POPULATION GROWTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Introduction
Population growth is a key driver of increased emission of greenhouse gases. An increasing population strains the limited natural resources such as land, forests, water, and so forth. This results in deforestation for human settlement, farming, and other purposes. Such practices reduce the ability of the earth to absorb emissions, resulting in increased levels of greenhouse gases. However, human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels result in the most significant release of emissions. I will explore three sections in this paper. The first section entails a background of greenhouse gases. This section delves into the diverse greenhouse gases that exist and expounds on how these gases cause global warming.
The second section looks into the economic, political, and security challenges that developing countries face due to emissions. This part also discusses the leading countries in terms of emissions worldwide. The third section identifies two causes of greenhouse gases and provides practical solutions to these causes. The final segment explores the connection between population control and greenhouse gas emissions. Ethiopia, a sub-Saharan African nation, is the country I have considered in this paper. Human activities and agricultural practices are the causes of greenhouse gases that I have discussed. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary to adopt clean sources of energy, conserve energy, and preserve the environment.
Section I. Background
Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect keeps the earth warm and convenient to live in. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, and water vapour are some of the most common greenhouse gases. These gases exist naturally at minimal levels. However, their concentration in the atmosphere has overwhelmingly increased due to several activities pursued by humans.
Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas that occurs as a result of human activities, such as the combustion of fossil fuels. This gas is naturally found in the atmosphere but its quantity has significantly increased due to human ventures. Methane is yielded naturally as a result of burning, digesting, or rotting vegetation in the absence of oxygen. Nitrous oxide emanates from chemical fertilizers and the combustion of fossil fuels. Industrial processes release fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons.
Global warming refers to the steady rise in the long-term temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. Greenhouse gases overwhelmingly contribute to global warming. These gases have an impact on the energy balance of the planet. They allow rays from the sun to penetrate and keep the earth warm. Greenhouse gases trap some of the heat and hinder it from escaping back into space. This process is known as the greenhouse effect. The various gases regulate the earth’s temperature, enabling it to sustain life.
Greenhouse gases should be regulated at the naturally occurring low levels. This helps regulate the intensity of the greenhouse effect. In past times, the carbon supply was stable because natural processes regulated its levels. However, the concentration of greenhouse gases has significantly increased in the atmosphere in recent times (McKibben). Human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, commercial agriculture, and so forth, have massively increased the levels of these gases. Elevated levels of these gases are undesirable because they trap excess heat than required, resulting in a gradual rise in the earth’s temperature. Global warming causes climate change. Climate change has caused tremendous variations in the world’s environments and ecosystems (Tarlach).
Section II. How Emissions Cause Problems for the Developing World
Industrialized nations lead the rest in terms of greenhouse gases emissions. Such countries utilize significant quantities of fossil fuels for diverse purposes. The combustion of fossil fuels results in the release of overwhelming quantities of carbon dioxide. China accounts for 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions, USA 15%, European Union 9%, India 7%, Russia 7%, Japan 4%, and other nations 30%. The developed nations mentioned emit more than 65% of the total global greenhouse gases emissions.
Greenhouse gas emissions in countries such as Ethiopia will likely induce climate change in the long-term. Climate change due to global warming may result in devastating economic effects on the country’s food supply. Ethiopians will face the risk of starvation or famine because of the harsh effects of global warming on agriculture. Additionally, poor soil quality and water degradation aggravate the food production problem. Most of Ethiopia’s emissions emanate from the agriculture, industrial , transport, and construction sectors. Increased levels of these gases can harm the productivity of workers because of air pollution, limiting the achievement of their full economic potential. Extreme weather events due to climate change also have the potential to cause significant damages and property loss. Economic growth is also likely to suffer as the country strives to reduce emissions.
