Introduction
Global warming is a long-time rise in the average Earth temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate on our planet. It has been a natural phenomenon throughout the natural history of the globe though it has become a pressing problem in the last few hundred years due to the increase in human activities in greenhouse gasses and burning of fossil fuels.
The most significant cause of this global warming in our planet since the mid-20th century has been due to the human influence. The most substantial human power that has been causing global warming is fossil fuels burning and the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
With time, the global surface temperatures are expected to rise in the 21st century depends on the rate of greenhouse gas emission and burning of fossil fuels. In the following argumentative essay written in English, you will get a free outline of ideas that are persuasive for college students to write an English article on. Some of the key issues that you need to highlight in your persuasive essay articles on global warming include; effects and cause, and its facts, implications & solutions.
Effects of Global Warming
Global warming is expected to have long-lasting and devastating consequences to the earth. Currently, ice has been melting worldwide, especially at the Earths poles. The most affected areas are the mountain glaciers, ice sheet covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.
The sea levels have risen at a higher rate over the century especially in Australia causing a considerable decline of the Adeline penguins where the number has fallen from more than 32000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years due to unfavorable weather conditions brought about by burning fossil fuels. Butterflies, foxes and alpine plants have changed their location to the further higher north where the temperatures are cold.
Spruce bark beetles have increased immensely in places like Alaska where warm summer has been in existence for than 20 years destroying more than 4 million acres of spruce trees.
Apart from the currently visible effects of global warming, there are also some expectations that are bound to happen in the earth within the century if fossil fuels burning will continue which include
- Sea levels are expected to increase between 7 and 23 inches, and the melting of the poles could rise between 10 to 20 centimeters comes the end of the century though it is not known whether it is a fact or a fiction.
- There has been a significant weight loss on polar bears because of the scarcity of ice and fish that the animals feed. The bears will be presumed as a thing of the past if the pattern of sea ice disappearing progresses.
- There will be an increase in diseases like malaria which is spread by mosquitos. Due to the ecosystem, some species will move to the farther north or still dies.
- There are expectations that by the year 2100 Peru’s Quelccaya ice cap will be a thing of the past if it continues to melt with the current speed. People will suffer from lack of water to drink and to generate electricity if the issue of global warming is not handled well.
- There will be an increase in droughts and floods in countries like Ethiopia where droughts are common with rain decreasing with 10 percent in the next 50 years.
Causes of Global Warming
Global warming occurs when the synthesis of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants and greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight that has bounced off the earth surface. The pollutants stay for years in the atmosphere trapping the heat and causing the Earth to be hot.
Some of the human activities are
- Burning Fossils Fuels
In countries like the U.S.A, burning of fossils fuel to generate electricity is the largest source of heat-trapping pollution with an annual production of more than 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide. The transportation sector is the second with a generation of 1.7 billion tons of CO2 emission every year.
Australia is known as the biggest producer of carbon dioxide in the whole world where the level of pollution per person is almost double the average of other first world countries and four times the percentage of the earth.
The industrial sector is the third human-made source of carbon dioxide emission with a production percentage of twenty. Industrial fields include manufacturing, construction, mining, and agriculture with the building having the majority of fossil fuels use and discharge of CO2. Categories like food, petroleum, chemicals, refineries, paper, and metal products need a higher degree of heat to make the end product leading to a higher rate of emitting carbon dioxide.
- Deforestation
Deforestation is clearing of the earth forests in massive to make the land available for other uses. Plants play a significant role in regulating the climate since they absorb CO2 from the air and release oxygen. Forests and bushes act as carbon sinks and are an essential means of keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
When trees get uprooted from the earth, the stored carbon is then released back to the atmosphere as CO2, causing global warming. Forest degradation and deforestation cause a fifth of global greenhouse pollution.
- Farming
Livestock like sheep and cattle produces methane which is a greenhouse gas. Countries that graze livestock at a large scale, the level of methane increases and become a significant contributor to global warming.
- A Rise in Sea Levels
Increase in sea levels is the result of melting of two massive ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland. In countries like America, global warming has caused a tremendous impact where sea waters expand and take a bigger space in the ocean causing a surplus rise in water levels.
- Mining Activities
Mining activities like oil, coal, and other mineral products mining, allows methane, a greenhouse gas, to move from the deep part of the earth and makes their way to the environment.
- Increase in Population
Due to the rise in people, the demand for food, shelter and other basic human needs also rises hence more burning of fossil fuels. People cut down trees for timber to build houses causing deforestation, while cattle and household animals reared in homesteads contributes to the increase of methane gas.
Facts about Global Warming
Some of the well-known facts about global warming include
- Since mid-1700, people have been emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere as they burn more fossils fuelsto move their cars, factories, trucks, planes, and power plants.
- There is more carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere than any other time in the last 800,000 years.
- Since 1870, global sea levels have risen by 8 inches.
- The catastrophe puts the coral reefs in danger as the ocean warms where they will not be able to adapt fast to the changes a thing that will cause bleaching incidents and increase diseases.
- Scientists projects that, if effective policies to reduce greenhouse gases will not be put into place, by the year 2100 a fact that looks like a satire, the average global temperatures will have increased by 2 two degrees.
Problems/Impacts
Unless drastic measures are put into consideration, the effects of global warming will continue to increase and affect the earth entirely. Some of the problems that may arise include
- A Lot of Destructive Hurricanes
Hurricanes are natural parts of our climates system where their destructive power and intensity has been increasing over the years mostly in the North Atlantic Region.
- National Landmark at Risk
The climate change consequences have put at risk a lot of different countries historical, and iconic sites. For example, Cape Canaveral, Cesar Chavez National monument in California, and Ellis island amongst others.
- Expensive Health Impacts
Rising temperatures that lead to air pollution, allergies, insect-borne diseases, frequent and hazardous heat waves, heavy rainstorms that cause floods to contribute to serious health implications on people.
- The Risk of Electricity Supply
Growing consequences of global warming like rising of sea levels, drought, water supply issues, wildfire risks, rises the evaluability of electricity infrastructure.
- Plants and Animals Range Shift
A change in weather and climate affects the animals and plants range. Change of characters will be experienced causing disruptions on the food chains. The animals that rely on places with cool weather will suffer a reduction of habitats that can lead to their death or relocation to favorable areas.
Global Warming Solutions
Carbon dioxide is the climates worst enemy. Burning of coals, oil and other fossil fuels that produce energy to power homes, cars, and other things that require electricity to function can be used less to minimize the emission of CO2 and effects of global warming. Some of the different problem solutions measures that everyone around the earth should implement and work on how to prevent this catastrophe include;
- Reduce Water Wastage
Saving water reduces carbon pollution since it takes massive energy to pump, boil and treat water. It’s advisable to take short showers and turning off the water tap when not in use.
- Walk Instead of Using Automobiles
Walking to your place of work and back home every morning or using public modes of transport reduces air pollution and money used on fuel through less driving.
- Invest in Energy-Efficient Appliances
Energy efficiency is the lowest mode of reducing emissions. Always purchase machines and appliances that have energy star label since they will help in reduction of annual carbon pollution.
- Use of Renewable Energy in Homes
Find a credible utility company that generates some of its power using wind or solar.
- Avoid Deforestation
Using forest products like firewood and charcoal causes loss of trees. Trees clean the air since they act as natural filters removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Conclusion
Global warming can be reduced in our planet through people speaking about it to our leaders and make sure our representatives are making good policies and decisions on how to stop global warming. However, since human activities are the major contributor to global warming, it is recommendable to avoid certain events like burning fossil fuels that will lead to the escalation of global climate change effects on the earth.
