McKellop 1

Abby McKellop

Ms. Sharyn Hunter

English 1201- English Composition 2

2/13/22

The Paris Agreement is the Solution to Climate Change

Universal problems require global solutions. Climate change is a global issue that will

come to affect every person in the world. Therefore, this issue should be treated with an urgency

proportionate to the magnitude of the problem. Climate change began in the 1800s with the

Industrial Revolution, as human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels (UN 1), began

to affect the global climate. The burning of fossil fuels causes an increase in global temperature

because it releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gasses, some

examples being carbon dioxide and methane (NASA 3), trap heat from the sun in the

atmosphere.

Fig. 1. A graphical representation of global temperature increase from 1880 to 2020 from

several scientific institutions (NASA 1).

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Over time, scientists have developed more accurate predictions about the future given the

changes from global warming. Scientists have put many resources into collecting data about the

changing climate, and have found that the “the last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on

record” (UN 4). As climate change progresses, scientists are tracking changes that the general

public may not be aware of, such as the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, as well as a rising

sea level, temperature, and acidification. Yet, there are also effects of climate change that people

are beginning to notice. As reported by NASA, an accredited government organization, these

effects include higher temperatures in warmer seasons, more extreme weather events, and altered

precipitation patterns (6-14). Scientists urge that these effects will become more drastic as

climate change progresses- but more importantly, emphasize the fact that taking an apathetic

approach will not be enough to make forward strides. Therefore, one of the greatest challenges in

tackling this problem is finding a uniform consensus on how to attack the issue. In order to

resolve climate change, national governments must unite in the Paris Agreement in order to

devise a worldwide transition to clean energy.

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty devised by the United Nations in order to

conquer climate change. According to the United Nations, the international peacekeeping

organization, this agreement is a “legally binding international treaty on climate change” (UN

Climate Change 1) that holds countries accountable for reducing the level of global warming by

decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. A global approach like the Paris Agreement is pertinent to

the success in tackling climate change. The main benefit to this treaty is accountability, as the

agreement clearly states expectations for each country. Secondly, this treaty allows a sense of

flexibility- by stating that countries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but still giving each

individual nation the liberty to choose the way that they will meet the goal. But most importantly,
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this treaty represents a united front- the nations of the world coming together to solve climate

change. Without this kind of effort, the issue simply will not be solved. The problem has become

so great that any solution less than international unity will not suffice.

Another key element to the Paris Agreement is holding developed nations to a

proportional standard. Developed nations contribute significantly more greenhouse gas emissions

than developing countries do. Developed nations have had the resources to establish

self-sufficient and stable economies, and therefore, have the ability to lend some resources to

developing nations. Additionally, developed nations have contributed more to the problem, and

hence, must have a larger responsibility in the solution.

A major argument against this agreement dissects the fact that developed nations would

hold a higher responsibility in reaching the solution. Yet, this argument simply does not

recognize the magnitude of the problem. The simple fact is that global warming cannot be

resolved without a unanimous approach. By looking at the solution through the lens of wanting

to ‘keep score’, the advantage of unity is lost. Many times throughout history, countries have

united in alliances during times of war. Especially in the World Wars, countries that typically

may not have been on the same page would unite given the situation. Each country’s individual

beliefs were not the most important thing- the most important thing was facing a common

enemy. Climate change needs to be examined with this similar attitude. In this situation, the

common enemy is the problem itself, climate change, as it will bring permanent changes that will

come to affect the livelihoods of every person on the planet. A problem that will come to affect

everyone is bigger than any individual conflict between nations. Therefore, these differences

need to be set aside, and the world must unite in reaching the common goal. The war simply

cannot be won without a united front.

