Global warming (which is a misnomer for the weather phenomena called Climate Change) is no longer up for debate. It is no longer deniable that humans are having an effect on the environment. Think about the climate the last few years. Increased hurricane activity, warmer summers, and shorter but often harsher winters are signs that we are changing the face of the planet. The question is how much damage have we already done and what are we going to do about it? Only we have the power to stop climate change; you and I, the littlest guy.
proof
The proof is all around us. The average temperature of the earth is rising. The composition of the atmosphere is changing to include more greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4, SO2, N2O and CFCs. Atmospheric levels of these gases are rising at an unprecedented rate. The cause is an increased combustion of fossil fuels to meet our rising energy needs.
CO2 and the other greenhouse gases raise the temperature of the earth’s surface by not allowing the earth to reflect as much of the sun’s energy back out into space. In 2004, CO2 levels were measured to be 377.6 ppm (parts per million). Pre-industrial revolution CO2 levels were 280 ppm +- 10 ppm for 1000 years (1, Recent Greenhouse Gas Concentrations & 2, Historical CO2 Records). Is it any coincidence that atmospheric CO2 levels have been raising ever since CO2 producing fossil fuels have become our primary source of energy? No, it is not. Fossil fuels like gasoline and coal provide energy for us but produce earth harming CO2.
future
We will continue to experience the effects of climate change. The severity of damage and the time until the earth recovers are outcomes that we have the power to adjust. But until we decide to change things we will continue to damage the planet and feel the effects of our negligent behavior. Ecosystems are already adapting by reducing biological diversity. Fresh water runoff will be reduced affecting crop irrigation, hydroelectric power sources, water transportation, and the availability of water for industrial uses. Severe drought will make some areas of the world uninhabitable desert. Rainfall will increase in other areas, contaminating drinking water with the runoff from fertilizers, pesticides, hazardous and human waste in the soil.
A decrease in agricultural production in the tropics and subtropics may cause famine and hunger in areas where people are already very poor and cannot afford the resulting increase in the cost of food. The cost of meat will increase as grain for cattle becomes scarce. Sea levels will continue to rise about 50 cm (roughly 20 inches) in the next 100 years as melting snow and ice pour into our oceans from glaciers and the polar ice caps (3, IPCC). As water levels rise, increased flooding, billions of dollars in property damage, coastal erosion, surging during inclement weather, saltwater contamination of freshwater sources, and damage to coastal and shallow-water habitats are likely to follow.
Heat waves, disease (spread by higher population densities and better breeding conditions), and insufficient food production will all affect the quality of life for humans. Social and economic collapse may follow which could unravel the fabric of our global society. The physical sacrifices may be very great but the psychological effects may be even more scarring. Change will occur – whether we like it or not. The sooner we recognize the need for change, the easier the change will be.
hope
Climate change is here to stay until we decide to make it a serious priority. The time for debate over global warming and climate change has come and gone. The facts show that humans are changing the earth. If we make serious changes soon we may be able to avoid a terrible future and survive through the next few decades with minimal disruption to our standard of living – but the choice is in your hands.