Jul

Globalization: Time to stop debates and start doing something

In recent years, global warming has been the focus subject on international political controversy.⁽¹⁾ In spite of scientific evidence suggesting that the earth is warming at alarming rate,⁽²⁾ controversy and debates is still circling around whether global warming is caused by human or not.^{(3) (4)}

More than 97 percent of climate scientist agree that warming trend over the past century were likely caused by human activities.^{(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)}

The above is the data collected from four international science institutions shows rapid rise in warming in the fast few decades. Moreover, it also shows that the last decade has been the warmest. Data sources: NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, NOAA National Climatic Data Center, Met Office Hadley Center/Climatic Research Unit and the Japanese Meteorological Agency.⁽¹⁸⁾

Moreover, Climate Science Special Report, 2017, suggests that human activity was the main cause behind the rise in temperature in the history of civilization. Global average temperature has increased to 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 115 years and is leading to record breaking weather events and temperature extremes.⁽¹⁹⁾

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), Nitrous Oxide (N₂O), and Fluorinated gasses like Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride are known as Greenhouse Gasses as they trap the heat in the atmosphere.⁽²⁰⁾

*The above data collected from United States Environmental Protection Agency*

Carbon Dioxide is one of the main greenhouse gas with contributing around 82% of other greenhouse gasses in atmosphere and it is emitted through human activities via combustion of fossil fuels i.e. coal, natural gas and oil etc. for energy and transportation. ⁽²⁰⁾

*Total Emissions in 2015 = 6,587 Million Metric Tons of CO2 equivalent.*

*All emission estimates from the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2015.*

Methane accounts around 10% of other greenhouse gasses in atmosphere and is emitted by both natural sources i.e. wetland; and human activities i.e. raising of livestock.⁽²⁰⁾

Nitrous Oxide is accountable for about 5% of all greenhouse gas. Around 40 percent of total nitrous oxide globally comes from human activities like agriculture, fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes etc. ⁽²⁰⁾

*All emission estimates from the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2015.*

Fluorinated gases contribute around 3% of all greenhouse gasses and only comes from human related activities i.e. industrial processes. They can last for thousands for years in the atmosphere. ⁽²⁰⁾

Greenhouse gas keeps the earth warmer, however, due to human activities there was an increase in greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, there was an empirical evidence suggesting that increase in carbon dioxide within the atmosphere, was the prime reason for rising temperature. ⁽²¹⁾

Signs that earth is warming are recorded all over the globe and human activities are the main cause. Today it is not worth to debate on whether global warming is caused by human activities or not but to debate on how to best respond to it. It is true that human causes global warming but restriction of global warming is also in the hands to human.

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