Environmental Science and Policy Analysis

This assignment delves into various aspects of environmental science and policy. It requires analyzing scholarly sources on topics such as climate change, energy subsidies, sustainable development, and the role of scientific research in shaping environmental policies. Students need to critically evaluate different perspectives and demonstrate their understanding of complex environmental challenges and potential solutions.

Running head: CLIMATE CHANGE AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY
CLIMATE CHANGE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1CLIMATE CHANGE AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Table of Contents
Question to Answer 1:................................................................................................................2
Question to Answer 2:................................................................................................................4
Question to Answer 3:-..............................................................................................................6
Question to Answer 4:................................................................................................................8
Question to Answer 5:..............................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................11

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Question to Answer 1:
The concept of Global warming can be explained as a type of climate change in which
the median air inversion or temperature rises more than above normal, adjacent to the surface
of our globe. This disparaging effect leads to the occurrence of many adverse after-effects.
The terror of global warming has been tormenting our earth’s ecological balance over the past
century (Fankhauser, 2013). Over the years, eminent scientists all over the world have been
conducting various topographical researches and experiments and they have concluded that
the climatic system of the earth is getting warmer day by day, in an alarmingly way.
Science has been a boon to humans in the discovery of global warming. Brilliant
scientist John Sawyer had first predicted the onset of global warming with his theory of
elevation of the carbon dioxide as well as the greenhouse gas. He stated that the extensive
rise in the emission of the carbon dioxide would instantly necessitate the emergence of global
warming (Cowie, 2012). Subsequently, the distinguished pair of scientists- Wetherald and
Manabe formulated a three elemental global climate model to decipher the present state of the
climate. The global climate model was generated through a computer and it lucidly depicted
that the doubling of the carbon dioxide quotient in the atmosphere spearheads the gradual
warming of the climate (Bony et al., 2013). Therefore, the aid of science is indispensable to
the public awareness of global warming.
The existing effects of the global warming on the world’s ecosystem are alterations in
the quantity, magnitude, prevalence and nature of precipitation. In some rain-prone regions,
the rainfall has enormously doubled while in the drought specific regions, rainfall has
surprisingly decreased. The ocean bodies have also been severely affected the existing effects
of global warming which are rapid acidification of the oceans and a heavy rise of the global
marine altitude and the temperature (Bellard et al., 2012). The projected future effects of

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global warming on ecosystem are the happenings of extremely unbearable hot days on a large
scale and the minimization of the occurrences of cold days. The ill impacts of droughts and
tropical storms are also on the picture. The flora and fauna of the water bodies are expected to
become extinct and disappear from the earth’s surface due to the reduction of the quantity of
fresh oxygen (Orams & Lueck, 2016). Instances of violent climatic mishaps like tsunamis
and floods are also projected to occur.
The existing effects of the global warming on humanity are the rise in the
eventualities of communicable diseases like dengue, malaria and the expeditious loss of
human habitation due to the deforestation of wild forests. The fertile lands are also being
washed away and the existing ones are turning into barren field due to desertification. The
resources of fresh air and clean water are depleting at a fast pace which is putting the health
quotient of the humans on danger. The projected future effects on global warming are the
rapid deportation of people from their local habitats to places where the living conditions are
mildly suitable (Cook et al., 2013). This will make people of different nations increasingly
hostile towards with each other due to the intense competition related to the phenomenon of
the survival of the fittest. Especially, people of the under-developed countries will resort to
war mongering and butchering due to limited food and water supply.
Global warming is a difficult or a wicked problem to solve because of its absolute
enormity and its complex socio-political repercussions (Peters et al., 2013). Fossil fuels are
the primary emitter of the hazardous carbon dioxide gas in to the atmosphere. However, fossil
fuels are the primary source of revenue for the unbelievably rich populations of the Middle
East. The oil firms concentrated in those regions hold the potentiality and the power to
influence the top political or the diplomatic heads of the global community in accordance to
their own will and terms (Fattouh & El-Katiri, 2013). Permanent stoppage of their production
of oil would adversely change the face of the global economy forever. Unfortunately, the

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biggest emitters of the greenhouse gas are the least concerned or bothered about the harmful
ill effects of global warming. Moreover, the ceasing of the production of oil would hamper
the entire global transportation system; this will further induce the human population to suffer
from high-strung inflation and mayhem. Therefore, this paradoxical feature of the fossil fuels
as in helping to fuel human progress and at the same time distorting the climactic balance
makes it such an incredibly difficult environmental, social, political and policy problem to
solve.
Question to Answer 2:
The concept of modern western science and technology came into existence with the
advent of the Scientific Revolution in the year 1543. Scientific Revolution emerged from the
quest of humans to question about the credibility of the previous conceptual notions and to
explore for resolutions that are more reliable by nature. The stupendous discovery of the
theory that the earth revolves around the sun and its gravitational force have paved the way
for the beginning of modernism in the occidental world of science and technology (Righini
Bonelli & Shea, 2012). The Scientific Revolution transformed the study of science in the
lines of modern knowledge, professionalism and institutionalism. As the sphere of scientific
knowledge commenced to grow in human society, the western countries started to adapt to
and incorporate modern science and technology (Wootton, 2015).
Modern western science and technology is found to be existent in the European
countries of the world. They have originated in the era of scientific and industrial revolution.
Modern western science and technology is based on the lines on analytics and reductionism.
It is optimistic and bourgeois by nature. Modern western science and technology
encompasses the inventions and discoveries, which are verifiable and susceptible to
measurement unlike the eastern field of science and technology. One striking characteristic of

