Essay on Coping with Climate Change and Global Warming

Introduction

Climate change occurs when the variations in the climate system of the universe lead to modified weather patterns lasting for a few years. The climate system is made up of five interacting parts, namely the hydrosphere, cyrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and the atmosphere. All the energy from the sun is fed into the climate system (Schuur et al., 2015). The climate changes happen due to the internal variability whenever the natural processes affect the energy budget of the earth. Human activities can also transform the earth's climate, which continually causes these changes by global warming. To this end, global warming refers to the long-term rise in the average temperatures of the climate system of the earth. It is an element of climate change, which is shown by the many warming effects and temperature measurements. The most significant human impact is greenhouse emissions, including methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide. The impact of global warming are the rising sea levels, changes in regional precipitation, and more regular extreme weather events such as the expansion of deserts, and heat waves as shown in the figure 1 below. Worldwide, many people regard climate change and global warming a severe issue. To cope with climate change and global warming, there is a need for the use of appropriate technology to positively influence climate change, positively influencing human behaviour towards the environment and favorable government policy towards addressing climate changes and global warming.

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Figure 1: The Natural and Human Made Cause of Climate Change

Source: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-change-science/causes-climate-change_.html.

The graph above provides evidence that higher temperatures lead to more snowfall and rainfall, while some areas experience wildfires and droughts. Climate change affects humans, posing significant threats to food security as evidenced by reduced crop yields and abandoning the populated regions by the inhabitants (Zehr, 2016).

Strategies for Coping with Climate Change and Global Warming

Use of Appropriate Technology to Positively Influence Climate Change

Technological advancements have both negative and positive impacts on climate change and global warming. However, when appropriately used, technology is useful towards ensuring there is a reduced effect on the climate. The investment in future fuels is an important step towards coping with global and climatic changes. The replacement of fossil fuels is the greatest challenge of the 21st century. Biofuels have different adverse effects, including driving food prices and using more energy than is produced. Hydrogen has to be created, which needs a reformation of electricity or natural gas for cracking the water molecules. The biodiesel-electric vehicles provide the best solution to transportation in the short term. Recent research on the generation of electricity in America claimed that it reduces greenhouse emissions while providing for the whole fleet of automobiles in the country. However, the plug-in hybrids are still dependent on electricity which is produced from burning dirty coal. Therefore, the significant investment in energy generation, which is low on emissions, is needed for the reduction of these emissions (Abas, Kalair, & Khan, 2015).

Positively Influencing Human Behaviour towards Protecting the Environment

A large part of the climate changes and global warming is caused by human activities. Therefore, creating awareness of the effects of human activities could be the best approach towards containing issues with global warming and climate changes. The first approach is to reduce the distance commuters have to travel. The second leading reason for the emission of greenhouse gases in America is transportation. A way of curtailing needs of fuel transportation is moving closer to work, using mass transit, or switching to cycling, walking, and other transportation modes which do not need anything apart from human energy. At the same time, there is the alternative of telecommuting or working from home. The minimization of long-distance travels helps with airplane fights, which cause the fastest growth of emission of greenhouse gases. The restriction of flights to the only crucial long-distance trips in different parts of the world would help in preventing the emissions from airplanes (Miles, 2016).

Furthermore, it is important to educate the consumers that the most effective means of cutting back on the emission of greenhouse gases is through purchasing less stuff. These include aspects such as forsaking automobiles or using reusable grocery sack. Cutting back on consumption leads to fewer burning of fossil fuels for the extraction, production, and shipping products globally. It is crucial to think green whenever making these purchases. For example, if one is in the market for new cars, he or she has to purchase one which lasts the longest and has a minimal effect on the environment. Therefore, a used vehicle having a hybrid engine provides superior fuel effectiveness in the long run while saving on the environmental impact of producing new cars. For example, when buying essential groceries, bulk purchases reduce the packaging such as cardboard boxes, plastic wrappings, and other unwanted materials (Wu & Zhou, 2016).

Buying additional quality fuel means less consumption. Moreover, citizens of many developed states waste a lot of energy. Decent driving and the appropriate maintenance of cars limit the greenhouse gas emissions from the vehicle. Using more effective air conditioners, refrigerators, and related appliances cut the electric bills. These efforts are also useful at work, such as the installation of more effective turbines or turning off lights. Moreover, citizens of the United States of America spend a lot of funds on electricity for powering devices. Stereo equipment, televisions, battery chargers, and computers, among other gadgets, consume a lot of energy when they are switched off. Buying energy effective devices saves both money and power, and this prevents the emission of greenhouse gases (Miles, 2016).