Global warming occasioned by increased greenhouse gas emissions will likely result in various security challenges. Increased sea levels, heatwaves, floods, and forest fires are some of the effects being witnessed already in various parts of the world due to climate change. Climate change will be the new threat to countries all over the world and may result in conflicts between nations as each tries to secure its interests. For developing countries such as Ethiopia, scarcity of natural resources such as water may be a potential source of animosity in coming days. Rapid population growth in such countries will likely lead to shortages in minimal resources. Nations should be prepared to handle the security challenges occasioned by climate change.
Emissions have various political challenges. Politicians strive to ensure the wellbeing of the public, as well as serve their private interests. Elected officials or politicians in developing countries such as Ethiopia have passed laws aimed at reducing emissions. However, others are involved in the private sector and collude with greedy business persons to frustrate efforts aimed at reducing emissions. However, the Ethiopian government has put in place steadfast measures aimed at mitigating the impact of events induced by climate change.
Section III. Causes of Greenhouse Gases and Solutions to the Problems Greenhouse Gases Cause
The major cause of greenhouse gases is human activities. The combustion of fossil fuels is the leading source of carbon dioxide emissions(Mathez et al. 37). Fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity, produce heat, facilitate transportation, and industrial processes. Transport produces a large proportion of emissions, closely followed by electricity generation and industrial activities. Agricultural practices also result in the release of greenhouse gases. Cattle farming, rice farming, oil and gas production, and waste dumps discharge considerable quantities of methane. Other causes of greenhouse gas emissions include land use and forestry.
Potential solutions to reduce the burning of fossil fuels include using light saving bulbs, reducing heating costs, and using minimal air conditioning. These measures serve to reduce energy consumption, which reduces the quantity of fossil fuels burned, and subsequently the level of emissions. Additional measures to save energy and reduce emissions include utilizing energy-efficient products, driving less and smart, switching off lights, among others. The adoption of clean sources of energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal can also reduce emissions massively (Destouni et al., 19). Reusing and recycling waste is also vital in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Conserving the environment and planting trees also lower the volume of greenhouse gases.
Human activities have been identified as the leading cause of emissions. The greater the number of people in a society or a region, the larger the volume of greenhouse gases emitted due to intense human activities. Increased population growth has an impact on the capability of the planet to endure changes in the climate (Gitlitz). An increase in the population can also result in the clearing of forests to make way for human settlements and agricultural activities. Deforestation reduces the earth’s ability to absorb emissions, resulting in global warming and climate change. Therefore, if climate change is to be avoided or minimized, population control should be practised to minimize future emissions and enhance the efficacy of alternative solutions.
Conclusion
Greenhouse gases play a vital role in ensuring that life on earth is sustainable. They trap and bar the heat obtained from the sun from escaping back into space. However, the volume of these gases should be maintained at low levels within the atmosphere. Uncontrolled emissions of these gases have significantly increased their concentration in the atmosphere. This is not desirable because they cause global warming. Climate change has extreme, undesirable impacts. Human activities, especially the combustion of fossil fuels, are a major source of greenhouse gases. Agricultural practices, land use, and forestry are additional sources. Adopting clean sources of energy, conserving energy, and protecting the environment are viable solutions to minimize emissions. Population control is also essential in efforts to reduce emissions and curb climate change.
Work Cited
Destouni, Georgia, and Frank, Harry. “Renewable Energy.” Ambio, vol. 39, no. Supplement 1, 2010, pp. 18–21.
Gitlitz, George. Opinion: The Pernicious Climate Dictum – Don’t Mention Population. 19 June 2018, www.berkeleyside.com/2018/06/19/opinion-the-pernicious-climate-dictum-dont-mention-population
Mathez, Edmond A, and Jason Smerdon. Climate Change: The Science of Global Warming and Our Energy Future. , 2018. Print.
McKibben, Bill. “A Very Grim Forecast.” The New York Review of Books, 22 Nov. 2018, www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/22/global-warming-very-grim-forecast/.
Tarlach, Gemma. “The Five Mass Extinctions That Have Swept Our Planet.” Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020, www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/mass-extinctions.