SCI 4-1 Global Climate Change

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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219

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Geography

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Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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In your initial post, choose one of the 3 questions on climate change listed below to assess. Provide responses to the question you selected, supporting your statements with valid and reliable scientific sources. Include your thoughts on how you feel you are, or will be, impacted by climate change.  What are some possible options for dealing with climate change? What are the pros and cons for each of those options? Possible options for dealing with global climate change start with mitigation and adaptation according to NASA. Mitigation involves lowering and stabilizing levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Adapting to climate change as it is already underway. Starting with mitigating the sources of greenhouse gases, for example by reducing the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, or transport or enhancing the “sinks” that absorb and store these gases like the oceans, forests, and soil. Adapting to living in a changing environment entail adjusting to current and anticipated future climate. The objective is to lessen our vulnerability to the negative consequences of climate change, such as sea-level rise, more intense extreme weather events, and food shortages. It will also involve making use of any possible benefits connected with climate change such as longer growing seasons or higher yields in some regions. (Earth Science Communications Team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2023). There are both options for individuals to act towards climate change and for the government and corporations that can implement their own actions to help mitigate climate change. Individuals can start by saving energy at home by reducing heating and cooling use, switching to LED light bulbs, and energy-efficient appliances, washing laundry with cold water, and hanging laundry to dry, improve your home with better insulation, “or replacing your oil or gas furnace with an electric heat pump can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 900 kilograms of CO2e per year.” (United Nations, n.d.). You can also change your home’s main source of energy so instead of oil, coal, or gas see if you can switch to renewable sources like wind or solar or even just include using solar panels to help generate energy for your home. If you live in an area where you can use transportation such as walking, biking or taking public transport it will overall help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “When compared to a car-dependent lifestyle, living car-free can minimize your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2e each year.” (United Nations, n.d.). Even if you don’t have access to those you can also thnk about switching to an electric vehicle when searching for new cars. “Switching from a gasoline or diesel-powered car to an electric vehicle can lower your annual carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2e. A hybrid car can help you save up to 700 kg of CO2e each year.” (United Nations, n.d.). Reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle can also help reduce your carbon footprint since buying new items causes carbon emissions at each point in the production process that they take. Eating more vegetables and throwing away less food is another helpful tactic to lower carbon emissions. Producing more plant-based foods usually results in less gas emissions and requires less energy, land and water. Of course, with throwing away less food will help lower greenhouse gases because rotting food in landfills creates methane. Planting native species and cleaning up the environment around you is another action you can take to lower your impact. Finally, watch which goods and services you support and speak up and get your friends and family to take action with you. (United Nations, n.d.). The

cons of this is that not every person or family can afford to choose some of these options. Another is that they are not all accessible for people who are disabled and need certain products that do come with their own cost, but these people should not feel bad for not being able to afford food that is not prepackaged, or their kid who will only eat certain foods, or people who need plastic straws as the other options are just not safe for them to use. That is why using your voice is the best thing that most anyone can do is to voice your stance on the matter, be informed, and inform others where you are able. Moving onto how the government and corporations can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through regulatory measures and collaboration programs, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborates with corporations and others to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. EPA employs a variety of methods inside the Agency to decrease its own greenhouse gas emissions, boost energy efficiency, and make other efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making unprecedented investments to combat climate change, safeguard public health, generate employment in communities around the country, and ensure a more equitable future. The EPA undertakes evaluations to better understand the physical and economic effects of climate change under various emission scenarios, as well as to determine the economic implications and efficacy of proposed climate policies. The EPA also offers state, municipal, and tribal governments free tools to assist them in analyzing their own clean energy policies and initiatives. (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2023). This is just the start but it is clear that the government and corporations are starting to work together to ensure a better future and to help mitigate their part in climate change. References Earth Science Communications Team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (2023, November 8). Responding to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (H. Shaftel, S. Callery, & D. Bailey, Eds.). Global Climate Change Vital Signs of the Planet. Retrieved November 14, 2023, from https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/ United Nations. (n.d.). Actions for a healthy planet . Retrieved November 14, 2023, from https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ten-actions United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, October 20). What EPA is doing about climate change . US EPA. Retrieved November 14, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/climate-change/what-epa-doing-about-climate-change

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