Why Global Warming is an Individual Moral Responsibility? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Global warming is the rapid increase in the earth's temperature. According to ("Climate Change Evidence"), climate change in the past few decades has contributed to a drastic increase in earth's temperature from 0.3 to 1.7 degrees. Further scientific research shows that it is expected that the earth's temperature will reach a high of 4 degrees Celsius if the rate of greenhouse gas emissions is not controlled ("Climate Change Evidence"). As such, global warming has become a global issue that calls for cooperation from different governments and institutions. However, much of the responsibility on the issues of global warming has been left for institutions, industries, and governments to deal with. However, statistics show that global warming has been contributed greatly by individual cumulative actions which emit greenhouse gases. Everyone's actions affect global warming either negatively or positively. Therefore, controlling global warming is an individual moral responsibility.

An individual can limit global warming by making the right decisions on their travel behavior. Carbon dioxide released from motor vehicles and planes makes 15% of total carbon released into the atmosphere ("Transportation and Global Warming"). In the United States, for example, the transport sector is responsible for about third of total carbon emissions. According to ("Transportation and Global Warming"), reducing transportation emissions is the most important step in limiting global warming. One of the possible solutions for reducing transportation emission is by replacing fossil fuels by renewable energy. The government and institutions have stepped in by enacting laws that aim at limiting transportation emissions by 2050 ("Transportation and Global Warming"). However, individuals should be at the forefront of changing their travel behaviors. For example, individuals should make it a habit of using public transport as an alternative to using private cars. The use of public transport would help to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and thus reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, the use of public transport would ease congestion, improve air quality, and decrease diesel pollutants from the atmosphere.

Also, an individual can help limit global warming by making good choices in the use of home energy. According to (Aune 296), electric power production is a major contributor to global warming. Some electric power plants use coal during electric production. The combustion of coal is the primary source of air pollution. For instance, electricity generation in the United States consumes about 86% of the total usage of coal (Aune 296). At homes, individuals use electricity as their main source of energy. However, individual should realize how the production of electricity is harmful to the environment. An individual can play a vital role in reducing air emissions from electricity production by adopting new energy behaviors. The individuals should begin by embracing alternatives to electric energy such as installing solar panels in their homes. Solar energy is renewable and only requires natural light to generate power. Additionally, individuals can also use wind energy which has zero emissions into the atmosphere.

Consequently, an individual can limit global warming by checking on their diet. Ortiz argues that fossil fuels released in the food processing industry are a major contributor to global warming. For instance, meat industry releases a lot of methane during processing. Additionally, consuming high content of animal protein increases the rate of individual carbon footprint by 40%. Drinks such as carbonated drinks also contribute to greenhouse emissions during their production and consumption and individuals. Individuals can impact positively on global warming by adopting healthy eating habits. Firstly, individuals should cut their animal dietary consumption by half in order to reduce individual carbon footprint (Ortiz). Also, Individuals should check on their diet by consuming fewer dairy products and develop a habit of eating vegetables and fruits. Additionally, individuals should eat organic sourced food because they do not contain genetically modified organism. Also, individuals can grow their own food in order to lower the carbon footprint.

Additionally, individuals should embrace the use of sustainable charcoal in cooking. The high demand for charcoal has resulted in global warming because of the devastating deforestation in forested regions. Trees help to reduce global warming by absorbing excess carbon in the atmosphere. However, when trees are cut to meet human needs, the greenhouse gases are left in the atmosphere thus causing warming. An individual should, therefore, adopt sustainable charcoal that does not come from trees in order to promote global forestation. Also, individuals should be involved in planting trees and other vegetation cover in order to promote a healthier environment.

Additionally, an individual can help in controlling global warming by proper handling of wastes. According to Aune (290), disposal and treatment of wastes contribute greatly to greenhouse gases which escalate global warming. During the treatment of wastes, methane gas is usually released due to the decomposition of organic matter in the wastes. Therefore, reduction of wastes emissions can play a major role in reducing global warming. Individuals can play a vital role in waste prevention and treatment. For instance, an individual should adopt a behavior of recycling waste products in order to reduce greenhouse gases during waste treatment. Additionally, individual can avoid home waste by purchasing only items they need. Also, an individual can resell or donate some household items such as furniture and clothing. This individual action could play a major role in reducing wastes thus limiting individual carbon footprint.

An individual's shopping behaviors can also impact global warming positively. Shopping is one of the major tasks of individuals. As such, their shopping behavior can play a great role in promoting a healthier environment thus assisting in limiting global warming (Ortiz). Firstly, individuals should embrace public transport to travel to malls. Today, most people go shopping using a private car or a cab. The behavior increases the number of operational vehicles on the roads thus increasing carbon emission into the atmosphere. However, individuals using public transport during shopping can play a great role in reducing greenhouse emissions. Additionally, individuals should prioritize in shopping products with low carbon. Low carbon products help to reduce an individual's carbon footprint. The low carbon products may include organic processed items, recycled materials, and second-hand clothes.

Also, Individuals can reduce global warming by being engaged in environmental community initiatives. Today, environmental organizations are leading to enhancing measures that reduce global warming. However, an individual's contribution to a community initiative can play a major role in promoting a healthy environment (Aune 291). There are many activities an individual can take part in an environmental community initiative. For instance, individuals can come together and start planting a tree in their community. Also, community initiatives can be used to promote environmental friendly awareness thus promoting a healthier environment.

An individual can also reduce global warming by limiting the number of children they bore. Population increase is a major threat to global climate disruption ("Human Population Growth and Climate Change. According to a study, every child produces 20 times more of greenhouse effects than a single person can save by recycling or using energy saver appliances ("Human Population Growth and Climate Change"). For example, in the United States, every child is measured to contribute about 9,441 metric tons of carbon compared to an average parent ("Human Population Growth and Climate Change"). Therefore, the current ecological features demand a reduced population in order to promote a healthier environment. One of the ways of controlling the human population is individual embracing the need to have fewer children.

Today, research shows that fertility rates have been decreasing and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is optimistic that population decrease will greatly reduce carbon emissions. However, the population levels still remain high because most people, especially in developed nations, are living longer thus remain productive for years. The greenhouse gases emissions per capita are expected to decrease but population increase remains a major threat to the increase of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The threat can be limited by individuals developing a habit of having few children in order to control the human population across the globe.

Conclusion

The issues of global warming should be the moral reasonability of an individual. Life is short and then human being cannot runway from the effects of global warming. The government and environmental institutions should not be left alone to deal with the issues of global warming. The issues should become a moral responsibility of every individual because cumulative personal decisions can positively impact the issues of global warming. The individuals should embrace alternatives in travel, home energy, shopping behaviors, dietary, waste prevention alternatives, participate in community environmental initiatives, and step in controlling the global human population by having fewer children. The collective individual actions will significantly limit global warming thus protecting life existence in the future.

Works Cited

Aune, Margrethe, et al. "Concerned consumption. Global warming changing household domestication of energy." Energy Policy 98 (2016): 290-297.

"Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?" Nasa.gov, 2019, https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/. Accessed 30 Apr 2019.

"Human Population Growth and Climate Change". Biologicaldiversity.Org, 2019, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/climate/. Accessed 30 Apr 2019.

"Transportation And Global Warming". Biologicaldiversity.Org, 2019, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/climate_law_institute/transportation_and_global_warming/. Accessed 30 Apr 2019.

Ortiz, Diego. "Ten Simple Ways To Act On Climate Change". Bbc.Com, 2018, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181102-what-can-i-do-about-climate-change. Accessed 30 Apr 2019.