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Another great obstacle to solving climate change is the inability to recognize the

magnitude of the problem. Many nations simply do not prioritize mitigating climate change, and

therefore, the problem continues to progress. At this stage, an apathetic approach will not be

enough to solve the problem. By not doing anything, the problem will not simply remain where it

is now- it will continue to worsen. Therefore, it is critical that global leaders and citizens

comprehend the true size of the issue. The best way to recognize the magnitude of the problem is

to examine the evidence, and to look ahead at what the future may look like if no changes are

made. According to NASA, the evidence of climate change is abundant- the average global

temperature on the surface of the Earth has risen by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree

Celsius) in the past two centuries. Additionally, the temperature of the ocean is warming, polar

ice caps are melting, glaciers are shrinking, and the amount of snow cover is decreasing. The

increased magnitude of ice melting has contributed to the rise of sea levels around the globe. As

a result of these changes, precipitation patterns are becoming more extreme and natural disasters

more frequent (6-13).

Once this evidence can be recognized, a common rebuttal asks why these changes even

matter, and questions the validity of long-term consequences of climate change. One of the

biggest issues with the nature of this problem comes from the idea of positive feedback loop. A

positive feedback loop is a cycle, where the effects of climate change are amplified as these

effects contribute to the original causes. There are two major examples of this type of feedback

loop in the context of climate change. The first being that of thawing permafrost. The arctic and

tundra regions have permafrost- which is simply ground that is always frozen. Within this

permafrost, there is “an estimated 1,460 to 1,600 billion tons of trapped carbon” (Climate Reality

Project 20) which will be released into the atmosphere if this permafrost were to thaw. Due to
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rising global temperatures, this permafrost has begun to thaw, and hence releases carbon dioxide

into the atmosphere. This additional release of carbon dioxide increases the amount of

greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, therefore contributing to global warming. This global

warming raises the temperature of the Earth, causing more permafrost to thaw, and hence the

cycle continues, exacerbating the problem (Climate Reality Project 19-20).

A second example of a positive feedback loop is that of the melting ice caps. Large

amounts of ice have the ability to deflect some solar radiation away from the Earth, helping to

reduce global temperatures. But, as global warming happens, the increase in surface temperature

contributes to the melting of these massive glaciers and ice sheets. Besides the positive feedback

loop, it should also be noted that melting ice sheets also contribute to rising sea levels. The

melting of this ice offers less surface area to deflect radiation, hence allowing the Earth to

become warmer, which melts more ice, and the cycle continues on (Climate Reality Project

21-25). Understanding these positive feedback loops is incredibly important, because it shows

how the current temperature changes that humans have caused will be exacerbated, simply

because of the nature of positive feedback loops. The problem is worsening on its own.

Therefore, it is necessary to understand that not taking action is no longer an option,

given that the problem has been started, it will continue even if humans stopped ‘artificially’

releasing greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. As global warming continues, there could be

permanent, long-term consequences to our planet. According to NASA, growing seasons will be

affected, as areas throughout the world will have more intense seasons- with longer and more

extreme heat waves as well as altered precipitation patterns. Major changes to growing seasons

could affect food production, and world hunger is already a problem. Additionally, rising sea

levels could cause increased flooding and eventually, could affect the habitability of some
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locations around the world. And finally, natural disasters will become more frequent and

destructive (1-7). But, the future has the potential to look different- by taking active steps to

reduce climate change, these consequences do not have to become a reality.

After uniting the world in understanding the urgency of the situation and the need for

solutions, the next problem to tackle will be the best method to solve the problem. The best

strategy to truly solve the problem in the long-term is a worldwide switch to clean energy. By

clean energy, this means any type of energy production that creates a net of zero emissions,

which can include, but is not limited to, solar, wind, hydraulic, and nuclear power.

Both NASA and the United Nations argue for a transition to wind and solar energy, some

of the most mainstream forms of clean energy. These methods of clean energy have already

begun to be developed and refined, offering a great alternative to burning fossil fuels. Wind and

solar energy are trusted methods of clean energy, relying on the wind and sun, two constants that

exist simply by the nature of our planet. One example of a successful transition to wind energy is

found in Denmark. As reported by the United Nations, in late 2021, the Danish parliament voted

to implement the creation of an artificial ‘energy island,’ which would operate entirely off of

wind power (1-2). By the final stage of its development, this island would be able to support ten

million households with their energy needs (5). But this plan is also incredibly efficient, as when

there is a surplus of energy created, some of the power will be converted into “hydrogen and

climate-neutral fuels” (UN 6) that can be used to power many types of machines and engines.

