Climate Change: How Much Longer Until It’s Too Late?
Modern humans evolved nearly 200,000 years ago, which is only a sliver of time in comparison to the 4.5 billion years that Earth has been around. Within that time frame, humans have managed to disrupt many of Earth’s natural patterns, most notably in the controversial case of global warming. This development alone comes with consequences that have many scientists convinced that without immediate and dramatic change, may be irreversible.
According to an article released by Nasa’s Earth Observatory, “The average global temperature on Earth has increased by about 0.8° Celsius (1.4° Fahrenheit) since 1880. Two-thirds of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15-0.20°C per decade.” Despite endless amounts of conclusive research regarding the existence of global warming, many people including politicians and scientists, are hesitant to admit that climate change is an issue. You may be wondering, how is it our fault? The answer is quite simple; it comes in form of the emission of carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere - a development caused by humans.
In an article published by ABC News called “Scientists: Time running short before climate change effects are 'irreversible’”, the causes and effects of climate change are examined with the help of a one-minute video that addresses those categories using information gathered from NASA. According to the statements issued by NASA, “Global warming occurs when gases in Earth’s atmosphere block heat from escaping, creating a greenhouse effect… Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.”
In spite of this, many seem to be under the impression that global warming is not solely caused by human error, but an article by the Union of Concerned Scientists says otherwise. According to “How Do We Know that Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming”, “Scientists agree that today’s warming is primarily caused by humans putting too much carbon in the atmosphere, like when we choose to extract and burn coal, oil, and gas, or cut down and burn forests.” Such information has been obtained through a variety of scientific methods conducted by meteorologists and oceanographers, considering that the effect that humans have had on the Earth's climate can be seen on land, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere.
One of the most significant consequences of global warming is the effect that it has had on Earth’s hydrosphere. According to NASA, “The greenhouse effect warms the oceans and leads to increasing glacial melting, rising sea levels.” Not only do rising sea levels impact the animals living in regions who have fallen subject to the negative effects of global warming, but it also threatens to melt Antarctic ice sheets that may increase flooding in certain areas. The ocean may also become more acidic during this process, negatively affecting crops in surrounding areas.
Recent global temperatures have reached shockingly unpredictable levels that, according to ABC News, may be ‘irreversible’ in just 12 years should our efforts to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere be unsuccessful. However, it is important to acknowledge that the United States has contributed to efforts that will slow down the alarming rate at which the climate is changing. A spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recently issued a statement referring to the United States as being a world leader in the reduction of greenhouse gasses. According to the article, we have “reduced our emissions by 14 percent since 2005.” This is only part of the responsibility; according to UN panel researchers, carbon dioxide emissions caused by humans will need to be cut in half by 2030 in order to make real progress. Until then, climate change remains a pressing issue that often gets swept under the rug in today’s political climate.
If you would like to learn more about climate change and what we need to do to stop it, visit the links below for more information: