The Unavoidability Of Justice In The Pursuit Of Environmental Sustainability

The burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, and deforestation over the last 200 years has caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping to space. Greenhouse gases are necessary in our lives as they help in keeping the planet 's surface warmer than it would otherwise be. But, as the concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth 's temperature is climbing above past levels (USEPA, 2014).

Providing society with an increase of economic freedom will likely increase harm to the environment (Ozler & Obach, 2009). Ozler and Obach (2009), states that the less freedom afforded for capitalism through government regulations, the better the ecological footprint. Government penalties and regulations require businesses to dedicate funds and resources to avoid harming the environment. Endangering the ecology presents the choice of saving lives or spending money. Almost everyone would vote to save lives but in many cases businesses will vote for legislation that will increase the organization’s bottom line (Smith & Jeffreys, n.d.). Government intervention is needed for the protection of the environment, which subsequently protects the human race.

Within the last few years, there has been an alarming increase in global warming which refers to “the phenomenon of greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere to increase caused by human activities” (Maslin,2007).

The Earth’s climate has continuously changed throughout history. Most of the time, these climate changes are attributed to small variations in Earth’s orbit, which in turn changes the amount of solar energy reflected onto the planet. However, according to NASA, the current warming trend is of such significance because “most of it is very likely human-induced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years.” Essentially, what happens is that sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms the Earth’s surface. This heat is radiated back towards space. Most of the outgoing heat is absorbed by greenhouse gas molecules and re-emitted in all directions, warming the surface of the Earth and the lower atmosphere. Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, emit are increasingly emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Global warming occurs due to an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. Various reasons as discussed in task 3 lead to the rise in temperature around the earth. The reasons include deforestation, burning fossil fuels, increase in human population and increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses such as methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide and water vapor in the atmosphere. (Dai, 2013) Greenhouse gasses are produced when fossil fuels or wood is burned. In other cases, when plants rot, carbon and methane are released into the atmosphere. Global warming can be controlled through the following ways: preservation of forests, minimal use of fossil fuels in energy production, efficient use of energy and use of low carbon or zero carbon technology.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the global temperature has risen about two degrees Fahrenheit since the late nineteenth century (“Climate”). Scientists define climate change as the escalation of the earth’s average temperature by natural causes or human inducement. As gases in the earth’s atmosphere increase, earth’s temperature follows coherently. Scientists cite a correlation between the earth’s increasing temperature and gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. Scientists have found that through human activity these gases show an increase. The upsurge of gases has a lasting effect on the environment: “Scientists warn of the loss of ecosystems and

One of the leading cause of climate change is the emission of greenhouse gases, such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), water vapour, methane and nitrous oxide. There is undeniable evidence from hundreds of reputable sources that due to CO2 and other major greenhouse gases the Earth is warming up. The results of this have become extremely noticeable. The average temperature of the Earth has increased by 0.75°C since 1880, carbon dioxide emissions have increased 401.58 parts per million, land ice decreases

Since late 1800 scientists have studied the phenomenon of Global Warming and majority of them had concluded that human activities are responsible for most of the warming. Human activities contribute to global warming by enhancing earth’s natural greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect warms the earth surface through the complex process involving sunlight, gases and particles in the atmosphere. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are known as greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. There are few scientists who argue that the increase in the greenhouse gases had not made a measurable difference in the climate. Therefore the claim that human activities are causing the global climatic to warm

In terms of previous environmental issues, many have tried to frame policy-decisions in terms of promoting the greatest utility, for both present and future generations. However, Norton states that no system based exclusively on the interests of present and future individuals can govern current decisions and their effects on future generations, because current environmental decisions determine what individuals will exist in the future (Norton 186). This proposition makes sense. In the scope of things, it does not really matter what individuals these policies are impacting, future or present, but instead matters that these policies are increasing the quality of the environment, for the sake of humanity’s survival. On the other hand, there is still danger in losing individualistic tendencies within an environmental ethic. Without any individual focus, populations of people may face generalizations based on location, race, age, gender etc. These generalizations may led to the silencing of underrepresented communities, creating even larger environmental justice issues. However, a case can be made that our current individualistic tendencies are leading to grave environmental injustices all over the world, such as climate change in

During the last century, human activities in agriculture, industry and technology have brought about a change in the chemical composition of the atmosphere. This change so far has not had a noticeable or discernible effect on world climate, but if these same activities continue, global climate change will become irreversible. The major contributing factor is the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and other gasses in the atmosphere. These gasses are being cited as the cause for a "greenhouse effect" where they trap the heat of the sun and cause global climate change, specifically a warming trend

This paper will define global warming and discuss how greenhouse gases affect the Earth. While greenhouse gases are necessary for life to exist on Earth, an overabundance or shortage of greenhouse gases can be detrimental. Human activities have caused an overabundance of these gases, and it is necessary for humans to become aware of how their activities affect the Earth. It is necessary for humans to begin modifying their behaviors that cause global warming and its negative effects, such as severe weather pattern changes, rises in temperatures, effects on agriculture, as well as animal and plant extinctions.

A tremendous amount of concern regarding climate change has emerged recently as most of the human population is adversely affected by it and adapting to current and projected rates of climate change could be very challenging. There have been observed increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, rising global sea level and small increase in growing seasons (Learner, 2007). Although climate change is attributed to both natural processes and human activities, this term has become synonymous with anthropogenic global warming (Berliner, 2003). Humans have been modifying the environment with processes associated with industrialisation and urbanisation, resulting in increased emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). The excess amounts of CO2 generated primarily due to burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, as well as the release of gases such as methane, nitrous dioxide, aerosols and other pollutants has led to the enhanced greenhouse effect, causing an unnatural warming of the Earth’s surface (Berliner, 2003). It is estimated that the global temperature will increase substantially by the year 2100 and that this warming will have widespread and irreversible impacts on human life and natural ecosystems (Learner, 2007). Therefore, there is a universal consensus for the need to deeply cut CO2 emissions to limit this temperature growth to below 2 degrees Celsius (McKibben, 2010).

Environmental injustice occurs when a particular group of people are forced to bear a disproportionate amount of environmental risks or costs. These risks can come in the form of unequal access to environmental goods and services or a smaller opportunity to make their voices heard through participation in environmental decision making (Shrader-Frechette 2002). For decades, local and native communities around the world have had their voices silenced and have had to endure a vast amount of diverse environmental risks and injustices. Since the beginning of the environmental movement, many policy

​The global climate change was identified late 19th century with more and more greenhouse gases released into atmosphere by human activities. Carbon dioxide, a major human-produced greenhouse gas, accounts for more than 50% of direct contribution to the present-day reinforcing greenhouse gas effect. It is estimated that over half of the carbon dioxide comes from energy sector activities. Energy demand and energy-related carbon emissions in the developing regions cause an increasingly global concern because of their significant emissions growth.

Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history and the trend is accelerating (NRDC, 2016). A long series of scientific research and international studies has shown, with more than 90% certainty, that this increase in overall temperatures is due to the greenhouse gases produced by humans (NRDC, 2016). Activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels are the main sources of these emissions. There are