Climate Change and its Impacts

This assignment delves into the multifaceted impacts of climate change. It examines the effects on human health, including increased heat waves and respiratory problems, as well as its influence on environmental systems like rising sea levels and extreme weather events. The assignment also highlights the social and economic consequences of climate change, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions to mitigate this global challenge.

Running Head: GLOBAL WARMING
A Discussion on the Effects of Global Warming
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
Introduction:
According to NASA.gov, (2007) global warming is an unusual and rapid increase in
the surface temperature of Earth that has been observed over the last century, due to the

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release of greenhouse gasses by the burning of fossil fuels. It has been estimated that from
1906 to 2005, the global average surface temperature have risen by 0.6 to 0.9 degree Celsius,
and in the last 50 years, the rate of increase in temperature has nearly doubles, and it seems
certain that the temperatures will keep on soaring (Global Warming, 2017). The greenhouse
gases are responsible for the absorption of the heat radiated by our sun, and keep the surface
of the planet warm, which highlights the beneficial role of the greenhouse gases. However, an
excessive amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused due to the burning of fossil
fuels and deforestation have resulted in the environment being affected adversely, and
resulted in drastic increase in global temperatures and and related environmental changes.
Savante Arrhenius (1859-1927) pointed out that burning of fossil fuels in the year 1896
marked the beginning of the adverse effects of greenhouse gases on Earth. The massive
release of these gases in the atmosphere has contributed to the phenomenon of global
warming. This rise in temperature have caused significant negative effects on the
environment (causing global changes in environmental patterns) and human life (effected by
the ensue of these environmental changes). Studies have shown that since the industrial
revolution, carbon dioxide levels have increased by 38% and methane by 148% as of 2009
(Global Warming, 2017). Studies by the World Health Organization have shown that the
number of disasters related to weather and environment has tripled since 1960’s, and caused
more than 60,000 human casualties, every year, mostly in developing countries. The studies
also show that the number of deaths to rise to 250,000 per year, from 2030 to 2050. The
rising temperatures also causes melting of the glaciers and rise in sea level, and changes the
precipitation patterns, which increases the prevalence of extreme weather conditions or
changes(Climate change and health, 2017). Therefore it is pertinent to engage in
precautionary actions to prevent such environmental catastrophes.

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Thesis Statement: Global warming, overconsumption and overutilization of resources, and
an increased waste distribution have an overall negative impact on the environment and the
planet.
Global warming has negative impacts on our planet and the effects are increasing on a
daily basis as the rate of greenhouse effect increases. Other causes include over consumption
or over utilization of the existing natural resources where the available resources are less than
the available population, environment footprint and increased waste distribution by humans.
Effects of global warming causes climate change, the rise of sea level and pollution. To solve
these underlying problems caused by global warming on our environment, each one of us
should stand strong and unite to help come up with a solution important to protect our planet
not to be destroyed and also improve human survival.
Narration:
Root et al., (2003), pointed out that the scientific studies of the climatic changes
started in the early 19th century, century where natural changes and ice ages were initially
noticed together with the greenhouse effect evolution. Scientists have argued that the
climatic changes are triggered by an increased atmospheric pressure due to an increase in
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Different theories of climate change (like solar
variations and volcanism) were developed to explain these changes in weather patterns. The
effects of global warming became evident in the 1960’s as the concentration of atmospheric
carbon dioxide increased, and scientists pointed out that the anthropogenic emissions of
pollution can be reduced, to alleviate the adverse effects on the environment that were
recorded by them. Various researches conducted by scientists made clear that climate change
is a significant change relating to developing weather patterns over specific periods ranging
from days, months, years and even decades and is caused by various factors like oceanic

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processes among others. The Global Warming Effect has unfavorable and abnormal effects
on human life, especially since it also relates to air pollution, which has a significant health
risk entailed. Additionally, a rise in the sea level (due to melting glaciers), and a damage to
the environmental properties (that are important for development) and in increase wastage of
important resources causes an overall negative effect on the planet.
Argument against the adverse effects of Global Warming:
While it’s true that global warming is effecting the earth and humans, some people
think that it’s just part of the natural process, that will alleviate over time, as is seen in cases
of extreme weather conditions and temperature rise, and can be considered as a natural
process. However, scientists point out that the rate of climate change relating to global
warming is far much higher than that of the natural causes and impacts on our planet and
humans life. Humans’ daily activities relating to their environments contribute directly to the
increasing level of global warming as a result of their unhealthy effects on the environments.
This includes throwing away plastic materials and other substances that cannot be readily
recycled, over utilization of the natural resources and distribution of e-wastes on the
environment. According to Poirier (2007), research carried out by a group of climatologists
from the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) illustrated that gases that
produce the greenhouse effect are generated by human beings making them responsible for
the increasing rates of global warming. Many humans lived in areas that did not have dump
sites where they were supposed to dump the toxic products and instead they just disposed
even in the areas where they lived. Freeman (2000), states that the number of African
Americans who lived in areas with at least one toxic dumping site has increased to more than
15 million as it was the case in 1987 making the waste issue even more serious. Agriculture
waste as well as industrial waste place threats in the United States coastal waters as they

