The Threat of Global Warming and The Ways to Counter It.

Outlines
1. Introduction

2. Thesis Statement
No doubt, global warming is posing a colossal threat to every living thing on earth, however,
joint efforts at the national and global level can curtail this natural catastrophe.

3. What are some horrific threats posed by global warming

3.1. The earth is losing glacial cover due to rising temperature.

3.2. Droughts are becoming more frequent and intense.

3.3. Oceans are turning acidic, and eventually hostile to aquatic life.
3.4. Global warming is inducing more hurricanes around the world.
3.5. Scorching heat waves are posing a threat to human life.

4. Some policy recommendations to counter the menace of global warming

4.1. Remedial measure that should be enacted at local level
(a) Governments should control fossil fuel burning with sane policy measures.

(b) Renewable energy should be prioritized over non-renewable energy.

(c) Governments should allocate funds for mass plantation programs.

4.2 Global community should play its role in the fight against climate change
(a) Global leaders should unite and take a firm stand on global warming

(b) Awareness must be raised internationally about the gravity of the situation

5. Conclusion
The past two centuries have unfolded colossal threats to the human race. The clouds of the
nuclear holocaust have never faded from above the world. A minute miscalculation by any
nuclear-armed country can push humanity to the brink of extinction. Likewise, the threat of
global warming is also on the horizon. Excessive use of fossil fuels is lacerating the atmosphere,
the sole shelter of life from deadly solar radiation. Consequently, the concentration of
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), especially Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Sulphur Hexafluoride, have
increased many folds in the atmosphere. This increased concentration of GHGs is trapping solar
radiations in the lower atmosphere instead of allowing them to escape back into space. As a
result, the globe is warming at an unprecedented rate. According to the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, the earth’s temperature has increased by 1C since the early 18th
century. This mere change of a degree has unleashed many worrisome trends in recent
decades. The earth is gradually losing its glacial cover, which helps maintain the temperature by
reflecting solar radiations back. Droughts around the world are becoming more frequent and
intense. Moreover, aquatic life is highly endangered since oceans are becoming more acidic.
Global warming is also intensifying hurricanes. Furthermore, people around the world are
struggling to bear the brunt of blistering heat waves. No doubt, global warming is posing a
colossal threat to every living thing on earth, however, joint efforts at the national and global
level can curtail this natural catastrophe.

Starting the discussion with threats that global warming pose,

melting glacial ice is indeed a frightening trend. Ice plays an essential role in maintaining the
temperature of the earth. It reflects excessive heat back into space. Unfortunately, since the
Industrial Revolution in 1706, Carbon Dioxide and other GHGs have raised the temperature to
an extent that glacial ice around the world is melting at an unprecedented rate. According to
the World Wildlife Fund, 95 percent of the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic is already gone.
Melting of ice has ripple effects. Firstly, it will deprive the earth of a crucial heat insolation
mechanism, which will eventually speed up the heating process. Secondly, huge chunks of
melting ice will significantly raise the sea level. As a result, rising sea levels will erode essential
agricultural and metropolis land. It is, therefore, evident that melting glacial ice is a threat.

Droughts have become more frequent and intense due to global

warming. Every single specie on earth is highly dependent on water for its survival. Hence, life
in any part of the world becomes unimaginable without this life-giving resource. Increased
carbon emission around the world has severely affected the temperature of air and the
precipitation patterns. Warm air tends to evaporate more water from land and inevitably
makes soil drier and hotter. Asia, Middle East and Africa are witnessing prolong droughts in
summer. Droughts are not just a threat to life but also to the economy. The economies of
agrarian countries around the world, including Pakistan, are highly dependent on water,
therefore, frequent droughts may increase food insecurity and civil unrest in these countries.
Thus, it is safe to conclude that droughts due to global warming are threatening for life.
Additionally, oceans are becoming more acidic and hostile to
marine life. The stable chemistry of oceans is crucial for life. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) naturally
dissolves into oceans to maintain the pH of the water. However, perpetual bombardment of
emissions has created a glut of C02 in the atmosphere. As more and more C02 is dissolving into
oceans, they are becoming more acidic. This trend is highly threatening for aquatic life,
especially shell builders such as crabs and coral reefs. Research conducted by National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration projects that crab shells are already dissolving in the Atlantic
Ocean. Coral bleaching has also become a common trend throughout the world. Not only shell
builders are endangered, but fishes are also at the risk of extinction since increased acidity
would impair their navigational abilities in oceans. Hence, the acidification of oceans is a threat
to marine life.

Moreover, global warming is inducing more hurricanes throughout

the world. Hurricanes develop when water evaporates from oceans to the atmosphere, forming
gigantic clouds. These clouds with the support of fast winds develop into a massive hurricane
and then it marches toward the shore. Due to rising temperatures, evaporation in the oceans is
happening at biblical scales, which results in more intense and frequent hurricanes. A recent
hurricane in Japan in 2019, caused widespread destruction and about 100 deaths. Not only
Japan but North and South American have also been reporting more hurricanes in recent
decades. These hurricanes in addition to taking toll on life and property, also destroy animal
habitats and cause them to migrate. Therefore, it is evident that hurricanes are lethal for
humans as well as animals.

