Text Production -Global Warming #1st draft

What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how they can be arrested?

Global warming is defined as the increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere. It is caused by a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. Actually, natural green house effect is essential to provide warmth to the livings in Earth however since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries; human activities have caused much emission of gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, which makes the atmosphere thicker. Resulting, more Sun’s heat is trapped and thus increases the Earth’s temperature (Woodford, 2006). Global warming issue is something not to be taken lightly as it brings much harm in terms of climate change and the matter should be addressed immediately.

One of the obvious consequences of global warming is the dramatic rise in temperature. The scorching heat increases the melting rate of the glaciers and ice sheets, thus increases the sea level. Example of this phenomenon is the drastic warming of North and South Poles. It is predicted that by year 2100, North Pole may be so warm that its ice disappears entirely in summer. When this occurs, places on low lying nation such as Florida, California, Bangladesh, or Maldives in the Indian Ocean will completely awash in seawater (Chris Woodford 2006). Furthermore, the increase in atmosphere temperature warms up the ocean in subsequently caused stronger storms which affected many countries (Al Gore 2007).

Besides, global warming causes erratic weather changes. According to Holli Riebeek 2007, the earth is likely to experience more intense drought and more intense rain events due to warm temperatures that altered the weather patterns. This statement is supported by Al Gore 2007 in the film An Inconvenient Truth. He said evaporation from the ocean increases the moisture in the sky and when the storm condition triggered the rain, more rainfalls formed. This leads to flood at many countries such as Asia, Mumbai, India and China. At the same time the countries being flooded, the neighbouring countries experiencing severe drought. Lake Chad, one of the largest lakes in the world dried up due to the severe drought.

In addition, global warming altered the natural ecosystem. Extreme unpredictable weathers have put animals and plants in jeopardy. This is because the climate changes significantly giving not enough time for the animals and plants to adapt themselves. For example, parts of coral reefs are killed due to the warming of the ocean (Chris Woodford 2006). Polar bears who depend on the ice, found drown because unable to find ice to take shelter. Moreover, global warming increases the outbreak of vectors for emerging infectious diseases such as SARS and tuberculosis (Al Gore 2007).

To put a stop into all these problems, many actions must be taken. Firstly, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by using more efficient electricity appliances or try walking, cycling, take bus instead of using car. (Chris Woodford 2006). Al Gore in his talk, he suggested to use high mileage vehicles, switching utilities to renewable energy sources and usage of carbon-capture-and-storage technologies will be able to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions as low as the emissions in 1970s. Lastly, all countries should rectify Kyoto Protocol treaty and take own initiatives in reducing carbon dioxide.

To conclude, global warming issue is something not to be taken lightly because the consequences of it are too high for us to pay. In the documentary film An Inconvenient Truth - a Global Warning (2007), Al Gore mentioned that there are a lot of people who go straight from denial to despair without pausing on the immediate steps of actually doing something about the problems. We shouldn’t be that type of people as we have the ability to rise above ourselves and history. The solutions are in our hand, we just have to have the determination to make them happen.