Causes And Consequences Of Global Warming

Definition and a brief explanation

Global warming is an environmental issue which has existed since the 1850s. This is the gradual rise in the world's average temperature due to increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by various human activities. Greenhouse gases are gases which trap heat in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and methane. The greenhouse effect is a natural process which keeps the Earth warm. However, too much of it results in the Earth heating up so much that it becomes unbearable. Unfortunately, in the past few decades, global warming has been increasing at an exponential rate, due to human factors such as our growing population and reliance on nonrenewable energy sources. This has dramatically driven global average temperatures up and only now, do people realize the long-term consequences.

Consequences

Global warming has altered the landscape of the Earth, polluting the air and disturbing the ecosystem, thereby impacting the environment. This can be linked to global warming as the rising temperatures increase the ground-level ozone, the main component of smog, due to the pollution created by cars, factories, and other sources that react to sunlight and heat. As a result, air pollution leads to higher hospital admission rates and death rates for asthmatics and worsens the health of people suffering from cardiac or pulmonary diseases - it can also make it more difficult for living organisms to breathe.

Global Warming also causes landscapes to change, as the rising temperatures melt the Arctic ice sheets at an alarming rate and cause ocean levels to rise. This can be a grave problem, as, by 2100, it is estimated that our oceans will rise by 0.3 to 1.2 meters, threatening coastal cities. Lastly, global warming is causing higher rates of wildlife extinction due to alterations of the ecosystem in various ways. Animals will either have to adapt to their human-altered climate or migrate to a newly suitable climate. According to WWF, 1 in 5 species is endangered. Habitats have been destroyed by unpredictable weather, resulting in the extinction of countless species.

Due to changes in precipitation patterns, severe droughts, and heatwaves as a result of global warming, farmers struggle to sustain a biome that enables their crops to thrive. The once healthy climate that enabled crops to grow efficiently has been altered by global warming and human interference. For example, if you grow a plant in your backyard and it receives water from rain, it will grow. However, if you cover the plant when it rains, and relocate the plant, it will grow less efficiently or die.

Causes

The three main causes of global warming are the combustion of fossil fuels, agriculture, and deforestation. According to Never Environmental, in 2018, 40 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere as a result of these activities.

We use fossil fuels to produce electricity, power vehicles, and more. However, these uses come at a price. Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, which makes up 70% of the total greenhouse gases emitted. After the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide emissions skyrocketed as machines were introduced to the manufacturing lines and everyday life, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide. Electricity is derived from burning coal through processes within coal power plants and although coal-powered power plants are not the only energy source, they are currently the most dominant source of electricity.

Agriculture is required to provide food for the population. However, some products and practices related to agriculture produce greenhouse gases. Livestock produces methane and is the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. As livestock has increased, more and more methane is produced every year. Rice produces small amounts of methane, but since rice is a staple food in numerous countries and is produced in mass, the emissions accumulate to become responsible for 2.5% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Artificial fertilizers contain nitrogen, which creates nitrogen oxide or can run off into local aquatic ecosystems and cause eutrophication, which produces methane. Australia’s agricultural industry is responsible for 16% of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Trees are deforested to clear land and produce goods and resources. As the human population grows, deforestation is necessary to gain land and resources, contributing indirectly to global warming. When trees are cut, the tree stumps and branches that are left behind to decompose or burn, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when they decompose, and if they are burnt, the fire produces carbon dioxide. Trees and other vegetation are essential components of the oxygen cycle. They absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen when they respire. While the commercial uses of trees are valuable, the sink function they provide is worth a lot more in comparison to their resource function.

Management strategy

There are a variety of “green” environmentally friendly options, which can slow down global warming, such as renewable energy, recycling paper, building upward, and emission-free vehicles.

Solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, and geothermal power plants, are all examples of ways in which we can harvest energy using natural renewable features such as wind, water, sunlight, and the Earth’s natural underground heat. However, these forms of power plants are all relatively new and advancements are still being made to create efficient power plants. These alternatives to coal-powered power plants may greatly decrease the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from energy production.

As a result of the increasing population, more housing is required and trees are cleared in order to make space for more houses and housing units. Although some land clearance is necessary, building upwards and reusing old abandoned land, will reduce the amount needed to be cleared. Building upwards in structures such as apartment complexes and units allows for more people to occupy the same space in comparison to the housing capacity of a house.

Vehicles emit carbon dioxide and are accountable for 15% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions. Some alternatives that can reduce the amount produced, include electric or hybrid cars, public transport, and walking or cycling. Personal vehicles produce a majority of the amount produced by vehicles, however, alternatives like electric cars, walking, and cycling do not produce any emissions. While hybrid cars may not be as environmentally friendly, they are more fuel-efficient than regular cars. Using public transport like buses and trains reduces carbon emissions. Public transport in Sydney is still an expanding network and in the future, will become more convenient and efficient.

Case study: Arctic circle

The arctic circle is one of the two polar circles and is located on the very top of the Earth. It is known for its extremely cold conditions and vast glaciers. The region consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of several countries including America, Greenland, Canada, Russia, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. Global warming has affected this area the most Temperatures here increase twice as fast as in the rest of the world. As the ice melts, more of the Arctic Ocean’s surface is exposed to sunlight and heat, warming up the water and thereby melting further glaciers. As a result of this 95% of the arctic’s original ice has been lost and it has been projected that the arctic ice will shrink by 50% by September 2050. In the last four decades, the Arctic has lost almost one million square kilometers of winter sea ice cover. The effects of global warming in the arctic circle, not only affect the countries within it, but also affect the world’s average temperature, as the Arctic circle regulates the world’s oceans' temperature and salinity. The arctic circle is an example of what is to come if we continue to let the Earth warm-up, so it is crucial that we learn from this and put an end to global warming.

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