Climate Change and the Role of International Agreements

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R E F E R E N C E S E X E R C I S E – T A S K 2
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Climate change is becoming increasingly serious throughout the world. There are various
factors which contribute to this change, but many scientists and researchers argue that
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carbon emissions are one the main causes. In an attempt to globally combat these emissions,
an International Climate Change Agreement was held in Paris in 2016, at which Australia
and many other countries agreed to reduce their carbon output. As a result, the Australian
Government has set a Renewable Energy Target (RET) to implement the guidelines for
carbon reduction. This climate change solution must be tackled internationally if it is to be
successful.
According to Pachauri et al (2014, pp-53) Changes in many extreme weather and
climate events have been observed since about 1950. Some of these changes have been
linked to human influences, including a decrease in cold temperature extremes, an increase in
warm temperature extremes, an increase in extreme high sea levels and an increase in the
number of heavy precipitation events in a number of regions. The climate change is a topic
scientists are becoming increasingly concerned. Shaftel (2018) defines, “Climate change
refers to a broad range of global phenomena created predominantly by burning fossil fuels,
which add heat-trapping gases to Earth’s atmosphere. These phenomena include the
increased temperature trends described by global warming, but also encompass changes such
as sea level rise; ice mass loss in Greenland, Antarctica, the Arctic and mountain glaciers
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worldwide; shifts in flower/plant blooming; and extreme weather events” There are countries
who are taking required actions to reduce the factors influencing climate change however,
there are also existing states who are contributing more and more each day to climate change.
According to climate scientist, the major reason for the climatic change is the expansion of
greenhouse effect by humans (Bulkeley, 2014). The emission of the harmful gases is
warming the planet when the atmosphere is trapping the heat. The contribution is from
humans and therefore it is the responsibility of the humans to act in eliminating or reducing
the causes of climate change.
The theory of global warming: The theory of global warming has three basic key factors.
Firstly, on planet earth, the natural green house is being disturbed by human activities. It has
been noted that the burning of the fossil fuel such has coal and oil has increased over the last
century resulting to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in nature. Also, burning of
forests to seek more land for the purpose of agriculture, industry and other human activities
has fueled the process of climate change. Although the consequences of natural atmospheric
greenhouse change are hard to predict, scientists have some evaluated effects. Secondly, the
planet as a whole will become warmer and regions with colder temperature are likely to
become warmer. The warmer condition including the ocean, will release more evaporation
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