Digital Media Ethics and Technology on Climate Change Essay

Introduction

Environmental, ethical issues in most cases deal with the relationship between the environment and human beings. There are entirely some issues caused by humans that end up affecting the environment. However, in this study, our primary focus is revolving around the climate change in the atmosphere, technological causes and the possible technological solutions. Digital media ethics in environment is associated with the problems ad norms of the news media. Blogging, journalism and social media are some of the digital news media in which information is shared.

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Why select the above topic for research?

The reason as to why I selected Digital media ethics as the topic of my research is because of the recent cases of environmental degradation and pollution in respect to human activities. With the use of digital media like blogging the society are able to be reached on the ways and importance of conserving the environment. Therefore the awareness aids the society with the required information on climate change ethics. In the contemporary living, human beings have taken off from nature which is now becoming a threat to the natural environment. From the information on social media, the society gets to know that due to the modern invention of industries and human activities; it has resulted in smog in the atmosphere, depletion of the ozone layer as well as the contamination of radioactive. In an account to this, technology alone cannot be used to resolve this problem. Therefore it is necessary to have our environment protected by ourselves and controlling some of the human activities that damage the environment (Jason A Smith, Jason Vargo & Sara Pollock Hoverter, 2017).

What are the new ethical issues with the new technology?

With the new technology, photographs and videos are used in gathering information about the environment and its degradation. The professional journalists have established more easy ways to transmit this information and images collected in the field. For instance, Cell phones can be used in capturing videos and images on environmental degradation; if it's linked to the internet the information can be viral in Facebook and Instagram. However, the use of social media and new technology can lead to the manipulation of the images collected.

Discussions

In the contemporary society, with the emergence of new technology, the causes of climate change have been divided into two; the human causes and the natural causes. Some of the human causes include;- the burning of fossils fuel, oil, natural gas & coal, cutting down the trees, building of roads and cities with industries and also farming. On the other hand natural causes include the changes in the ocean circulation, the atmosphere, and activities of the volcanic with the intensity of the sun towards the sun (Flanagan. E, 2017).

Despite the fact that climate has increasingly changed today, solely the natural processes cannot be used to explain these changes. With the human activities like burning fossils, it increases the greenhouse effect to the atmosphere this bringing changes on the earth's equilibrium. Moreover according to research, the temperatures on the earth's surface have increased averagely at a rate of 0.15 degrees for each decade following the beginning of industrial revolution in 1901. Our industries and cooperation engage in activities that are against humanity as well as the earth, so as to meet selfish gain on profits and consumption. Moreover, the carbon dioxide gases emitted from the greenhouse to the atmosphere have been at a rise following industrial revolution. These gases that have been emitted builds up in the atmosphere creating a blanket layer thus leading to the rise of global temperatures. Also, the emissions of synthetic compounds, such as (CFCs) Chlorofluorocarbons from industries have led to depletion of ozone layer therefore allowing the penetration of Ultra Violet-rays (UV) to the earth's surface. These rays are harmful to human health and causes cancer (Jason. A Smith et al., 2017). The acid rain also affects the earth's plants and production. On the other hand, the volcanic eruptions also emit carbon dioxide and Aerosols such as sulfur dioxide. These aerosols float in the air thus separating the incoming sun radiations leading to some cooling effect on the earth's surface. The crustal plate's movement also changes the pattern of the water in the ocean and air thus bringing some climate changes in various continents.

How has the new technology aid in solving climate change?

The new technology might be of help in solving various climate changes in our environment. The use of carbon capture in the atmosphere that aids in trapping the gases emitted from multiple plants in the greenhouse as well as industrial emission. Because of its high cost the U.S energy department has offered it's funding to the industries. Consequently, the gases can be collected and stored or recycled in making fertilizer, plastics or even cement.

The use of artificial photosynthesis can also help in curbing the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere thus helping in reducing the climate changes.

Also, use of alternative energy sources like wind and solar energy has helped a great deal in dealing with the environmental conservation. Rather than cutting down trees for power, the natural resources like wind and solar can be used. This alternative has no significant effect on the climate change, and it is environmentally friendly.

Efficiency also can be used as one of the invisible energy sources; mostly its energy is not used. Therefore, its potentiality to the environment is enormous. According to research, this can solve the state's energy demand up to 2050 unlike the home insulation and air sealing which consumes up to 90% home energy (Ajph, 2017).

Conclusion

The environment pollution is a severe problem in the contemporary society and is causing damages to our planet. However, the photojournalist in their research mostly alters with the images taken on the environment by either changing the color photo or the tone photo. Therefore changing the meaning of the photo will mislead the viewers which are considered unethical. Ecological ethics such as valuing and respecting our environment, the humans should adhere. In my opinion believe that by adjusting the way we live our everyday life will help a great deal in preserving and saving our environment from more damages.

References

AJPH, (2017), Public Parks & Shady Areas in Times of Climate Change, Urban Sprawl & Obesity

Flanagan.E, (2017), Millions in China Learn to Live With Smog: Forests & the Trees

Jason A Smith, Jason Vargo & Sara Pollock Hoverter. (2017), Climate Change & Public Health