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Isaac Falk

Professor Flores

English Composition II

1 May 2022

The Dangers Of A Changing Climate

“Humanity faces many threats, but none is greater than climate change. In damaging our

climate, we are becoming the architects of our destruction. We have the knowledge, the tools,

and the money [to solve the crisis]”, - Prince Charles, U.K. With global sea levels rising almost a

foot over the last century, many have introduced debates about the issue of climate change and

global warming all over the world. It is safe to say that almost everyone has been in a situation,

at some point in the last decade, where they have had their family dinners ruined by someone

bringing up a crisis that may or may not pose a threat to life on Earth. With viewpoints ranging

from those who believe that climate change is completely a hoax, to those who believe that

climate change will be responsible for the death of all life on Earth in a very short period of time,

many are left confused without knowing what to believe. The easy way out for most people is to

ignore the issue entirely. However, this approach is a dangerous one, and one that we simply can

not afford to continue to make. To turn a blind eye to the climate crisis is to act as if it is not real.

In fact, this increasingly popular mentality is what makes climate change so effective at being a

destructive force. Essentially, climate change is a seemingly invisible force that causes doubt

about its existence for many people. However, the effects of climate change are far from

invisible. Climate change, as caused by humans, has released dangerous amounts of carbon into

the atmosphere and poses an immediate threat to life on Earth. To prevent the crisis from further
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worsening, renewable energy sources must be invested in on a global scale as we transition away

from burning fossil fuels entirely.

Public opinion on the issue of climate change has changed drastically in the past few

decades. As more modern and contemporary science becomes available, new research is

constantly coming out which largely shapes public opinion on the issue. However, it is important

to start from the beginning. The issue of climate change originated when the existence of the

natural greenhouse effect was first noticed in the early 19th century. The greenhouse effect is a

natural process that warms the surface of the Earth. It is considered to be the reason why the

Earth is at a warm enough temperature for humans and other life forms to sustain life. However,

many quickly feared that humans could potentially offset this natural process in catastrophic

ways. Essentially, the industrialization of society has released carbon into the atmosphere at

exponential rates never seen before. Many became worried that humans, through the process of

heavy industrialization, were pushing the greenhouse effect past its natural limits. If this

hypothesis were to be true, many scientists during the late 18th century feared that the global

temperature would increase as a result. At the time, this was just a concern and was not taken as

seriously. In fact, the media rarely covered the issue of climate change at all until the drought of

1988. The drought of 1998 proved that extreme weather conditions were starting to occur at

alarming rates and ultimately started a new social movement that advocated the fight against

global warming and climate change. European countries dominated the social movement and

took some of the earliest actions to reduce carbon emissions. Conversely, less progressive

countries denied the existence of climate change as well as the idea that humans were primarily

causing it. As years went by, more modern science proved the existence of climate change and

global warming caused by humans and this pushed more and more countries to take action all
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over the world. Today, public opinion in favor of the idea that climate change, as caused by

humans, poses a real threat to life is the highest it's ever been. More and more people are

continuing to follow the scientific consensus on the issue, and more and more countries are

finally starting to take action to reduce carbon emissions.

Climate change can primarily be attributed to the irresponsible release of greenhouse

gasses by humans. This is a claim that is virtually not even debated anymore in the scientific

community at this point. The overwhelming consensus, as summarized by the NOAA, states that

‘humans are putting an estimated 9.5 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year

by burning fossil fuels, and another 1.5 billion through deforestation and other land cover

changes” (Herring). These numbers reflect the terrifying reality that humans are continually

putting a dangerous amount of carbon into the atmosphere on an annual basis. Scientists have

been able to undeniably connect this statistic with the 2-degree Fahrenheit increase in global

average temperature since the late nineteenth century. A 2-degree Fahrenheit increase over the

past century is unprecedented and is a direct reflection of global warming being caused by

humans.

Humans have only been on the Earth for a short period of time, yet are already

responsible for environmentally catastrophic events. Modern humans have existed for far less

than 1 percent of the total existence of Earth, yet are causing the planet to increase in global

temperature at a rapidly unprecedented rate. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,

and Medicine puts this into perspective by stating the fact that, “in Earth’s distant past, it would

take between 5 thousand to 20 thousand years to see the amount of change in carbon dioxide

levels that humans have caused in just the last 60 years”. This shows the significance of what it

means to exponentially increase the rate of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Without
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slowing down the exponential growth, humans will continue to worsen the issue even further.