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result to pollution hence upsetting the level of natural imbalance that encourages global
warming (Jason Thomson, 2016).
Reports by United Nations Environment Program on September 3rd, 2016 shows that
toxic pollutants like petrol or fertilizer, bacteria, viruses and other micro-organisms have
increased water pollution in rivers across the three continents with more than half of the
number, while the level of salinity rose with almost a third, which further increases the
adverse effects on human life and environment. According to Rataj (2016), effects of global
warming on human health in some of the high income countries, have been extensive to a
level in which they result to mental health disorders that greatly affect humanity. Increasing
air, ocean temperatures, rising sea levels and melting of ice are some of the observable
changes taking place on earth today. This may take place over time as the climate continues
to warm leading to increasing number of effects on both the environment as well as in human
life (Reese, 2016). This makes the adverse effects of global warming on the health of both
humans and animals, as well as on the environment. According to Dan (2017), an increase in
temperature (and heat waves) is linked to cardiovascular diseases and respiratory problems in
humans. Example, the heat wave at Chicago in the year 1995 resulted to death of more than
500 humans and more than 35,000 humans in that of Europe in the year 2003. From these
two heat wave events, we learn that natural deaths caused by natural disasters are experienced
even in the high income countries as pointed out by Romeo (Monastersky, 2007).
Rebuttal:
I believe that Global Warming is a natural phenomenon; however anthropogenic
interventions have accelerated this process. This has been caused due to activities like
improper disposal of non-recyclable garbage, depletion of natural resources by
overconsumption. Climate Change Deniers lie Donald Trump argues that the effect of global

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warming (which is supported by different scientific evidences) is a hoax, has no basis, since
human activities have a major impact on global warming effect. This have resulted in several
conflicts, and policy changes that fails to take into consideration the adverse effects of global
warming, and ultimately delaying efforts to mitigate the risks. . As a cycle process influenced
by nature and with contribution of humans to increasing it, natural climatic change influences
cannot record more levels than what is being recorded from human’s contribution (Aldy,
2017). Increasing temperature of the atmospheric pressure is not as a result of the solar
contributions but as a result of greenhouse effect gases consisting mainly carbon dioxide
(Jones, 2012). As discovered by scientists, the level of heat in the air changes with increasing
atmospheric pressure while that of the solar remain constant and predictable. It must also be
noted that solar heat does not at any time cause health problems in humans or animals unless
in extreme cases where one may have a condition like a skin disease among others. Foo
(2016) argued that climate change is the most observed issue and considered as a critical
environmental hazard, effecting both the environment as well as the organisms (humans and
animals) living in it. Due to such considerations scientists have suggested on the necessity for
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at different levels (like reduction in the usage of fossil
fuels, opting for alternative sources of energy, reducing wastage of resources and energy).
This is important to help revive the well- being of the environment and that of human
survival at all bases. Educating on how to protect environment is also an effective approach
to reduce the effects of global warming.
Conclusion:
The stewardship over the environment involves the input of every single person on
this earth to help solve the present issue of enormous global warming. Global warming has
been a threat on both the human life and our surroundings; as a result there are various

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changes that have been taking place in the environment for the longest time. Human activities
like poor waste disposal and other environmental footprint issues, which add to greenhouse
gases productions must be stopped and managed by strict government rules. This way it will
be easy to protect and maintain the environment for future generation and guard ourselves
against diseases resulting from the ozone layer destruction and others as a result of humans
living in the polluted environments.

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References:
Aldy, J. E. (2017). Real world headwinds for Trump climate change policy. Bulletin of the
Atomic Scientists, 73(6), 376-381. doi:10.1080/00963402.2017.1388673
Arrhenius, G., Caldwell, K., & World, S. (2008). A tribute to the memory of Svante
Arrhenius (1859-1927): A scientist ahead of his time. IVA.
Climate change and health. (2017). World Health Organization. Retrieved 7 December 2017,
from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs266/en/
Dan, V. (2017). Future heat waves will be worse, report says. USA Today.
Foo, D. Y., & Tan, R. R. (2016). A review on process integration techniques for carbon
emissions and environmental footprint problems. Process Safety & Environmental
Protection: Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers Part B, 103(Part B),
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Freeman, K. A. (2000, January 27). National Black environmental group declares state of
emergency on environmental racism and economic injustice. New York Amsterdam
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Global Warming : (2017). Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. Retrieved 7 December 2017, from
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/page2.php
Jason Thomson, S. (2016, July). How can industrial-scale agriculture reduce its
environmental footprint? Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG.
Jones, J. (2012). NASA: Human Activity, Not Solar Activity, Driving Global Warming. Civil
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Monastersky, R. (2007, April 20). Climate Panel Issues Dark Predictions for Effects of
Global Warming. Chronicle of Higher Education. p. A23.

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Poirier, J. (2007, February 8). U.S. silent on L'Appel de Paris. New York Amsterdam News.
p. 2.
Rataj, E., Kunzweiler, K., & Garthus-Niegel, S. (2016). Extreme weather events in
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