Global Warming 's Terrifying New Math

Society has ignored the changing climate for too long. With the hope of enlightening our generation, McKibben addresses this topic in a hostile manner to bring awareness. By illustrating an image of desolation, describing our planet to be an “inhabitable place” if we don’t change our habits, the author captures the attention of his readers (1). Eaarth is stylistically written in a suitable manner for the intended audience. McKibben refrains from scolding his audience by using “we” rather than “you”—intending that change is only possible if everyone, from all over the world, works together. Rather than simply discussing how climate changed has affected America, he speaks globally about this disaster—as it is typically worse in other countries due to their location on Earth. In addition to adding as aspect of fear, McKibben provides scientific evidence with every statement he makes about the changing environment. Rather than simply stating that temperatures are globally at an all-time high, he states, “Burma set the new mark for the Southeast Asia at 118 degrees, and Pakistan the new zenith for all of Asia at 129 degrees…warmest six months, the warmest year, and the warmest decade for which we have records” (214). On the other hand, McKibben provides so many statistics that it’s almost overwhelming to the

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

Is global warming a moral dilemma? Is it the public policy problem from hell? In "The Environmental Issue from Hell," Bill McKibben uses many of such phrases en route to arguing for a new approach to global warming. By discussing hell and morals, the reader’s mind is already equating it with two heavily debated issues. Therefore, we begin to question their existence and how we should deal with the subjects. McKibben wisely chooses these disputes to represent his main concerns: the ways in which consumerism affects the global ecosystem, and the impact of humans on the environment. McKibben presents a solution on how to handle each of these environmental issues, utilizing both the people and the government.

Climate change poses a serious threat to Earth and its inhabitants. There is now substantial evidence that human activity is causing global warming because of our large emissions of greenhouse gases. For instance, atmospheric carbon dioxide currently measures at three hundred and ninety seven parts per million, which is the highest it has been for at least the past one million years (National Research Council of the National Academies). Also, scientific data shows that Earth’s average surface temperature has increased more than 1.7 Fahrenheit over the past one hundred years (National Research Council of the National Academies). The evidence is unequivocal that our activities are the main culprit to the disruption of the climate system. In 2013, the top four emitters of carbon dioxide totaled to fifty-eight percent of entire global emissions (Loiseau). Among these four, China is the largest, accounting for twenty-eight percent (Loiseau). The United States accounted for fourteen percent; The EU accounted for ten percent; And India accounted for seven percent (Loiseau). Specifically, China’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions amounted to a massive 8.3 billion metric tons while the United States emitted 5.4 billion metric tons annually (Loiseau). India followed China and the United States with just over 2 billion metric tons emitted annually (Loiseau). This data could, however, be somewhat misleading. For example, even though China does emit the most, it only emits 6.2 metric

The essay opens up with McKibben talking about how the political campaign against global warming is flawed because at our current point there is nothing much that can be done to fix it.(Mckibben,1) He then goes to state that humans are the biggest culprit behind global warming and supports this by giving examples such as SUVs and American ignorance.(2,9) He concludes by saying that if ten percent of America were to go green, it still would not save the planet, but ten percent could get the government’s attention to pass laws making everyone go green. (11)

Climate change has become a major issue in global environmental politics as it has been shown to have a correlation with issues such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and desertification. As Chapter 45 states “The 2007 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found consensus in the scientific community that greenhouse gas emissions have significantly increased because of human activity and, further, that the modest temperature increases we have already experienced are “very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.” Due to this report awareness was brought to almost everyone of how serious human activity was to the global climate. In 2009, it was declared that “If global warming is to be limited to a maximum of two degrees C. above preindustrial values, global emissions need to peak between 2015 and 2020 and then decline rapidly”. To me this sounds foreboding and it is something that deserves our full attention immediately. To try and get a better understanding of how serious climate change is, I’m going to try and interpret chapter 45 which deals on climate change through 5 different paradigms of International Relations.