This exponential flow of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere is what amplifies global

warming and climate change overall.

Further proof to connect human activity with climate change can be seen in various forms

of paleoclimate records. These provide insight into what the climate was like before humans

were a part of the equation. As stated by the Yale Climate Connections, “clues are stored in tree

rings, glaciers, corals, and ocean and lake sediments” (Harrington). By analyzing these climate

patterns of the past, and comparing them to the climate patterns currently, scientists can confirm

human influence on climate change beyond a reasonable doubt. The conclusion of these climate

pattern comparisons shows that the planet’s temperature in the most recent decades is the

warmest it has ever been. Not to mention the fact that humans have released 50 to 100 times the

amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than what would naturally occur without the

existence of industrialization. It is simply unscientific and logically unfounded to deny the fact

that human causation for climate change is real and problematic.

Now that it is understood that human activity is to blame for the existence of climate

change, it is now important to define how much of a threat it poses to life on Earth. The effects

of climate change are overwhelming, to say the least. As analyzed by National Geographic,

“rising average temperatures fuel increasingly intense wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters

that are now impossible to ignore” (McKeever). The increase in global temperature is causing

wildfires and other natural disasters at rates never seen before. This has already destroyed

hundreds of thousands of animal habitats as well as greatly affected small towns and big cities in

certain areas. The wildfires also account for roughly a quarter percent of the air pollution in the
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United States. Overall, these natural disasters as a result of climate change pose a direct threat to

all life forms on the planet.

Another dangerous effect of climate change is its impact on coastal areas. Coastal cities

and towns are most vulnerable due to their position concerning the ocean. The increased

temperatures are melting ice caps at an alarming rate. This causes the sea level to rise which, for

obvious reasons, is problematic to coastal living areas. The Environmental Protection Agency

has stated that “coastal areas are also vulnerable to increases in the intensity of storm surge and

heavy precipitation. Storm surges floor low-lying areas, damage property, disrupt transportation

systems, destroy habitat, and threaten human health and safety” (EPA). The fact that sea levels

have already been observed to have risen eight inches in the past century, makes this idea very

concerning. Combine this with the fact that a high percentage of the human population lives in a

coastal area and it becomes clear that climate change and global warming pose threats to life on

this planet.

Climate change does not only manifest itself in physical ways. It is also important to

point out the mental health effects caused by climate change. This is something many fail to

consider when analyzing the effects of climate change, however, it is crucial. Research

conducted by BioMed Central states that “extreme weather events… can trigger post-traumatic

stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, depression, complicated

grief, survivor guilt, vicarious trauma, recovery fatigue, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation”

(Hayes). All of these mental health issues are obviously very serious and climate change can be

attributed to an increase in these types of mental health issues. Overall, climate change has both

physical and mental ways of threatening life on the planet, and action must be taken to prevent it

from occurring to any greater extent.

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Now that it is provided that climate change is related to human causation as well as poses

a threat to life on Earth, the next step is determining what actions must be taken to negate the

effects. Firstly, renewable energy sources must be invested in on a global scale to replace the

fossil fuel industry entirely. Renewable energy is defined as energy sources that replenish

themselves over time. Some examples of renewable energy sources include; solar, wind, nuclear,

and hydropower. These all act as an alternative energy source to the burning of fossil fuels,

which is the current most popular practice to generate energy. The problem with burning fossil

fuels has got to the point where “fossil fuels produce up to 80 percent of all the energy we

consume” (Just Energy). This number is simply too high considering the harmful environmental

effects of burning fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels affects ocean acidification in

environmentally damaging ways due to the fact that “at least a quarter of the carbon dioxide

emitted from fossil fuels is absorbed by the ocean, changing its pH” (Environmental and Energy

Study Institute). This naturally causes issues with the habitats of aquatic life and makes the

acidity of certain ocean habitats completely uninhabitable for organisms to live. The emissions of

burning fossil fuels are also attributed to an increase in sea levels. The rising sea levels have

already manifested in dangerous ways for coastal communities. “With 40 percent of the U.S.

population living along the coasts, it is estimated that defending coastal communities from

sea-level rise could cost 400 billion dollars over the next 20 years” (Environmental and Energy

Study Institute). It is now commonly understood that burning fossil fuels as the primary energy

source comes with a huge cost, environmentally and financially. This is a great indicator that

drastic change needs to be made as soon as possible.

