Environmental Problem
Annotated Bibliography
Shahbazi, Aramesh, and B. Rezaei Nasab. “Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and its impacts on climate change and global warming.” J. Pet. Environ. Biotechnol 7.9 (2016).
This article addresses the issue of global warming and identifies it as the most challenging environmental problem the world faces today and will continue facing in the future. The authors claim the beginning of the industrial revolution period to be the starting point for this problem as it contributed to a very high increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. The article highlights issues like the burning of fossil fuels and extensive clearing of forests, brought about by the Industrial Revolution, as the major contributors to global warming. The authors also look at the policies needed to address the issue of global warming by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. In the article, the authors identify the use of Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology as the most important technology for decreasing global warming. The authors also emphasize the need to use this technology, as well as the regulatory policies, by all states around the globe for them to be more effective. In the article, the authors address, in detail, the impacts of using CCS technology on reducing air pollution and global warming. They also look into the side effects of using technology in the context of international environmental law.
Matthews, Tom KR, Robert L. Wilby, and Conor Murphy. “Communicating the deadly consequences of global warming for human heat stress.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114.15 (2017): 3861-3866.
The authors of this article looked to investigate the deadly consequences of global warming on humans around the globe. As the climate warms, the intensity of extremely hot weather conditions is expected to increase. This has caused concerns around the globe which has led to the international community committing to limiting the global temperature changes to below 2˚C above preindustrial. This article addresses the extent to which this ambitious target has been realized addressing the critical issue of to whom the danger has been avoided. To address these issues, the authors of this article scrutinize heat stress in different regions. The authors conclude that global mean air temperature is non linearly related to heat stress which means that future warming could trigger larger increases in societal impacts that have been experienced in the past. With recent trends, the authors conclude that more than 350 million people could be exposed to deadly heat by 2050, due to the expected future increase in global warming.
Sultanii, Saida. “RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN CONDITIONS OF GLOBAL WARMING.” Economic and Social Development: Book of Proceedings 4 (2020): 613-621.
This article recognizes the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as the major cause of global warming. The authors look to address the methods that can be used to address environmental problems such as global investments in the use of renewable energy. The article addresses strategies that can be used to address the threats of global warming. The authors came up with two strategies for addressing the issue that is outlined in detail in this article. The two strategies addressed are the market and administrative strategies. These strategies include carbon (greenhouse) tax and emission reduction subsidies. Additionally, investing in research and related professional training are also identified in the article as ways of improving the use of low carbon technologies. the authors, however, point out that the success of decreasing global warming depends on the world’s social-economic development as well as the path that humanity will choose: to preserve the environment pr to strive for economic growth.
Introduction
The world today is very different from what it used to be before urbanization and the beginning of the industrial revolution. The issue of the environment has evolved into a widespread issue that is greatly discussed thought the world. We no longer live in a world where the environment is beautiful or stable but rather slowly losing its beauty and becoming a danger to the lives of human beings as well as other inhabitants of the planet. The major current environmental issues that have been an issue for discussion globally include pollution, global warming, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. These issues have called for concerns by different states and organizations globally, who have come together to look for ways in which to address the environmental problems. One of the most evident problems associated with the environment is the issue of global warming that has led to adverse changes in the climatic conditions globally.
Global Warming as an Environmental Problem
The issue of global warming and climate change as an environmental problem has been an international agenda for more than a century now. The earth’s atmosphere has always acted like a greenhouse, capturing the heat from the sun and ensuring that just enough temperatures are within it to support different life forms on earth. Without the atmospheric greenhouse, the earth’s atmosphere would be too cold for existence. However, today, the issue is not about a danger of terrible cooling that could affect us but that too much heat from the sun is being trapped inside the atmosphere. Too much heat is being kept inside the greenhouse causing the temperatures on earth to go up faster than any other time in history.
Global warming is the biggest environmental problem because unlike other problems whose causes are well known, its causes and effects occur slowly and are diverse. The effects of global warming on the environment are far-reaching and long-lasting and occur slowly but may eventually lead to catastrophic effects on the environment. Most environmental problems like pollution and resource exploitation only affect the immediate surrounding environment. Global warming, on the other hand, affects every region of the earth including the deep sea waters and the Polar Regions. Addressing the issue, therefore, requires international collaboration form all states globally. Global warming and climate change occur in a very natural manner and it not easy to relate it to human activities. As such, it makes it very difficult to deal with the issue and find a workable solution to the problem.
Causes and Consequences of Global Warming
Global warming is primarily caused by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels that result in the pumping of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are those gases that can absorb infrared radiation and can, therefore, trap and hold the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O), and nitrous oxide (N2O). CO2 and CH4 gases make up for most of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Al‐Ghussain, 13-21). These gases are produced through land-use practices such as agricultural practices, deforestation, and fossil fuel combustion. The consequences of global warming on the environment are numerous and devastating. Global warming causes habitat collapse through ecosystem collapse and biodiversity loss as a result of species going into extinction (Bayeh, 1-14). Global warming also leads to the intensification of extreme weather events leading to draughts and desertification in some places and flooding in others. Extreme heat, for instance, is expected in most regions by 2025, which could have devastating effects on humans and other forms of life (Matthews, 3861-3868). These weather events could destroy the environment and natural habitats.
Solutions
Managing global warming has been seen as difficult as it is expensive and will take collective action and collaboration of all states worldwide for it to be effective. The technologies and processes involved in removing CO2 in power plants are very expensive, but only for those who do not value the environment. Many methods can be used to address the issue of global warming. Planting trees, for instance, will help reduce the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The reduction of fossil fuel emission is also necessary to avoid the build-up of greenhouse gases. Policies like carbon (greenhouse) tax and emission reduction subsidies should also be put in place to help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Additionally, investing in research and related professional training (Sultanii, 613-621). The best solution to address this problem is, however, through the use of innovative technology. The use of Carbon capture and storage technology is so far the best solution for preventing environmental pollution by CO2. The technology is capable of capturing up to 90% of CO2 released through the burning of fossil fuels in industrial processes (Shahbazi, 2016). As CO2 makes up to 80 % of greenhouse concentration, this technology will go a long way in helping reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Conclusions
The issue of global warming and climate change as an environmental problem has been an international agenda for more than a century now. Caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere, the effects and consequences of global warming to the environment are catastrophic, to say the least. Floods, droughts, and desertification as well as the loss of habitats and biodiversity loss are some of the effects of global warming on the environment. While there exist different solutions for the problem, the use of Carbon capture and storage technology is so far the best solution for preventing environmental pollution by CO2.
Work Cited
Al‐Ghussain, Loiy. “Global warming: review on driving forces and mitigation.” Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 38.1 (2019): 13-21.
Bayeh, Birhanu, and Melkamu Alemayehu. “Scientific Community Debates on Causes and Consequences of Global Warming.” Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences 4.1 (2019): 1-14.
Matthews, Tom KR, Robert L. Wilby, and Conor Murphy. “Communicating the deadly consequences of global warming for human heat stress.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114.15 (2017): 3861-3866.
Shahbazi, Aramesh, and B. Rezaei Nasab. “Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and its impacts on climate change and global warming.” J. Pet. Environ. Biotechnol 7.9 (2016).
Sultanii, Saida. “RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN CONDITIONS OF GLOBAL WARMING.” Economic and Social Development: Book of Proceedings 4 (2020): 613-621.