Global Warming: Examining Human Contribution and Impacts

This position paper argues that global warming is primarily a man-made phenomenon. It begins by outlining the debate, acknowledging counterarguments such as natural occurrences like solar flares and volcanic eruptions, but ultimately refutes these. The paper then presents evidence supporting the thesis, including the significant increase in atmospheric CO2 since the industrial revolution, the rise in methane levels, and the role of fossil fuel combustion in increasing global temperatures. The author references scientific studies and experts to support the claim that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are the major drivers of global warming. The conclusion reiterates the argument that global warming is man-made, emphasizing the impact of human actions on CO2 emissions and the acceleration of climate change. The paper includes references to books, journals, and online resources to support its claims.

Global Warming
Position Paper

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
Global warming is one of the most central issues gripping the modern world as the rise in
global temperature due to emission of greenhouse gases has begun to showcase visible harmful
effects. The role that man has played in making global warming come to the surface has often
been debated as being primary in nature or not. This position paper will argue the thesis that
global warming is indeed a man-made endeavour and will highlight supporting claims along with
counter arguments.
MAIN BODY
The main claims and arguments which state that global warming is not manmade attributes
to the temporal rise in temperature over a sustained period which suggests that man merely
accelerated the global warming process, not initiate it. Another counter argument to the thesis
states that one of the major contributors to global warming are natural occurrences such as solar
flares and volcanic eruptions. However, these claims are superficial at best as it has been studied
and researched by multiple eminent environmental researchers and climate experts that global
warming in the state we see it today is a manmade problem. This can be observed by looking at
the way in which the burning of fossil fuel has degraded the environment in the last few
centuries which is the most major factor which has been escalating global warming for a while.1
The arguments which support the thesis that global warming is indeed man made and one
of the most prominent ones involves the extent to which the amount of CO2 has increased in the
air which has increased by 40% since the advent of the industrial revolution. Global warming is a
direct cause of increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and one of the major greenhouse
gas which is methane is more present in the Earth’s atmosphere than in the past 800,000 years.
Scientists all over the globe agree in unison that the main cause of global warming is heat
trapping gases such as CO2 and the increased emissions of CO2 is a direct result in human
activity2 The modern world processes and business activities are mostly dependent on the
burning of the fossil fuels such as coal and emission of petroleum based gases and residues
1 Haugen, David M et al. Global Warming. Greenhaven Press, 2010.
2 Oxlade, Chris. Global Warming. Smart Apple Media, 2018
1

which are all responsible for greatly increasing the temperature of the planet. Thus the thesis
statement that global warming to a major extent is indeed manmade has several pints pointing
towards it being true.
CONCLUSION
The above position paper aimed to establish the argument that global warming is manmade
and researched various avenues and found many key facts to support the aforementioned thesis.
The position paper focused on the amount of C02 exposure in the Earth’s atmosphere, the
increase in Methane to the major use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases by the humans which
did not exists before the industrial revolution took place. It was concluded that global warming is
indeed man made as most of the work humans do on a daily basis exhibits C02 in the atmosphere
which has accelerated global warming in a major manner.
2

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Haugen, David M et al. Global Warming. Greenhaven Press, 2010.
Oxlade, Chris. Global Warming. Smart Apple Media, 2018.
Online referencing
How We Know Today's Climate Change Is Not Natural, 2022 [online] available through <
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2017/04/04/how-we-know-climate-change-is-not-
natural/#:~:text=Here%20is%20how%20scientists%20know,of%20different%20things
%20at%20once.>
3