Critical Thinking Paper

Climate Change and Global Warming

Anna ODriscoll 4/17/2013 Blue Group

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group Climate change is a problem that will have negative effects on this planet if not dealt with immediately. Changes in the climate are natural, happening to the planet gradually over a long period of time- thousands of years (Global Warming Cycles). The problem is the speed at which the climate is now changing, which is greatly influenced by the behavior of humans (Global Warming Cycles). Global warming can potentially affect everybody in the world, especially groups like farmers, and can cost billions of dollars in damage from extreme weather events, and in prevention measures. Because of social impacts such as mass migrations, upheaval, and public health challenges; economic issues such as declining agricultural production and increased government spending; and ecological impacts on biodiversity and extreme weather events, international governments must implement the measures recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to respond to global warming. Climate change will have a negative effect on the global economy and on agricultural production. As droughts and floods increase, farmers will have a harder time growing crops. Changing rainfall patterns and higher temperatures have forced farmers to shorten the growing season (ActionAid), which allows for fewer crops to be cultivated. As the frequency and intensity (ActionAid) of the droughts increases, th ere is less time in between for the farmers to recuperate, or to learn new skills and get the money to survive another flood, which continues the cycle of smaller harvests. As there are fewer crops, the economies in these countries will begin to fail, and they may also face shortages in food. One example of a government failing in its reaction to global warming was in Malawi. The government promoted the use of a hybrid maize crop instead of the local maize. This plan collapsed in 1994 and led

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group to a decrease in land allocated to maize (ActionAid). As the government removed subsidies and privatized seed industries, the price of seed has escalated beyond the reach of smallholder farmers (ActionAid). Another effect on any economy bordering the ocean is that governments will have to invest billions of dollars on adaptation strategies to address rising sea levels and prevent floods. Other problems caused by climate change include mass migrations, social upheaval, and poor public health caused by droughts and floods. With the increase in floods and droughts, there are more flood-induced migration[s] [with] more people seeking work on the plantations than there are jobs available (ActionAid). These people leave their own farms to migrate to plantations, in hope of replacing the income they have lost from failed crops. When large groups of people migrate, the economy of the country can be badly affected, leading to the potential of a failed state. Furthermore, as the temperature of the planet becomes warmer, scientists have noted that various species of disease-carrying mosquitoes have expanded their habitats to areas where they could not have lived before (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Effects of Global Warming). The changing rainfall patterns have also created health challenges in countries like Malawi, including increasing cases of malaria, cholera and dysentery (ActionAid). One of the biggest impacts of climate change is on ecosystems and biodiversity, caused by more frequent extreme weather events. Global warming is causing changes in ocean circulation patterns *and] wind patterns (Global Warming Cycles). Rising temperatures will caus[e] the worldwide destruction of ecosystems and extinction of species (Fossil Fuels and

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group Pollution). Scientists have tried to help the problem of global warming; in 1996, chemicals called CFCs were banned because they damaged the ozone layer (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Scientific Issues). Their replacements, called HFCs and PFCs, caused other environmental problems, since they are some of the most potent greenhouse gasses (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Scientific Issues). By trying to solve one problem posed by global warming, a hole in the ozone layer, scientists created another problem. The problem of climate change has the potential to affect everybody in the world. People living in coastal towns or islands will have to be increasingly wary of flooding. Some islands in the Pacific will eventually become uninhabitable (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Effects of Global Warming). As the number of droughts and floods goes up, farmers will find it increasingly difficult to raise a crop. The sad irony about climate change is that the countries who contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions will be most affected by climate change. The countries that contribute most to the problem are the wealthier countries of the world, yet (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Political Issues) one of the regions estimated to be most at risk from climate change (ActionAid) is Southern Africa. The countries that are going to be affected the most are the countries that dont have the money to invest in technologies that can help prevent flooding from rising sea levels. One option to reduce the impact of the problem is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and invest in renewable energy. One of the biggest contributors to the problem of global warming is the excessive use of fossil fuels for energy (Fossil Fuels and Pollution). If the amount of fossil fuels is cut down, then that is one step in the right direction against global warming. Instead of using fossil fuels, a good source of energy is renewable energy. Without

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group renewable energy, there will be no hope of bringing global warming under control (Fossil Fuels and Pollution). Some of the available forms of renewable energy are wind power, solar energy, fuel cells, *and+ geothermal energy (Fossil Fuels and Pollution). Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy is an absolutely necessary way to reduce the effect of global warming. Another way to combat climate change is for governments to regulate logging, and require reforestation after logging. When trees are cut down, the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is increased because the trees can no longer convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. If the leftover debris (slash) is burned, this adds even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. To stop this, if new trees are planted directly after old trees are cut down, this can decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Scientific Issues). This is because growing trees take in more carbon dioxide than full grown trees. Reforestation directly after logging can have a great effect on the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Finally, governments worldwide need to adapt to climate change by planning ahead to implement future solutions as they become available. This is very difficult for most governments, as it would require them to restrict certain activities that are important to their economies (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Addressing Global Warming). Governments must require that their economies move away from fossil fuels like coal and oil, and switch to renewable forms of energy like wind and solar. The IPCC is ready and willing to assist[] governments to adopt and implement policies in response to climate change (Climate Change 2007 Synthesis Report IPCC).

