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Pollution and Environmental Protection 1 1998 was the hottest in one thousand years, and the nine hottest years on record have all been in the past two decades. Humankind's actions on a global scale have changed not just the landscape of the Earth, but the world's climate too. Increasingly sophisticated measurements of the world's climate and weather systems have provided a wealth of evidence that the Earth has been getting steadily warmer. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased by a huge number. Methane concentrations have more than doubled, and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen significantly as well. These increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earths atmosphere.
Why are greenhouse gas concentrations increasing? Scientists generally believe that the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities are the primary reason for the increased concentration of carbon dioxide. Plant respiration and the decomposition of organic matter release more CO 2 than is released by human activities; but these releases have generally been in balance during the centuries leading up to the industrial revolution with carbon dioxide absorbed by terrestrial vegetation and the oceans. Over the last several hundred years the release of carbon dioxide by human activities has increased. Energy burned to run cars and trucks, heat homes and businesses, and power factories are responsible for about 80 % of society's carbon dioxide emissions, about 25 % of U. S.
methane emissions, and about 20 % of global nitrous oxide emissions. (Sullivan 65) Increased agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production, and mining also contribute a significant share of emissions. In 1994, the United States emitted about one-fifth of total global greenhouse gases. To understand what global warming is we must first define it. The term, Global Warming, refers to an expected rise in global average temperature due to the continued emission of greenhouse gases produced by industry and agriculture, which trap heat in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gasses are termed so because they act like the glass in a greenhouse making the greenhouse warmer.
The glass walls and roof of a greenhouse allow most of the sun's light in, but do not allow most of the heat to escape. This causes the temperature inside the greenhouse to be warmer than the outside. Likewise these gases in the atmosphere are transparent to sunlight, allowing the sunlight to warm the earth, but they also prevent heat from escaping into space, and thus they keep the earth warmer than it would be naturally. A majority of this greenhouse effect is natural, and maintains the average temperature on the earth about 57 - 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This Greenhouse Effect is one of the earth's natural processes, without which the earth would be an icy 32 C colder!
But, human activity is adding more CO 2 to the atmosphere, possibly enhancing the greenhouse effect and potentially resulting in global warming. (Dix) The burning of fossil fuels, like oil, coal and natural gases, are sources of energy that release CO 2 into the atmosphere. CO 2 is one of the primary greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which actually traps outgoing heat and warms the earth. Scientists can measure the amount of CO 2 in the earth's atmosphere and have discovered that amounts of the gas are increasing. With this increase in mind, there is the possibility that more CO 2 will lead to an enhancement of the greenhouse effect.
Other Greenhouse gasses include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. There are, of course, many myths relating to global warming, but let there be no mistake about it, it is happening, and it should be dealt with. Global warming is a pollution problem. If we continue to burn oil, coal, and other gasses, carbon dioxide will trap the suns heat, changing the natural balance of the climate. Scientists and physicians from some renowned universities, such as Harvard and John Hopkins Medical School, have said that global warming can cause the increase of communicable diseases. The scientists say that the warming weather creates a perfect environment for the spread of diseases.
They also say that, the health of humans could have a major impact in the years to come. Irregular and unseemly weather, which scientist have already predicted has already taken many lives (Sierra Club). In 1992, the United States and several other nations came together and discussed possible methods to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions. Their goal was to reach the 1990 levels of gas emissions by the year 2000. But as of now, many of the nations will not reach that goal. The reason is said to be because the treaty was not legally binding and many nations feared economic repercussions if they tried to meet their goal (Global Warming Org).
In December of 1997, there were representatives from various nations who met again in a conference in Kyoto to sign another agreement. This time the Clinton Administration wanted to make this pact legally binding, therefore making it more effective (Finly). Timothy Wirth, a previous U. S.
Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs, said Weve got to ride the global warming issue. Even if the theory of global warming is wrong, we will be doing the right thing - in terms of economic policy and environmental policy (NCPA). He even pointed out that the Clinton administration was very committed to legally binding limits on gas emissions. The President obviously sees this as an important issue, but it doesnt seem enough. There are still many scientists that are still concerned with global warming even after the conference. There should be more done to reduce the emissions of these harmful gasses into the air.
Global warming has only become a issue within the last decade, and already it has become a major debate. By definition, global warming is the warming of the earth by greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere naturally or by mankind (Global Warming Central). Today, action is occurring at every level to lessen, to avoid, and to better understand the risks associated with climate change. Many cities and states across the country have prepared greenhouse gas inspections. And they are also starting programs and policies that will result in greenhouse gas emission reductions. On the national level, the U.
S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) coordinates the worlds most extensive research effort on climate change (EPA). In addition, the Clinton Administration is also involving the private sector, states, and the local level in partnerships based on a win-win philosophy and aimed at addressing the challenge of global warming while, at the same time, strengthening the economy (EPA). And on the global level, countries around the world have shown a firm commitment to toughen international responses to the risks of climate change. The U. S.
is working to strengthen international action and to widen participation under the protection of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (EPA). Although several influential politicians have joined the band-wagon against global warming, more clout is needed to address this issue. It is an important matter that needs to be dealt with immediately. Global warming has put the earth in a dire situation, and dire situations call for drastic actions. What actions need to be taken to prevent the continuance of global warming? First of all, the Federal government needs to get involved.
Laws should be made to promote energy efficiency from large corporations to small families. No one is free from the effects of global warming; therefore everyone should participate in the fight against it. It may seem impossible to deregulate electricity because of the monopoly protection laws set by each individual state. The laws are set against monopolies, which generate, distribute, and sell electricity, from raising the prices radically. But honestly, if the companies choose to raise prices it may cause the consumers to rethink their use of electricity. Many may begin to conserve and others will also try to find alternatives from using fossil fuels.
Instead of setting price ceiling on monopolies, we should allow them to set prices. This may in turn cause the demand of electricity to fall. Instead of regulating prices, the government should create a law regulating producers of electricity in their distribution. There should be a mandated Fossil Fuel Efficiency Standard that would be applied to every generator of electricity in the country. (Dix) Global Warming ought to be a higher priority than what it is now. Many people today take for granted that our electricity actually comes from dirty, heavily polluting, coal fired power plants.
Fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gasses account for about 85 % of the fuel use in the Unites States. It is these power plants that let out hundreds of million tons of global warming pollution into our air each year. The pollution contributes to so many problems in our atmosphere, like smog and acid rain. Looking at it from a world point-of-view, fossil fuel power plants produce 60 % of all greenhouse gas emissions. It is producing the electricity that we depend on so much but it is also causing global warming on our planet. There are alternatives out there to replace the fossil fuels.
There are clean, renewable energy from the wind and the sun that can offer non-polluting, economical, and durable alternatives for creating electricity. Bibliography: Chase K. , Global Warming Controversies, New York: Viking Press, 1997. Finly W. , Evolution of Technology, from Wired Magazine, issue April 2000. Freeman C. , Preface to Managing Environmental Problems. Managing Technology and Society, 1995. Sullivan R.
Coping with Environmental Issues (3 rd Ed. ). Pearson Education, Inc: Johnston, 2002. Kreitner, R. & Kinicki, A. Challenging our Environment, 5 th Ed (2001) Irwin/McGraw-Hill, NY. Dix, Alan et al. Greenhouse Gases and their Impact on Natural Environment.
Human-Nature Interaction, 2 nd edition, Europe: Prentice-Hall. 1998.
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Research essay sample on Pollution And Environmental Protection 1