McKibben provides statistics which help to strengthen his stance on global warming. He starts the article entitled, “Global Warming's Terrifying New Math” by referring to relatable everyday situations. McKibben wants to influence and inform others about global warming, and with that goal in mind, he needs to grab the reader’s attention with his writing. It’s essential for the author to provide a way to help the readers see that there is an issue occurring with the continual warming of the world. He refers to the increase in peoples “size of AC bills”, and “towering wild fires” as examples in referring to the increasing temperatures (McKibben 1). An increase in an AC bill is an example that is very relatable event in the average renter/home owner’s life. When readers can easily relate to the topic, then they consequently tend to become more sympathetic and understanding of the situation. This tactic is one that McKibben uses many times, and it’s proving to be effective. An example, like this can show people that global warming does affect their everyday lives. It adds realization to the situation. It’s a good opener and the author has the attention of the readers. The opening paragraph also refers to the

Climate change in our natural ecosystems are at risk; since human economics and cultures depend on. Caused by human factors such as greenhouse gases, the evidence of climate change is becoming more clearer. These ecosystems, it threatens humans as well. According to Stephen M Gardiner, money and morals block our way to stop global warming. In his essay “A Perfect Moral Storm”, he lists these types of dilemmas, or “storms”that prevent meaningful action against climate change: the global storm, the intergenerational storm, the theoretical storm, and the moral storm. By “theoretical storm”, Gardiner refers to the fact that the ongoing climate change is a result of uncontemplation. On the other hand, Climatologist John R Christy believes that global warming isn’t something that we should worry about and our impact will be minuscule if we try to stop it. Of these dilemmas, the theoretical storm is most critical to Christy’s testimony because the time to fixate global warming is now before the future populations decide it’s too late.

In his essay, McKibben claims that global warming “has to become a political issue—and fast. The only way that may happen, short of a hideous drought or monster flood, is if it becomes a personal issue first.” He supports this claim by exploring the obviously damaging effects of global warming and the causes of these effects. For example, he points to research about coral reefs suggesting that “rising water temperatures are likely to bleach them [coral reefs] to extinction by mid-century.”

As world temperatures and sea levels rise, the effects of global warming will be felt most acutely in Canada and other countries far from the equator, a challenge, issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for the world to “seize the opportunities of a low-carbon future.” But the report drew little fanfare in Ottawa, global warming is occurring – and that humans are the main cause. “As this report shows and previous reports have shown, climate change and warming in particular is amplified – that is, it’s larger – at high latitudes. So warming over Canada is larger than the warming that has been experienced [worldwide] and it is projected to continue that way. That warming over Canada will continue to be more rapid than the global [average]

Global warming has become such a prevalent topic in world politics and news. I chose the book Eaarth by Bill McKibben because global warming is becoming a large problem, and if left unheeded, global warming will destroy our environment and present brutal obstacles for our grandkids and future generations. In his book Eaarth, Bill McKibben urges us to seriously examine global warming to solve this perplexing difficulty. By increasing awareness on this threatening development, we may be able to solve this problem.

Climate change is worsening for as time goes on. As the author, Stephen M. Gardiner, of Chapter 64 argues, climate change is an ethical issue because it is immoral for humans to create pollution and harm the environment, creating more problems for the planet. Climate change does not only affect current living beings, but affects all living things and human beings to come. The more harm we cause, the worse it will be to fix in years to come. “Climate change is not caused by a single agent but, by a vast number of individuals and institutions) including economic, political and social institutions.)”

In “ Think Again: Climate change,” Bill Mckibben addresses the climate change catastrophe. The damage has already begun and it may be too late to save the planet. There has been many debates and controversies on climate change, but that is about to change, and scientists have accepted the fact that humans are warming the planet. In 2007, the Arctic Ocean melted more ice than ever before. Again in 2008, more ice was melted and the Arctic is now open water. In addition, other regions will eventually suffer from crop loss and food shortages. Eventually, climate change will force states to start conflicts and wars over resources.

“Global warming, along with the cutting and burning of forests and other critical habitats, is causing the loss of living species at a level comparable to the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. That event was believed to have been caused by a giant asteroid. This time it is not an asteroid colliding with the Earth and wreaking havoc: it is us.” This is the statement that Al Gore made in his movie, An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It. For the last several years, movies like this have been in the mainstream. The environment, climate change, and global warming have been at the forefront of global sociopolitical issues. But what is “global warming” truly? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earths surface… caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is causing climate patterns to change.” (EPA) The EPA, NASA, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, along with 97% of climate scientists all agree – humans are the major cause of global warming and climate change. (NASA) To determine whether or not this is true, one must look at the evidence for rapid climate change itself, and then the evidence of all the causes, and

Usually when you read dystopian novels they take place far into the future or on a different planet, something Orwellian. We as a society, like to think this is what will happen if we continue to behave a certain way. Since the projections in these novels and pieces are so farfetched, nobody ever stops to compare it to the world today. However, Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth, states the harsh realities of the world’s current condition and the devious schemes of wealthy corporations. Global warming is perhaps the most frequent issue televised about the world today. It’s known that this ‘climate change’ is a product of greenhouse gases and the burning of fossil fuels; something of which is done by humans. Solutions and conservation strategies have been