Yet Denmark is no stranger to clean energy methods, as in 1991, Denmark led the charge as “the

first country in the world to build an offshore wind farm” (UN 1). Denmark is a part of the Paris

Agreement, and is using creative, clean energy solutions given the specific topography of its land

in order to create solutions that adequately fit the country’s needs and the conditions of the treaty.
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Denmark’s clean energy methods are just one example of the creative ways that wind and solar

energy can be used to provide power as opposed to the burning of fossil fuels.

Fig. 2. An artist’s representation of one of the “energy islands” created in Denmark’s

sustainability plan (Gordon 1).

Yet, one of the major public concerns with this mass energy transition is the extensive

financial investment it will require. Therefore, many are led to believe that economic prosperity

and solving climate change are two situations that cannot exist simultaneously. But, Heather

Taylor argues otherwise. As a former Legislative Director for the Office of the Natural Resources

Defense Control (Taylor 2), she outlines how although the transition to clean energy will require

significant financial backing, the clean energy industry will also create a significant amount of

employment opportunities. She describes how “clean energy jobs are growing 2.5 times as fast as

traditional jobs” and that “the climate bill that passed the House of Representatives last June

[2009] could generate nearly 2 million new jobs” (Taylor 12). Especially in the context of a

global pandemic, jobs are needed everywhere. The transition to clean energy could not only put

the world on the right track for solving climate change, but could actually foster economic

benefits in the long run.

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One concern with wind and solar energy is its consistency- given that these energy types

look to use the wind and the sun, in certain seasons or weather conditions, these types of clean

energy may not be able to produce a constant, reliable flow of energy. Therefore, in his article

from the Gale Opposing Viewpoints database, Christopher Barnard argues for the use of nuclear

energy as a type of clean energy. Barnard describes the benefits of nuclear energy as opposed to

wind and solar energies. As the head of events and campaigning at students for Liberty UK

(Barnard 1), Barnard describes how nuclear power is more reliable than wind or solar power,

“with an average capacity of 92.3 percent, meaning it is fully operational more than 330 days a

year” (Barnard 6). Additionally, Barnard addresses how one of the challenges with nuclear

energy is the general stigma concerning its safety, and reassures the audience that nuclear power

is much safer than it has been in the past and that the probability of a Chernobyl-caliber disaster

is extremely low. Barnard focuses on the reliability of nuclear power, and describes how

investing in the development of nuclear power could reveal the true potential of this type of clean

energy.

But, there does not necessarily need to be a debate over which type of clean energy,

whether that be wind, solar, or nuclear power is the ‘best.’ Rather, with the flexibility of the Paris

Agreement, each nation is able to individually decide by what methods they will reduce their

emissions. Therefore, given the benefits and drawbacks of each type of energy, as well as the

landscape of any given region, each country can decide which type of clean energy best suits

their country. The goal is to facilitate the global transition to clean energy, no matter what

specific type of clean energy that may be.

On the other hand, Rebecca Robbins argues for a deliberate increase in forestation in an

article found in the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law. She describes the natural benefits of
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trees- simply because of the basis of their photosynthetic processes, trees take in carbon dioxide

and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. Quantifying this notion, she states that with “749

million acres of forestland,” trees were able to entirely remove around 13 percent of greenhouse

gas emissions and offset around 16 percent (Robbins 17-19). Catered to scientific researchers,

Robbins effectively addresses and refutes counterarguments, describing how although the

process and equipment required for mass tree-planting can produce some greenhouse gasses, the

end result is a net benefit for the environment.

