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Christine De Hoyos

July 3, 2022

Professors name

Class

Subject

Man’s impact on Global Warming

The topic of global warming can be described as a phenomenon; this global concern has

put a worry in many people’s minds to find a solution for the threat to life on earth, also known

as climate change. However, these great concerns to man are justifiable as it has been an ongoing

“theory in the works” for several decades. With the temperatures on the earth’s surface rising

each day, the levels of the oceans and seas increase causing glaciers and polar regions to be

melting and reaching heat like never before. Individuals and organizations from around the world

are encouraging others to be more environmentally friendly and conscious as we are leading a

problem that is not exposed enough. Overall, man is in oblivion and does not realize that

evidently, one has to capability to have a major impact on the environment. Policies must be

implemented as it is upon human beings to be the fate of this global predicament.

As stated before, the impact on the environment which is now a global threat has been

predominantly contributed by human pollution and activities. Engaging in doings that have led to

mass burning of various fossil fuels that result in increased emissions of carbon dioxide into the

atmosphere. Actions such as the use of motor vehicles and transportation that release CO2 by the

exhaust system. In addition, by being more conventional in man’s use of energy the more
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potential there is for emissions of greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gasses occur when carbon

dioxide is emitted and consumed into the atmosphere therefore the sunlight absorbs it but the

pollution stays trapped in the heat. These gasses are innately happening and essentially this is

what makes Earth habitable; however, the greatest involvement that humans have produced in

global warming is industrial processes and electricity production. In fact, in the United States,

the number one way of heat-trapping is due to the burning of fossil fuels, to produce electricity.

Now without a doubt, there are effects and consequences to the cycles of living

organisms on the planet. Possibilities such as changes in weather patterns pose a threat to the

productivity of land and animal habitation. What humans fail to realize is how it creates a health

hazard to our being as well; however, there are countless paths to take action to achieve a

solution. To illustrate, one can begin by consciously being aware that engaging in these methods

and activities increases pollution, therefore, reducing such time on motor transportation. In

addition, the production of vehicles with good engines to use fuel more efficiently will reduce oil

use decreasing emissions into the atmosphere. “Nearly doubling the average fuel efficiency of

new cars and light trucks is the single biggest step our nation can take to reduce oil use.” (UCS,

2016) Similarly, if man can find a method to detoxify gasses from industrial productions

beforehand or even be able to supplement renewable energy it will definitely be an

environmentally friendly change.

Based on reason, the argument that human involvement led to or had an effect on natural

balance disruption, global warming, is rational. Consequently, if agreed, the global problem can

well be resolved by the main disruption, humans. In such a concept, humans can restore unsettled

balance with certain measures. The infamous process of reducing waste, reusing usable

materials, and recycling what can be, the strategy will lower emissions individually combating
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global warming. (Sierra Club) Some other actions can be letting policymakers know about the

concern there is on global warming; however, being part of a group or organization and

spreading the word is what will unite to fight this global battle.

“If all Americans reduced their emission by twenty percent we could shutter 200 of the

nation’s 600 coal plants, a great step in fighting the worst consequence of climate change.”

(UCS, 2008) Leaning further, over-exploitation of available resources follows through with the

mortification of the environment. If a policy or measure could be placed to direct such effect,

then the hope of leading to a resolution for global warming could be possible. Having a strict

regulatory limit on emissions to ease the environmental threat wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Furthermore, this has determined the correlation between human activities and global warming,

also illustrating how if humans could reverse in which they carried out their life, then the

reflection on the environment would show, thus reducing emissions and pollution.

It is important to look at the severity of the damage and changes that are being done when

it comes to global warming. Impacts of climate change: ocean waters are becoming more acidic,

ocean temperatures are rising, ice is melting, sea level is rising, local and regional weather is

changing, and human safety, health, and well-being are threatened. Author, John Carey,

expresses how “loss of ice, melting of permafrost and other climate effects are occurring at an

alarming pace.” Carey briefly explains how nature is changing rapidly and extreme weather

events are occurring. “More sea ice around the Arctic Ocean is disappearing than had been

forecast. Regions of permafrost across Alaska and Siberia are spewing out more methane, the

potent greenhouse gas, than models had predicted. Ice shelves in West Antarctica are breaking

up more quickly than once thought possible, and the glaciers they held back on adjacent land are

sliding faster into the sea… sea levels might climb as much as five meters this century…” These
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statistics are a warning wave to environmentalists in the world. Glaciologist W. Tad Pfeffer of

the University of Colorado warns how the public and policymakers should understand how

serious a sea-level rise of even 60 to 70 centimeters would be. In Alaska, Pfeffer [also] has data

showing that the huge Columbia Glacier’s slide into the sea has accelerated from one meter a day

to 15 to 20 meters a day.

