Once an uncommon term used only by scientists and climatologists, the notion of Global warming today is commonly heard but very misunderstood. One might ask, what exactly is global warming and should we care? According to "What is Global Warming?" in LiveScience, global warming is a gradual increase in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, that has become a world-wide environmental issue.1(Lallanilla,2013) Similarly, this topic is one of great controversy because of widely differing opinions on current global warming rates and the impact by humans.This suggested anthropogenic activity creates carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases that are released by the burning of tropical forests and fossil fuels, powering plants, heating …show more content…
According to the Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, "The use of fossil energy produced 23.8 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 1996," and is estimated to substantially increase global temperature during the next 50-100 years.(Kessel,2000) Despite scientific evidence and data supporting the relationship between carbon dioxide emission and climatic consequences, the impact of global warming is still greatly disputed. To further understand this topic, one might benefit by analyzing this problem from a religious perspective. By doing this, one might understand why some people choose to agree or disagree with the implications of global warming.
According to the case study entitled "On the Ethics of International Religious/Spiritual Gatherings" the impact of global warming and climate change involve ethical elements such as carbon foot printing, that are addressed by political leaders, businesses, and religious organizations in an effort to address environmental challenges. It was not until recently that religious leadership expanded their concerns from poverty and violence, to the well-being of the ecosystem, especially anthropogenic activity on non-human life. Also mentioned in this case study is the fact that more and more religious institutions and organizations are incorporating ecology into their lessons,
It is well known that politics and religion are two topics to never to be discussed with someone one does not know well. In today’s society, it feels as if this list of topics that are socially deemed inappropriate to discuss seems to be growing, with climate change now being a conservation to avoid. This aversion to discussing climate change appears to stem from the fact that the issue tends to polarize opinions, in which people fall into one of two groups: climate change skeptics and climate change believers. This paper seeks to address and analyze the ways in which climate skeptics speak about and understand climate change as well as how climate scientists understand climate change phenomena. More specifically, this paper focuses on how climate skeptics comprehend the relationships between grasslands, livestock, methane and nutrient cycling and how these interconnected concepts do not lead to the type of climate change that “green urbanities /green politicians/green activists/green elite” predict. The paper will conclude with an evaluation of the two differing positions between climate skeptics and climate scientists, in which I will determine which argument I find to be the most accurate.
In modern America few problems prove to be as fundamentally problematic as the theory of human induced global warming. Its repeated coverage from within the media and political arena are influencing people worldwide, putting those who think differently in an outcast shadow. The truth of the matter is, to not believe in human induced global warming has become politically incorrect and unacceptable in the public eye. The theory of human induced global warming can be defined as the rise in temperature through human pollution of greenhouse gases resulting in catastrophic alterations in the earth 's environment. However, human pollution of greenhouse gases is so minor that it is not a contribution to the
Everyone talks about climate change and how the Earth is slowly deteriorating, but no one seems to have specific examples. In Linnea Saukko’s “How to Poison the Earth,” she does use specific examples of what is causing climate change. She uses satire with a hint of sarcasm in her essay. She gives the reader specific examples of how to poison the Earth, but not really wanting to poison the Earth. Gretel Ehrlich writes her essay, “Chronicles of Ice,” a little differently. She uses personal experiences of visiting a glacier and the way that it is falling apart to explain climate change. She uses detailed, sensory description to explain
This article presents worrying examples in ecological ideas regarding the problems of social justice and the environment such as global warming (Kao, 97). Search the importance of theology in the care of creation and suggests being aware of their problems at the micro and macro level. Kao gives a disturbing approach as culture and community has a Christian and / or theological responsibility to this issue, including us as individuals. Kao is operating under a Christian's ethical understanding and relationship with the environment in environmental concerns. The correct list of certain actions and principles that can and should be used by the Christian communities to fight climate change awareness, open windows to open for discussion and possible
Nowadays, the whole world are paying attention on the controversy about climate change and global warming. Hot topics include whether global warming is occurring, warming level in modern times, causes, effects and what that action should be taken (Science Daily). On one hand, there is a strong consensus that human and industries take main responsibility for the rapid increase of global surface temperatures in recent decades, and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide is the major cause of global warming. Meanwhile, some people that come from organizations with
Presently, while Scientists are warning us about the deleterious effects of Global Warming, “Nonscientists” also have separate views on the same issue. This indicates that Global Warming is a controversial issue that needs to be addressed. First, we need to understand the concept of “Global Warming.” Global Warming is described as the general increase in atmospheric temperatures worldwide, which results to climate changes. According to an article titled “Global Warming,” the earth’s atmosphere contains various gases that act as a blanket to trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping back into space. This means that these gases prevent the earth from being cold. This continued process is known as the greenhouse effect, and the gasses that are responsible for maintaining this heat are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. They continued, “Over time, the amount of greenhouse gases trapped in the earth’s atmosphere has increased significantly, causing worldwide temperatures to rise.” Human activities like industrialization and agriculture also play a significant role in increasing these gases. For example, the use of certain fertilizers, produce nitrous oxide and methane emissions come from the production of fossil fuels from landfills, and from livestock, they emphasized. All these evidence illustrates that we are significantly responsible for recent increases in temperatures. For this reason, it is obvious that it is a pressing human issue. This recent dramatic
Climate change is a rising issue of importance in our day and age, and one that is threatening our global society on many levels. In the past few decades, scientists have discovered that our planet’s climate has been changing at an alarming rate. The way in which we have changed the land to
It is a scientifically proven fact that the Earth’s temperatures are currently rising at an alarming rate due to the excessive emission of greenhouse gases. This phenomenon is known as climate change and it poses a dangerous threat for creation, especially for humans, as it upsets the natural balance of life on Earth. While it is important to view the issue of climate change as a whole, it is clearly an anthropocentric issue, as demonstrated in the language used to discuss it, its causes, and its effects. An anthropocentric worldview is one that considers humanity as the center of value and importance in creation.
Global warming has been a controversial topic for years and some have even denied its existence; however, as more studies are being published every day in regards to our changing climate, it is hard to ignore this growing issue and how humans contribute to it. The term greenhouse gases refers to the group of gases that are primarily responsible for global warming and chief among these gases is carbon dioxide. Rising carbon dioxide levels can be attributed to a combination of burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum as well as deforestation in general ( Source A). To slow the effects of global warming, it is important for leaders in our society to consider their greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, and make
Global warming, along with all of its negative impacts, harms the populations living on the Earth. Whether it is direct harm to an individual or harm caused to something which then impacts an individual, the effects of global warming do not go unnoticed. Due to its level of impact, “[c]limate change is … the greatest threat facing humanity. It will lead to small island states disappearing from the face of the earth, serious global threats to our food and water supplies, and ultimately the death of hundreds of millions of the poorest people in the world over the course of this century” (Doebbler). The list of consequences associated with climate change is infinite. This list will only continue to grow if society does not make an effort to do anything about it. If people were to realize that they themselves are the ones posing a threat to humanity, the situation would be different. However, most humans fail to recognize that global warming even exists, let alone the environmental, social, and economic toll it takes on the world. Instead, society concerns itself with other conflicts which it views as more important, leaving no room to worry about climate change. Many controversial issues exist in today’s society. They all have their own degree of importance and numerous consequences associated with them, and most of these issues will in some way, shape, or form impact
Global Warming has been a very serious conversation over the last decade, because it affects every person living on the planet whether we choose to believe it or not. Most of the scientific community claims that global warming is to blame for the changes in Earth’s climate. However, there are a small number of scientists who deny the very existence of global warming. Temperatures on earth have increased approximately 1.4°F since the early 20th century. Over time, atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) have notably increased. Both sides in the debate surrounding global climate change agree on the CO2 and CH4 being increased and that’s it.
This chapter discusses the denial of climate change. The author’s perspective focuses on the warming of the earth and how that is altering the biophysical world around which human social systems are organized. Despite the heat records and extreme weather events climate change has remained the “Elephant in the Room”. Climate scientists have identified global warming as the most important issue of our time.
Climate is inherently variable. Climate changes from place to place and it varies with time. The world now faces one of the complex and important issue it has ever had to deal with: climate change. Climate change today is one of the biggest concerns of human beings on the planet and the effects of climate change are undeniable and it may cause environmental, social, and economic threats to the planet. We already know and easily can highlight several signs of climate change. They are: rising global sea level, widespread melting of snow and ice, rapidly changing ocean and global temperatures, and other signs. So, what are the causes of climate change? Is it natural or do human beings cause it? Well, in both cases we would be right. The climate change can be affected by natural factors, such as solar output, volcanic eruptions, and the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Also, climate change can be affected by human activities such as, deforestation, burning fossil fuels, causing ozone hole, and building mass destructive weapons and using them on earth that causes a huge radioactivity on earth. Currently, the threat of global climate change does not threaten some nations to the extent of others. Compare the United States with the rest of African countries. We live in prosperity and in much easier time than the rest African countries. Most African countries cannot grow anything on their lands because of climate change. At the end, climate change might affect everyone on
In recent years, the controversial subject of global warming has been more predominantly brought to our attention. Is the threat of global warming real? Is it man-made or is this just a natural cycle of earth? Does it really affect earth’s inhabitants? Should action be taken against it? If so, what kind and to what extent? It cannot be only a coincidence that the alarmingly rapid climate change coincides perfectly with the increased amount of pollutants that humans release into the environment. The once stable climate has in recent years begun to skyrocket, thus altering the delicate structure of earthly life. This proves to be hazardous to the future of the planet; some people worry that many of the resources the environment provides that
The concept of global warming has become one of the most widely debated and controversial topics of our time. Scientists learned long ago that the earth’s climate has powerfully shaped the history of humanity. However, it is only in the past few decades that research has revealed that humans have a significant influence on the climate as well. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that since 1950, the world’s climate has been warming, primarily as a result of emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of tropical forests. More importantly, an article titled "Global Warming" published in the New York Times shows that methane, a gas that is emitted from landfills, livestock and oil gas facilities,