Although planting a significant amount of trees is one solution to climate change, this

strategy will not be the most effective given the current situation. One of the major issues with

this technique is the availability of land. Although there are many locations throughout the world

where trees can be planted, there are also extreme biomes where this solution may not be

feasible, or in the end, may create more of a hassle for a smaller end benefit. Additionally, in the

hypothetical situation that tree-planting was the predominant method for combating climate

change, space on the globe to plant trees would eventually run out. Finally, this method simply

works to mitigate climate change- by trying to compensate and offset some of the greenhouse gas

emissions. Therefore, by nature, this solution is more of a temporary solution, as it does not truly

attack the source of the problem. There would come a point where there are no more trees that

could be planted, or more specifically, no more that will create a net benefit. At this point, the

problem would still exist, as humans likely would have continued to produce a large amount of

greenhouse gasses- bringing the issue back to square one. Therefore, although planting trees

could be a helpful supplementary action to help mitigate climate change, it is not the best method

to combat climate change on the whole. Rather, with a transition to clean energy, the problem

will be stopped directly at its source- offering a long-term solution.

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Climate change is a rapidly worsening global issue that is going to require swift and

effective solutions. With the magnitude of this global problem, the world needs a global solution

in order to solve it. Countries must come together to create an international solution. This

international solution is the Paris Agreement. This agreement satisfies the need for unity and

recognizes the urgency of the situation. This international treaty will create a united front of

nations that are putting their differences aside and working together for a common goal. At the

end of the day, the negative consequences of climate change will affect everyone, and without

complete collaboration, everyone will suffer the consequences. Either everyone will win together

or everyone will lose together. With the worsening of the problem, an apathetic approach is

simply not enough. With the facilitation of the global Paris Agreement, countries must take a

hands-on approach to make the investment in the transition to clean energy in order to solve

climate change. The main contributor to global warming is the production of greenhouse gasses,

which comes from the burning of fossil fuels. Therefore, the elimination of the burning of fossil

fuels is the most effective way to tackle the problem at its root. Within the Paris Agreement,

countries are given the flexibility to choose which type of clean energy best suits their resources

and needs- whether that be solar, wind, nuclear, or some other type of net-zero emission energy

source. This treaty creates a blend between unity and liberty- bringing together countries in a

way that is necessary, while still granting the individual freedom to choose the best strategy to

reduce emissions in each respective country. This agreement will foster the international

transition to clean energy necessary to conquer climate change, and will create a better, brighter,

tomorrow.
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Works Cited

Barnard, Christopher. "If Climate Change Is a Dire Threat, Why Is No One Talking about

Nuclear Power?" Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2022. Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/KARAQX775535671/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVI

C&xid=5759d678. Accessed 6 Feb. 2022. Originally published as "If Climate Change Is

a Dire Threat, Why Is No One Talking about Nuclear Power?" Foundation for Economic

Education, 29 Apr. 2019.

Climate Action: Science, Solutions, and Solidarity for a Liveable Future. United Nations,

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange. Accessed 6 February 2022.

How Feedback Loops Are Making the Climate Crisis Worse. The Climate Reality Project,

https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/how-feedback-loops-are-making-climate-crisi

s-worse. Accessed 13 February 2022.

Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. NASA, 2008, https://climate.nasa.gov/.

Accessed 2 February 2022.

Gordon, Philip. “Denmark to Build New ‘Energy Islands’ as a Part of Sustainability Plan.” Smart

Energy International.

https://www.smart-energy.com/renewable-energy/denmark-to-build-new-energy-islands-a

s-part-of-sustainability-plan/. Accessed 20 February 2022.

Robbins, Rebecca. “A Growing Need: Increasing Agricultural and Urban Forestation to Combat

Climate Change.” Vermont Journal of Environmental Law. Vol. 22, Issue 2, 2021, pp.

69-102.
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Taylor, Heather. "Clean Energy Jobs Will Provide a New Source of Economic Growth." Jobs in

America, edited by Debra A. Miller, Greenhaven Press, 2011. Current Controversies.

Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010740220/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=

6bdcbb6f. Accessed 9 Feb. 2022. Originally published as "Why Climate Change Deniers

Should Still Support Green Energy," NRDC Action Fund, 2010.

The Paris Agreement. United Nations: Climate Change.

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement.

Accessed 13 February 2022.