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group Global warming creates many repercussions that will affect the ecology, politics and daily life of nations around the world. If not dealt with immediately, extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and floods, will become more frequent occurrences. This extreme weather will negatively affect agricultural production. In countries that are based on farming, social upheaval could occur where drought is extended for long periods of time. This can lead to mass migrations where the droughts are occurring. The sea levels will rise because of the melting of ice caps in the north. There will also be impacts on public health, as diseases spread in places they have not been before. As the world heads toward abrupt climate change, both humans and natural systems *will+ have a hard time adapting to it (Global Warming Cycles). The different ecosystems, species and biodiversity of the planet will be impacted negatively. Some places in the world will get hotter, while others will feel a cooling in temperature. As the oceans become warmer, there will be stronger and more frequent hurricanes (Opposing Viewpoints in Context: Effects of Global Warming). The earth has historically gone through fluxes in temperature, but these changes took place gradually over a long period of time- thousands of years (Global Warming Cycles). Global warming is causing the change in temperature to happen much faster, changing in a matter of years to decades (Global Warming Cycles). Climate change is a significant problem that will have lasting negative impacts if nothing is done to address it. Ecosystems and humans are not well enough adapted to deal with these changes, and there are huge costs in damage repair and prevention. Because of social impacts like mass migrations, upheaval, and public health; political issues like negative impacts on the economy and agricultural production; and ecological issues like negative effects on biodiversity

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group and more extreme weather events, international governments must adhere to the policies recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in response to climate change and global warming.

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group Annotated Bibliography "Abrupt Climate Change." Global Warming Online. Infobase Publishing. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. <http://online.factsonfile.com/RecURL.aspx?did=81069>. This site gave me information on abrupt climate change, and helped me understand how global warming triggers abrupt climate change. Made me understand the difference between climate change and abrupt climate change ActionAid International. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/malawi_climate_change_report_2006_0.p df>. This website gave me a lot of information about farming and the effects that global warming has on it. Very useful, got a lot of quotes from it D.C. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection. Hearings on the Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change. Testimony of Peter O'Driscoll. 2009 Leg. Print. This testimony gave me background information of the effect that global warming and climate change have on developing countries. I didnt quote this source, but it was very useful "Energy, Fossil Fuels, and Global Warming." Global Warming Online. Infobase Publishing. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://online.factsonfile.com/RecURL.aspx?did=86854>. This source gave me information on fossil fuels vs renewable energy. Supported my argument that renewable energy is absolutely necessary for stopping global warming. Very useful "Global Warming." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. This site gave me an overview of what the topic was, as well as some solutions. It also went into depth on some sources.

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group Discusses causes, effects, scientific issues, and political issues. Very valuable source. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Summary for Policymakers. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print. IPCC- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report _synthesis_report.htm>. I used this web site to see what is happening internationally in response to climate change. I quoted this site; it was very useful

Anna ODriscoll Blue Group Works Cited "Abrupt Climate Change." Global Warming Online. Infobase Publishing. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. <http://online.factsonfile.com/RecURL.aspx?did=81069>. This site gave me information on abrupt climate change, and helped me understand how global warming triggers abrupt climate change. Made me understand the difference between climate change and abrupt climate change ActionAid International. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/malawi_climate_change_report_2006_0.p df>. This website gave me a lot of information about farming and the effects that global warming has on it. Very useful, got a lot of quotes from it "Energy, Fossil Fuels, and Global Warming." Global Warming Online. Infobase Publishing. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://online.factsonfile.com/RecURL.aspx?did=86854>. This source gave me information on fossil fuels vs renewable energy. Supported my argument that renewable energy is absolutely necessary for stopping global warming. Very useful "Global Warming." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. This site gave me an overview of what the topic was, as well as some solutions. It also went into depth on some sources. Discusses causes, effects, scientific issues, and political issues. Very valuable source. IPCC- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. <http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report _synthesis_report.htm>. I used this web site to see what is happening internationally in response to climate change. I quoted this site; it was very useful