13
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)

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

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.
All emission estimates from the Inventory of 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)

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

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.

References:

  1. Berry, C. (July 2008). International Political Economy, the Globalisation Debate and the Analysis of Globalisation Discourse. Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation, Paris. CSGR Working Paper 247/08
  2. Slezak, M. (21st March 2016). Global warming taking place at an ‘alarming rate’, UN climate body warns. The Guardian. Retrieve from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/21/global-warming-taking-place-at-an-alarming-rate-un-climate-body-warns on 5th Oct. 2017.
  3. Meredith, C. (20th Nov. 2012). 100 reasons why climate change is natural. Express. Retrieve from http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/146138/100-reasons-why-climate-change-is-natural on 4th Oct. 2017.
  4. Johnston, I. (09th March 2017). Donald Trump’s most senior climate change official says humans are not primary cause of global warming. Independent. Retrieve from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/donald-trump-epa-head-global-warming-not-man-made-climate-change-denial-scott-pruitt-a7621271.html on 4th Oct. 2017.
  5. Statement on climate change from 18 scientific associations (2009)
  6. AAAS Board Statement on Climate Change (2006)
  7. ACS Public Policy Statement: Climate Change (2010-2013)
  8. Human‐Induced Climate Change Requires Urgent Action (2013)
  9. Global Climate Change and Human Health (2013)
  10. Climate Change: An Information Statement of the American Meteorological Society (2012)
  11. APS National Policy 07.1 Climate Change (2007)
  12. GSA Position Statement on Climate Change (2010)
  13. Joint science academies’ statement: Global response to climate change (2005)
  14. Understanding and Responding to Climate Change (2005)
  15. Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States (2009)
  16. IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Summary for Policymakers (2014)
  17. IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Summary for Policymakers (2014)
  18. Global Climate Change (NASA). Retrieve from https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/ on 7th Oct. 2017.
  19. Mufson, S. (07th Aug. 2017). White House reviewing new report that finds strong link between climate change, human activity. The Washington Post. Retrieve from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/new-federal-report-finds-strong-link-between-climate-change-human-activity/2017/08/07/583283d2-7bdd-11e7-9d08-b79f191668ed_story.html?utm_term=.f9ede52fe3e8 on 6th Oct. 2017.
  20. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Retrieve from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases on 6th Oct. 2017.
  21. Michael, K. (12th July 2015). Empirical evidence that humans are causing global warming. Skeptical Science. Retrieve from https://www.skepticalscience.com/empirical-evidence-for-global-warming.html on 6th Oct. 2017.

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