Human behavior can also be positively influenced by educating people about the importance of not cutting trees. Yearly, 33 million hectares of forests are cut down. Harvesting of timber in the tropics has contributed to 1.5 billion tons of carbon to the air. This represents 20% of the greenhouse emissions caused by humans, one which can be easily avoided. Improved agricultural practices, forest management, and paper recycling eliminate these emissions. Whenever buying wood products such as flooring or furniture, there is a need for certification that they are harvested through sustainable means. Forests such as Amazon are the best way through which humanity limits the possibility of climate change and global warming (Wu & Zhou, 2016).

Favorable Government Policy towards Addressing Climate Changes and Global Warming

The government is at the center of every initiative aimed at tackling the effects of global warming and the causes of climatic changes. The government can introduce policies which prevent against using fuels. The first daunting task is the elimination of the burning of oil, coal, and natural gas. This is challenging, given that many more prosperous states wear, play, sleep, and eat on the products from the fossilized sunshine. The citizens of these developing states have similar comforts due to the energy stored in these kinds of fuels. The global economy is run by oil and is also crucial for transporting both goods and consumers. Coal supplies almost half of the electricity used in America and globally-a percentage, which is projected to grow. There is no precise solution to minimizing the dependence on fossil fuels. For instance, the carbon-neutral biofuels lead to higher food prices and the destruction of forests. While nuclear power does not produce greenhouse gases, it emits radioactive wastes. Therefore, there is a need for employing alternative options whenever possible such as biodiesel, plant-derived plastics, and wind power. At the same time, it is crucial to invest in these changes such as investing in organizations engaging in the capture and storage of carbon and divesting from the oil stocks (Chen et al., 2018).

Moreover, the government can introduce policies which support citizens to reduce the birth rates and provide the relevant awareness to the masses. Currently, the world's population is over 6.6 billion. According to the United Nations Environmental Program, the anticipated population growth to 9 billion would become unsustainable. The declining birth rates in both developed and developing nations reduces or reverses population explosion. There is a need for per capita energy consumption reducing if the climate changes and global warming must be barred (Chen et al., 2018). Correspondingly, it is the government's obligation to introduce infrastructural changes to help with the reduction of emissions. Globally, buildings lead to a third of the emissions of greenhouse gases. Investment in thicker insulation and related temperature regulating yet cost-effective steps saves on funds in the long term. The electric grids are overloaded or at capacity, while there are continued rise in demands of power. The bad roads can also result in lower fuel economy. Therefore, the investment in new infrastructure or the radical upgrades of the modern highways and transmission lines helps in cutting the emissions of greenhouse gases while driving economic growth in the developing states. The improved processes of making cement and energy useful buildings such as using alternative fuels reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases in developed nations (Dodge & Akbari, 2017).

Conclusion

Towards effectively addressing the challenge of global warming, there is a need for reducing the number of emissions which trap heat and which are released into the atmosphere. As shown, the comprehensive climate solutions include the expansion of the use of renewable energy and the transformation of the energy system to a cleaner one. Another approach, as shown, is increasing the efficiency of vehicle fuel and supporting solutions which reduce the use of oil. Government policies are also crucial in the efforts of reducing emissions, and it includes building clean energy through the investment of efficient energy technologies, approaches, and industries. At the same time, it is crucial to minimize tropical deforestation and the connected emissions caused by global warming. It is possible to change to a clean energy economy while saving consumers funds and protecting the climate. What is required are smart, practical policies to begin these changes without delays and the maximization of the advantages to the economy and the environment.

References

Abas, N., Kalair, A., & Khan, N. (2015). Review of fossil fuels and future energy technologies. Futures, 69, 31-49. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274718268_Review_of_Fossil_Fuels_and_Future_Energy_Technologies

Chen, J. G., Crooks, R. M., Seefeldt, L. C., Bren, K. L., Bullock, R. M., Darensbourg, M. Y., ... & Kanatzidis, M. G. (2018). Beyond fossil fuel-driven nitrogen transformations. Science, 360(6391), eaar6611. Retrieved from https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc6088796

Dodge, T. A., & Akbari, B. M. (2017). Fossil Fuel Asset Risk Analysis: Clark University Endowment. Retrieved from https://commons.clarku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=studentworks

Miles, P. C. (2016). Advanced Combustion Research for Enabling High-Efficiency Clean Engines with Future Fuels(No. SAND2016-8150PE). Sandia National Lab.(SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States). Retrieved from https://www....