save the planet, people have to make necessary effort to make it work.

Solar energy comes directly from the sun. The sun’s rays can be used directly as heat. This is how greenhouses and solariums – sun rooms – operate. In addition, the sun’s rays can be converted to electrical power using photovoltaic cells or steam generators. Photovoltaic cells are flat devices that convert some of the sun’s light into electricity. Solar panels are an arrangement of photovoltaic cells that are used to capture the sun’s light. Solar energy is already being used for things like highway constructions signs, spacecraft, and boats. Some houses also have solar panels installed on their roofs (Naseri and Smith). The next energy source is wind power. Many experts believe that wind power is the most promising source of clean energy. Wind power is captured by attaching propeller-like blades positioned on 100-foot-high towers, and these moving blades are connected to turbines to generate electricity (Miller). One downfall to this solution is that the wind does not blow all the time, but it is better than nothing. If this energy, with the contribution of other alternative energies, is utilized the amount of fossil fuels burned could be greatly reduced. These are just two energies that can be used to reduce the amount of fossil fuels burned. If all of these alternative energy sources are utilized, then the need for fossil fuels could be eliminated or greatly reduced.

Another possible solution to global warming is through international cooperation. An example of this international cooperation is the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol is a United Nation document that was put together through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The protocol was signed at the 1992 Earth Summit, and the final negotiations were made on December 1997. Kyoto Protocol bound the countries that signed it to reduce emission of six greenhouse gases by 2012 (Corbett). There are also checkmarks in between the years it started and when it ends. Opponents of the protocol argue that this is ineffective because of “weak emission-reduction targets and a lack of participation from the world’s top polluters” (Corbett). However, the protocol was ratified by countries that, in total, represent 55 percent of the developed world’s CO2. The process of negotiations took about seven years of negotiations. International cooperation is possible; a handful of countries cannot stop global warming alone. The whole world has to unite together if there is any hope of stopping global warming. Countries have to put their differences aside and risk a few million dollars to save planet Earth.

So far, these solutions have to be agreed upon at a governmental level; however, every individual can make a difference. If energy efficiency awareness programs were started by each city locally, people might change their ways and start saving energy. There are many different ways people can save energy. Installing more attic insulation will reduce the use of the heater and air conditioner (Ways to save energy). When replacing old appliances, people should purchase new energy-efficient appliances. Buying appliances with the Energy Star Label, will guarantee that the product saves energy. For example, replacing a 1973 refrigerator with a newer more energy-efficient model will reduce the amount of CO2 used by 1.4 tons per year. Replacing air filters as recommended saves energy because using dirty filters makes the air conditioner and heater use more energy to reach the desired temperature. Using compact fluorescent light bulbs save energy because they use only one-fourth of the energy of a normal light bulb. Wrapping water heaters in an insulation jacket costs about ten to twenty dollars. This small job can save over 1100 pounds of CO2 per year for an electric water heater and 220 pounds when using a gas heater (20 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CONSERVE ENERGY). One major thing everyone can do is recycle. “Making products with recycled materials, instead of from scratch with raw materials, uses 30 to 55% less for paper products, 33% less for glass, and a whopping 90% less for aluminum. The list for saving energy is endless. Every single person can make an impact on the environment.

Energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, and the Kyoto Protocol – international cooperation – can lead to the reduction and eventually prevention of global warming. Countries can spend money to utilize different energy sources that do not cause global warming. It may be more expensive, but it saves Earth. If countries work together through agreements, like the Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gas emissions can be controlled. The fight against global warming does not just take place at the international level; every single person in the world can make a difference by being energy efficient. There are hundreds of ways to reduce the amount of energy a person uses daily. People have to make the effort to save the planet. Together, people can put a stop to a modern day monster – global warming.

 

References

Morris, Neil. What If We Do Nothing? Global Warming. Milwaukee: World Almanac Library, 2007. Print.

Miller, Debra A. Global Warming. New York: Lucent, 2008. Print.

Farrar, Amy. Global Warming (Essential Viewpoints). Edina: Abdo Company, 2008. Print.

Corbett, James. "Kyoto Protocol." Climate Change: In Context. Ed. Brenda Lerner and K. Lerner. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2008. 604-608. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 11 Feb. 2010.

Naseri, Muthena, and Douglas Smith. "Alternative Energy Sources." Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Lerner. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 140-143. General OneFile. Web. 11 Feb. 2010.

Ways to save energy." Alternative Energy. Web. 12 Feb. 2010. .

"20 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CONSERVE ENERGY." Earth Friendly Products, organic gifts, organic products, natural products, eco-friendly, organic, non toxic, green guide, sustainable, recycled, hemp, solar. Web. 12 Feb. 2010. .

"Quotes on Global Warming." Notable Quotes. Web. 12 Feb. 2010. .