Scorching heatwaves are posing a major threat to human life.

Heatwaves or hot weather can have a significant effect on the health of a human. Relentless
burning of fossil fuels increases CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, which absorbs heat and
makes some regions of the world hot as tinder. Exposure to extreme heat can increase the
chances of heat stock and cardiovascular diseases among many other health complications.
Globally, extreme temperature events are observed to be increasing in their frequency,
duration, and magnitude. Between 2000 and 2016, the number of people exposed to
heatwaves increased by around 125 million, laments World Health Organization. Heatwaves
also cause bushfires mainly in Australia and California, United States. In 2019, roughly 72
thousand square miles of forest cover turned into ashes due to bushfires in Australia. California
also faced the same fate in 2020. Hence, it would not be unfair to conclude that blistering heat
waves are a threat to humans.
 Global warming is indeed a colossal threat, but there are also
many ways to keep this catastrophe at bay. At the state level, governments can formulate
policies to cut fossil fuel burning. Everyday tons of carbon are being injected into the
atmosphere, catalyzing the process of global warming. There can be many policy measures that
can reduce carbon emission, and one such policy can be enacting a tax on industries for every
single unit of carbon dioxide emission they produce, generally called carbon taxing. This policy
will propel industries to either limit their carbon emission or gradually shift to other forms of
energy. Controlled emissions will heal the wounds that corporate businesses have inflicted on
the environment from centuries. This policy can also help countries to complete their United
Nations’ Sustainable Goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Thus, governments should
formulate policies for limiting carbon emissions.

Renewable energy should be prioritized over non-renewable forms

of energy. Today, most of the countries in the world address their energy needs using thermal
power plants. Resultantly, these thermal power plants, which are dependent on fossil fuels,
emit a vehement amount of C02 into the atmosphere. On the other hand, renewable forms of
energy, such as solar and wind energy have zero carbon emission. Shifting industries to green
energy will significantly benefit the environment. Since commute is also a regular part of
people’s lives, changing cars, motorbikes, buses and trains to electric mode will also help
considerably in the fight against global warming. Therefore, renewable forms of energy should
be prioritized in the domestic and commercial spheres.

Additionally, states should allocate funds for reforesting the large

swathes of barren land. Plants play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and
atmosphere. Sadly, vast areas of rainforest have been cut for agricultural and other commercial
uses. Take the example of the world’s biggest Rain forest: The Amazon. According to the World
Wildlife Fund, 17 percent of the forest has been lost in the last 50 years. A wise setup would be
to allocate funds for reforestation programs. Annually a single mature tree captures 22 kgs of
Carbon Dioxide, an amount equals to the annual emission of two cars. An entire rain forest or
any other forest would be able to capture a biblical amount of CO2. Therefore, states should
allocate funds for reforestation, and without it, any other options to contain global warming
would be a pipe dream.
 At the global level, leaders should unite and take a firm stand on
global warming. The Plethora of scientific research on global warming and its impacts would all
be in vain if global leaders are not willing to take remedial measures. It is incumbent on global
leadership to abandon their narrow national interests, at least for a time being, and initiate
serious rounds of talks with all stakeholders including multinational private firms. So, in this
context, the United States and China should take lead since they are the world’s top two carbon
emitters. A carrot and stick approach should be implemented for non-cooperation, otherwise,
mere verbal commitments would not bring significant outcomes, as evident from Paris
Agreement in 2015. It is, therefore, imperative that global leaders should unite and take
practical measures to counter global warming.

It is also essential to raise awareness in the international community

about the gravity of the situation. Peoples in poor countries around the world due to lack of
education do not know what global warming is, and what are the consequences if it is not
controlled. Awareness should be prioritized because it is not just the matter of any single
country but the whole world. Fortunately, the technological advancements of the 21 st century
provide powerful tools in this regard. Social and mainstream media play a crucial role in forging
and disseminating narratives. They can reach every corner of the world, hence, are powerful
tools to make people aware of the consequences if humans continue to exploit nature. It would
be far difficult to contain this menace with just institutional commitments; it needs the
commitment of the global community. Thus, raising awareness is as vital as any other
countermeasures in the fight against global warming.

To conclude, the threat of global warming is indeed a

challenging one. If negligence and persuasion of narrow interest continue to persist, the earth
will lose its remaining glacial cover. The atmosphere would eventually reach a deadly
temperature not only for humans but for animals as well. Oceans would turn more acidic and
hostile toward marine life. Destructive storms and droughts will continue to hunt on precious
lives and property. However, if timely and practical measure are taken then nature has a
remarkable tendency to recover. Sowing back the lost forest cover of the earth should be the
first step toward healing the festering soars of mother nature. Eco-friendly policies at the local
level would provide the atmosphere the necessary time and aid to reinvigorate itself. Also, in
this era of technological advancements, humans have many powerful tools at their disposal.
Therefore, a strong commitment and will of the international community will certainly usher
the world towards a more friendly and green future.