Essay Example on Arctic Biota at Risk: Competing Interests vs. Survival

Introduction

According to Weeks (2013), the competing interest in the arctic region is a major threat to the arctic biota. Between 1980 and 2012, the Arctic sea ice has decreased significantly threatening then fauna and flora of the region. If the proposed trading routes through the Arctic region is permitted, then the rage animals that rely on the forage, rest and reproduces such as the polar bears, walruses, and seals would either mover to a new habitat or become extinct. The article argues that the United States government has not and is not putting enough effort into protecting the arctic. However, it is not only the government's duty to protect the arctic zone, because individuals of goodwill are requiring to speak with on voices against the destruction of the Arctic.

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Weeks (2013) propose Conservation and stewardship which will involve protecting the arctic environment, conserving its resources as well as increasing the understanding of the arctic through scientific research. Weeks (2013) also propose international cooperation such as bilateral partnerships and cooperation with international organizations to protect the arctic environment. The benefits in terms of the undiscovered oil and natural gas in the arctic does not warrant the destruction. Even though the article presents a strong case for arctic environment conservation, it has not proposed how the multiagency, multigovernmental corporation will be carried out. Weeks (2013) also singles out the united states as the only country that should oversee the protection of the arctic region but it has not clearly delineated the role that the united states should play and the instrument at the United States disposal to make the arctic regions stable conflict-free because without the other countries showing genuine concerns and efforts towards acting responsibly, the US's mission and vision for the arctic region will still be a dream (Weeks, 2013). The UNCLOS should revise the jurisdictions to prevent over-exploitation of the arctic environment.

Climate Change: Will governments act to curb rising temperatures

The earth atmosphere is now containing more carbon dioxide than at any one time in the past 3 million years. The carbon dioxide level also reported being rising faster which means that climate changes have already been set in motion. Therefore, Weeks (2013) seeks to investigate if the government is doing enough to curb rising global temperatures. Despite the clear evidence of climate change, climate change deniers including political leaders have been the main obstacle towards climate change goals. There are also evidences that moist lawmakers are more focused on maintaining then fossil fuel prices that is why they are denying the prospects of climate change initiatives. The climate change is a real threat and the government can not fully contain it. Therefore, the government should work hard towards reducing the rate of climate change. The catastrophic climate changes impacts are inevitable but the effects can be mitigated. The framework convention on climate change (FCCG) was among the initial efforts for the reduction of the GHG to the 1990s levels but the framework failed because it did not set the national limits and deadlines. All the framework ad protocols are guided efforts towards achieving the goals but it is still important for the prospective groups, agencies, and governments to develop an actionable plan.

References

Weeks, J. (2013). Climate Change: Will governments act to curb rising temperatures. CQ Researcher, 23(22), 521-544. Retrieved from https://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/login.php?requested=%2Fcqresearcher%2Fdocument.php%3Fid%3Dcqresrre2013061406%26abstract%3Dfalse

Weeks, J. (2013). Future of the Arctic- Can the region's resources be safely tapped?. CQ Researcher, 23(33), 789-812. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013092000