COMM19997 Argumentative Essay: Climate Change and Nature's Role

This argumentative essay presents the viewpoint that global climate change is primarily a result of natural processes rather than human activities. The essay begins by acknowledging the consensus on climate change but then argues that fluctuations in solar energy, biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics, and the movement of tectonic plates are significant drivers of climate change. The essay provides evidence for each of these natural phenomena, including how solar variations affect the Earth's temperature, the role of ecosystems in carbon storage, and the impact of volcanic eruptions and tectonic shifts on atmospheric composition. While acknowledging the role of human activities, such as deforestation and the use of fossil fuels, the essay contends that the impact of these man-made factors is less significant than the natural forces influencing climate change. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable development to mitigate climate change, irrespective of its primary cause, and promote a healthier planet for future generations.

1GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T MAN-MADE, BUT A NATURAL PROCESS
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T MAN-MADE, BUT A NATURAL PROCESS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

2GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T MAN-MADE, BUT A NATURAL PROCESS
Thousands of studies have been conducted by the researchers, which show that global
climate change is an essential concern in the modern world (Bulkeley & Newell, 2015). The
earth’s climate is changing at a faster pace than ever and has a broad impact across different
regions of the globe. The changing environment has an adverse effect on human beings, wildlife
as well as flora (Harvey, 2016). The variation is related directly or indirectly to the natural
process that modifies the composition of the global atmosphere. Also, variability in human
activities is observed later. This often leads to the dilemma amongst researchers as to whether the
climate change is a phenomenon resulting from man-made actions, or they are natural.
Therefore, this essay intends to argue and establish global climate change is a result of the
natural process and never a man-made process, as claimed by many.
The climate change encompasses the rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions,
shifting of the wildlife habitats and populations, and several other impacts. One of the primary
evidence of global climate change by natural phenomenon is the fluctuations in solar energy.
The variation in the sun's energy affects the climate by the change in cloud formation process as
well as the change in the rate of solar heating of the atmosphere on the earth (Creutzig, 2017).
The mechanism is simple. When the sun's energy is reflected from the earth's surface into space
or when the heat is released from the earth's atmosphere, the planet gets cooled. When the sun’s
energy is absorbed by the earth’s surface, or the when the atmospheric gases released by the
earth’s surface prevents from radiating in the space, the planet gets warmed (Hu et al., 2016).
Scientists and researchers have explained different sun-climate hypothesis that shows the rapid
warming of the earth. The ‘total solar irradiance’ (or TSI) is the rate at which the sun's energy
reaches the top of the atmosphere. There is a fluctuation on a daily or a weekly basis in the TSI
(Creutzig, 2017). Since the sun is the largest supplier of the energy and any change in the output

3GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T MAN-MADE, BUT A NATURAL PROCESS
affects the energy balance of the surface of the earth. The changes in the ultraviolet rays enhance
the influence of the solar spectrum, thus affects the stratosphere. The sun’s energy also affects
the earth’s climate by modulating the cosmic rays that are provided to increase the low-lying
coverage by clouds. Thus, it can be concluded from the above that the solar energy, which is a
natural phenomenon is responsible for the global climatic change.
A vast and proper assortment of flora and fauna is the positive sign of a healthy
ecosystem. Removing one or more species from the environment can harm the ecosystem. Food,
medicine and well-being of the environment affect the biodiversity (Pecl et al., 2017). Thus,
another evidence that plays an essential role in changing climate is the biodiversity and the
ecosystem. Forests, soil, wetlands and oceans absorb and stores carbon, which helps in
protecting us from climatic changes. The marine and the terrestrial ecosystem absorbs nearly half
of the carbon emissions generated through human activities (Herrmann et al., 2017). The oceans
and the coastal ecosystem manages carbon emissions by storing in the deep ocean. It leads to an
increase in temperature and the acidification of the ocean. It results in extensive coral bleaching
which ultimately leads to the fear of extinction of coral reefs. It leaves many shorelines
unprotected against the storms and floods. Rainforests occupy around six per cent of the surface
of the earth and provides shelter to almost half of the land-based species. These species are
endangered and are disappearing at a faster rate of around 13 million hectares each year
(Kazimierski et al., 2018). Another natural cause for climate change can be attributed to the
movement of the earth's tectonic plates. Whenever there is a significant movement of tectonic
plates, it causes the earthquake, and in extreme situations, it leads to shifting of the axis of the
earth. Even a small change in the axis of the planet can lead to severe climatic changes as the
climatic variations are governed by the axial as well as revolution movement of the earth.

4GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T MAN-MADE, BUT A NATURAL PROCESS
Secondly, the flow of tectonic plates leads to the eruption of active as well as dormant volcanoes
(Sands et al., 2017). In severe cases of volcanic eruptions, the accumulation of gases and ashes
from the volcanoes into the atmosphere may lead to drastic changes in the composition of the
atmosphere. It also results in extreme situations, to acid rains which have been supposed to be
the reason for extinction of various species of both flora and fauna.
However, there has been sufficient evidence that climate change is not only occurring due
to natural phenomena but also due to the impact of human civilisation. For instance, the
exhaustive use of fossil fuel by human beings has resulted in the accumulation of various
pollutants in the atmosphere namely carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons,
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (also known as greenhouse gases) among other things which is the
primary reason for global warming of the earth (Najafi, Zwiers & Gillett, 2015). Subsequently,
because of global warming, the polar ice caps are melting which, slowly but steadily is causing
the water levels of the oceans to rise. The burning of fossil fuels is also responsible for the
emission of greenhouse gas. This, in turn, will impact the water vapour cycle of the earth.
Another prominent example of climate change occurring due to human activities is deforestation.
About 24 per cent of the greenhouse gases globally are produced due to deforestation. Scientists
and researchers have explained that the deforestation in the tropical regions leads to the addition
of excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is more than the emissions of all the
vehicles on the roads (Alkama & Cescatti, 2016). The level of deforestation is also a reason for
the occurrence of the droughts in the regions of heavy rainfall. As a result of deforestation, there
is an occurrence of soil erosion which makes it difficult for the areas to receive the appropriate
rainfall. The more massive storms and minor snowfall are the sudden changes in the precipitation
that are caused due to human activities in the global climatic changes.

5GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T MAN-MADE, BUT A NATURAL PROCESS
In the above essay, it has been pointed out that climate change is a consistent
phenomenon, which has been happening at a much faster pace than usual. The impact of natural
forces affecting climate change is much more severe in comparison to man-made impact.
Though the natural forces are impacting the climate change cannot be controlled, but the man-
made factors such as deforestation and exhaustive use of natural resources can indeed be
controlled which are equally responsible for the climatic change. Considering the above facts, it
is essential that human beings should take substantial efforts towards caring for mother earth by
promoting afforestation and adopting sustainable development. Only then can we make this
planet a better place to live for the present generation as well as many more generations to come.

6GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ISN’T MAN-MADE, BUT A NATURAL PROCESS
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