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the modern western science and technology, which sets it apart from the other fields of
discipline, is that it is accurately studied, contemplated and comprehended from the academic
and scholarly sources of scientific literature (McClellan III & Dorn, 2015). Modern western
science and technology operates under the aegis of the science and research institutes, which
have been established for the purpose of imparting the knowledge of science and technology
to the western world. Institutes like NASA, Fraunhofer Society and CERN are considered to
be the Mecca of the operations of western science and technology (Ferrara, 2012). Modern
western science and technology also operates from the various peer review journals and
magazine publications. These publications are constantly regulated and monitored so that
they serve to enlighten the western citizenry, both in terms of science and technology
(Ghimire, 2013). Therefore, modern western science and technology possesses specialized
and productive infrastructure to operate from various arenas.
Modern western science and technology plays a vital role in the resolution of the
environmental crisis of the modern world. As science is gradually paving the way for human
destruction, on the other hand, it is also acting as a savior for humans in the face of
environmental challenges. The scientists and the researchers all over the world have been
successful in finding reliable and environmentally conscious solutions to the grave
environmental disasters of the globe (Schneidewind & Augenstein, 2012). The negative
effects of the many pressing global concerns have been possible to mitigate to some extent by
the assistance of modern western scientific inventions and applications. Some of the scientific
successes, which are worth mentionable here, are chemical free batteries, profit-oriented
carbon, atomic innovations, tree root preservations and of course the recent technology of
crowd sourcing.
A real world example of how science and/or technology are implicated in an
environmental issue would be the case of the sharing economy. At present, the earth is

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suffering from the exhaustion of land and natural resources. Human beings have become
reckless in their consumption of the natural riches and supply. Due to this, natural resources
are being depleted at an alarmingly rate, even from the deep pockets of the earth. At first
glance, it might seem that there is abundance of urban land on earth (Dryzek, 2013). The land
promoters are developing multi-storey buildings in quick succession in accordance to the
demands of the city dwellers. However, due to this, sprawling pieces of natural land are
becoming endangered news. In this aspect, the technology of sharing economy publicized by
companies like Uber is helping the environment in the restoration of its precious resources
(Hamari, Sjöklint & Ukkonen, 2016). Through the sharing economy people have learned to
use natural resources effectively without over exhaustion. Sharing economy motivates people
to comprehend the art of ecological sharing and spread mutual harmony, cooperation and
goodwill.
Question to Answer 3:-
The term biodiversity has been coined from the concept of biological diversity.
Diversity is a theory that refers to the series of variation or alterations among some set of
entities. The concept thus denotes the diversity within the living world. Therefore, the term
biodiversity is defined as the variation among living beings from all sources that includes,
aerial, terrestrial, aquatic and other marine ecologies and the biological complexes of which
they are part; which comprises of variety within species, between species and of ecologies
(Cardinale et al., 2012). The definition significantly draws importance to the different
dynamics of biodiversity that can be classified under many categories by its unique
nomenclature, organic and genomic diversity. These magnitudes of biodiversity differ over
space and time and is a primary feature of biodiversity. In short, biodiversity can describe the
diversity in the chromosomal arrangement of species.

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Biodiversity is the establishment of ecological services that are well connected
with the welfare of the human society and plays a crucial role in the development of human
life on Earth. In order to study the relationship between alterations in the biodiversity and
variations in the functioning of the ecosystems and its services, it is essential to identify the
multidimensional valuation of biodiversity. Biodiversity in terms of its characterization and
categories is an extensive one and it can be classified under three groups based on genetic
factors, species and ecosystem.
Genetic Diversity signifies the quantity of inherited variation of the genes within a
species or within the organisms of a specified population (Bellard et al. 2012). Genetic
diversity is a high level of diversity among species and it is more prominent within the genes
of the species of specified classes. A significant example of this is the variation in the hair
color in human beings.
Ecological diversity is the distinctive variation in the ecosystems that varies over the
regional habitat of the organisms depending upon their diversities in the genes, food habits
and vegetation. It also includes the climatic features, soil materials and the abiotic
components of the habitat of the organisms (Bellard et al., 2012). An important instance of
the ecological diversity is the distinctive variation in ecosystems, such as deserts, grasslands,
forests, wetlands and oceans. It is assumed that ecological diversity is the most prominent
variety of biodiversity on a global scale.
Species diversity implies the sum total and richness of several species living in a
particular location. Species diversity can be determined more accurately in terms of both
richness of the species which can be implied as the number of varieties of species as well as
the relative abundance that denotes the quantity of entities within each species(Cardinale et