“New research by Jeremy Shakun of Harvard University and his colleagues… conclude

in a recent Nature paper that “warming driven by increasing CO2 concentrations is an

explanation for much of the temperature change.” (Scientific American is part of the nature

publishing group) Cornell University Press can support this as they state greenhouse gas

emissions from human activities like burning fossil fuels have increased 1.3 percent each year

between 1970 and 2000. However, new information states there has been another increase of 2.2

percent per year between 2000 and 2010. “-a little bit each year can mean big changes over

multiple years,”(pg. 11)

Cornell University Press clarifies “In 2017, warmer and wetter atmospheric conditions

and warmer ocean temperatures intensified Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in the eastern

United States, while dry weather exacerbated California wildfires—all the result of a warming

planet. The more extreme weather events that we are experiencing currently will likely only

intensify as average global temperatures continue to rise… taken together, the changes brought

about by climate change threaten human safety, health, and well-being.” (pg. 8) The irony of

how the contributor disrupted the balance of Earth and is supposed to be the dominant custodial

species. However, since humans know the conflict and its causes, we can reverse the way of our

doings.
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Oftentimes, there are situations in which exceptions are acceptable. For say, several

individuals will not have the option to carpool to work as they live exceptionally far from each

other or it’s likely not everyone will be able to exchange their motor vehicle for battery-powered

electric vehicles. These circumstances are recognizable; however, this still doesn’t excuse the

main purpose. With the overall objective of humans taking action for their doing, there are

‘beyond our control’ borders. Buying and being open to renewable energy, for example, is a

great option to be environmentally friendly. Several citizens can work with a solar industry

company to instigate a solar community, encouraging households to purchase renewable energy.

“At the local policy level, environmental education participants could advocate at town hall

meetings for wind energy, bike trail, and sidewalks, and preserving forests and wetlands that

absorb CO2. [Several] can also work with their churches, sports clubs, and other civil society

organizations to implement organizational practices that reduce greenhouse emissions, such as

banning single-use plastic water bottles.” (Cornell University Press, 19)

The main argument throughout has been how humans have disrupted the environment

and are the essential problem of climate change. Furthermore, with the manner in which humans

go about life, it is stressed enough that change must be implemented. Although this argument can

be justified to some extent, the counter-argument opposes the idea that global warming and

climate change are not in man’s control. They claim of how greenhouse gasses are a natural

warming occurrence and man’s contribution and activities don’t affect heat-trapping. Foremost,

they stand on the case how several natural activities are beyond human life. For example, when a

volcano erupts it produces a rise in levels of temperature. Any volcanic activity is unpreventable

and sometimes unpredictable, this is where humans can truly say they have no influence and just

observe the natural situation. There are also aspects like water vapor that accumulates into the
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atmosphere and have a role in global warming. These are some of the examples where truth is,

man has no power under some natural occurrences. “The naysayers on climate change typically

begin with appeals to the evidence. Lots of evidence. Ironically, they seem to revel in long lists

of obvious counterexamples, “embarrassing predictions” (Newman, 2014)” (309)

The problem with this argument is how they fail to mention that for the past century,

experts have been keeping track of statistics and a clear significant difference has occurred. The

mechanism of natural disasters contributes to a balanced environment, “A number of natural

processes cause the earth’s climate to change over time.” (Cornell University, 12) man however

has caused and can prevent future environmental degradation. “Just since the late nineteenth

century, the planet’s average surface temperature has risen about 1.1 Celcius. The current rate of

warming is roughly ten times faster than the average rate of warming after ice ages of the past

million years.”(Cornell University, 12)

All in all, global warming can be seen as a theoretical issue; however, with reason,

scientists and experts stress the issue of how human activities have justifiably been the leading

reason for global warming. Life on earth is at threat. A variety of climate changes have occurred

and will continue to if man doesn’t begin to reserve their activities. Concerns for all living

organisms including humans have already been at stake. Globally, this is an issue that everyone

must participate in as we are the dominant leaders on this planet and the “supposed” cause of

global danger. With this theory, not many experts have large predictions; however, this should be

viewed as an opportunity to change one’s way around. Humans have to educate themselves and

be more environmentally conscious as our ways are not being questioned enough. Whether it is

through policymakers or just individually, this global predicament will not stop unless humans

follow through on altering everyday life, for the sake of all living creatures and organisms.
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Work cited

Armstrong, Anne K., et al. “CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE: The Facts.” Communicating
Climate Change: A Guide for Educators, Cornell University Press, 2018, pp. 7–20. JSTOR,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctv941wjn.5. Accessed 3 Jul. 2022.

Carey, John. “GLOBAL WARMING: Faster Than Expected?” Scientific American, vol. 307, no.
5, 2012, pp. 50–55. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26016173. Accessed 3 Jul. 2022.

Douglas Allchin. “Global Warming: Scam, Fraud, or Hoax?” The American Biology Teacher,
vol. 77, no. 4, 2015, pp. 309–13. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2015.77.4.12. Accessed 3
Jul. 2022.

“Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.” Sierra Club, 28 Dec. 2020,

“Ten Personal Solutions to Global Warming.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 17 July 2008,
www.ucsusa.org/resources/ten-personal-solutions-global-warming.

Union of Concerned Scientists. Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards for Cars and Trucks,
Model Years 2017 to 2025: A Critical Step to Reducing Oil Use and Global Warming Emissions.

Union of Concerned Scientists, 2016. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep17278. Accessed