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al., 2012). An important example of species diversity the quantity and richness of different
kinds of mammals in a forest.
With the span of time and development, human inventions have reached its
peak affecting the balance of the natural biodiversity. Human interventions have severely
disturbed and altered the natural environmental balance and expanded their territory by
threatening the regular biodiversity. This is called depletion of biodiversity. The influential
causes that are responsible for the loss of natural biodiversity can be either man made or
natural. The causes can be summarized as follows:
Man-made causes called Anthropocentric causes are Urbanization, Deforestation,
Expansion of Agricultural land, Pollution, Acidification of soil and water,
Desertification, Mining and loss of soil fertility.
Natural causes that are responsible for the deterioration of the biodiversity are the
natural calamities like Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, Floods and Cyclones.
Question to Answer 4:
Environmental policies are the guidelines that are designed in order to protect the
environment from the impact of pollution and other harmful sources of depletion. In order to
protect environment certain measurement targets and rules are implemented by the
government of every nation. Likewise, in order to minimize the impact of pollutions and
global warming on environment, the Australian Government has implemented a series of
environmental policies. These policies are outlined in a way that they support the sustainable
development of the country. The main mission of the environmental policies is to protect the
environment along with the socio-economic development and health protection. The
environmental policies are also designed to increase awareness among the people of a nation

9CLIMATE CHANGE AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY
regarding the protection and preservation of the natural and non-renewable resources of the
country. Apart from that they also cover issues such as use of energy, emissions of
greenhouse gas and depletion of ozone layer, proper disposal of waste water from factories
and industries, conservation of air, water and soil and lastly use of recyclable products.
The environmental policies of Australia designed by the government of the country
work for the provision of energy sources for all. The National Energy Guarantee is a policy
that provides investment to the electrical sector to provide more inexpensive and reliable
power sources, while fulfilling the international commitments of the country (Jörgens, 2013).
State of the Environment 2016is a policy that states the protection of the environmental
balance of the country as the country is currently facing huge climatic changes since last few
decades. The Great Barrier Reef, the home of huge collection of natural floras and faunas is
at present experiencing depletions due to certain changes in the composition of environment.
The government of the country has designed a separate law that works for a common aim-
protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef for the future generations. The
National Land CareProgramis an initiative taken by the Australian Government that
invests more than $1billion dollar in phase two program that prevents soil erosion and
deforestation (Pannell et al., 2012).
Although the government of all the countries are working for the protection of the
environment, they are facing various challenges while implementing them. Most of the
challenges that the government that the policies are facing is the lack of knowledge among
the natives regarding the protection of the environment(Durant & Fiorino, 2017). Other than
this, there are issues where the organizations do not abide by the rules and regulations of the
environmental policy (Jordan, 2012). At times, natural calamities are also causing harm to the
environment even after enforcing the laws and policies.

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Question to Answer 5:
Traditional Ecological Knowledge is defined as the aboriginal, native or other types
of indigenous and traditional knowledge regarding sustainability of home-grown resources.
At present, this form knowledge is included in the field of education of anthropology and is
referred to an aggregate body of knowledge, faith, and practice that is evolved through
collection of traditional knowledge of ecology and is passed from one generation to another
through traditional songs, beliefs and stories. It is supposed to have a connection with the life
of human beings with their traditional groups and with their local environment. These
knowledge is generally used in the management of the natural resource.
One of the most important implementation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge is
the sustainable forestry initiative that was taken by Coquille Indian Tribe. In the year 1996,
the Indian tribe in order to access 5,400 acres of tribal forest developed this TEK combining
it with western science (Gómez-Baggethun et al., 2012). Their main approach was to
maintain a balance between the modern land management tools and techniques with their
traditional tribal approach. Another approach is the protection of the habitat of the wildlife
of a forest. This also include practices that manages and promote rapid food and shelter for
the wildlife by harvesting timber (Gómez-Baggethun et al., 2012). The most significant and
the first instance of the use of TEK is the invention of fire. The significance and the
influence of it on society and on environment is till now the most evolutionary discovery of
science in the world. At present, the most vital utilization of TEK is in the context of climate
change. This Traditional Ecological Knowledge helps to figure out an understanding of the
impacts of climate on the ecological processes and phenomena by acclimating adaptive social
responses to environmental changes. Their close connections with and dependence on goods
and services of ecosystems helped them to face the challenges when incorporating initiatives
for climatic changes.

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References
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