The ideal way to move on from this outdated form of sourcing energy comes in the form

of renewable sources. More and more countries are beginning to finally realize the true potential
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of renewable energy sources. Future projections all demonstrate that “renewable energy in the

future is predicted that by 2024, solar capacity in the world will grow by 600 gigawatts, almost

double the installed total electricity of Japan” (Folk). These numbers are quite impressive,

especially because other renewable energy sources are projected to grow other than solar. For

example, “onshore wind capacity is expected to expand by 57 percent to 850 gigawatts by

20224” (Folk). These projections exist because it is simply more cost-effective, as well as

environmentally conscious to have wind generate energy rather than burning fossil fuels dug up

from the ground. Furthermore, “the U.S. market for geothermal heat pumps will exceed 2 billion

dollars by 2024 as demand for efficient heating solutions increases. Geothermal energy is one of

the most interesting forms of renewable energy in terms of how it is generated, and it represents

the countless possibilities of sourcing energy in environmentally-conscious ways. Essentially,

when hot water is pumped, the pressure becomes dropped when it reaches the surface. This

instantaneously causes a release of steam which spins a turbine, which is where the energy is

redirected. With an increase in these new forms of technology, the price for renewable sources is

also getting considerably cheaper. In fact, “the cost of solar PV-based power declined by 13

percent in 2018, while Carbon Tracker predicts that 72 percent of coal-based power will become

globally unprofitable by 2040” (Folk). These projections suggest drastic changes in the future of

the energy market, and these changes are projected to occur very shortly.

When it comes to the discussion of climate change, there exists a huge range of opinions.

One of the most common arguments that attempt to deny the existence of climate change is that

there is no real consensus in the scientific community. This argument is usually followed by a

select few examples of seemingly credible people who deny the existence of climate change.

However, this demonstrates a failure to understand the definition of consensus. A scientific

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consensus is reached when an overwhelming majority of scientists in a community agree on an

issue. Even with the existence of a few exceptions, consensus can still be maintained. This is an

important concept to understand, especially because “the vast majority of actively publishing

climate scientists - 97 percent - agree that humans are causing global warming and climate

change” (Callery). When you have a number like 97 percent of climate scientists agree, a

consensus is reached and is to be followed.

Another very common argument that also attempts to deny the existence of climate

change and global warming is the argument that the climate has changed before and overall it is

just continually going up and down. This argument implies that the global average temperature

increase can be attributed to completely regular and natural causes and suggests that the

temperature will eventually go back down on its own. However, this is factually incorrect and the

recent increase in average global temperatures can be proved to be connected to global warming

as caused by human activity. Firstly, it is important to understand that changes in the climate do

occur naturally over long periods, but what has occurred in the last century does not exemplify

natural change. With global sea levels rising by 8 inches and global average temperatures

increasing 2 degrees Fahrenheit, naturally occurring changes in temperature are not valid

explanations.

Overall, climate change and global warming are real issues that are already beginning to

manifest themselves in physical and mental ways. The cause of climate change can primarily be

attributed to the burning of fossil fuels, as well as other human activities. The rate that the

climate is changing is alarming and the scientific consensus suggests that irreversible problems

likely have already occurred. Failure to take action immediately will only exponentially worsen

these problems. A logical progression in negating the effects of climate change is to invest in
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renewable energy on a global scale until it eventually replaces the fossil fuel industry entirely.

This is already projected to happen in the next couple of decades. A more

environmentally-conscious future is ahead of us as we devote all the resources we have to fight

against climate change before it really is too late.

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Works Cited

Callery, S. (2022, March 23). Do scientists agree on climate change? – climate change: Vital

signs of the planet. NASA. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from

https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/17/do-scientists-agree-on-climate-change/#:~:text=Yes%2C

%20the%20vast%20majority%20of,global%20warming%20and%20climate%20change.

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). (2021). Fact sheet: Climate, environmental,

and health impacts of fossil fuels (2021). EESI. Retrieved March 26, 2022, from

https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-climate-environmental-and-health-impacts-o

f-fossil-fuels-2021

Environmental Protection Agency. (2016, October 6). Climate impacts on coastal areas.

EPA.gov. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from

https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-coastal-areas_.h

tml

Folk, Emily. (2021, August 20). What the future of renewable energy looks like: Earth.org - past:

Present: Future. What the Future of Renewable Energy Looks Like. Retrieved March 27,

2022

Harrington, S. (2021, November 29). Causes of global warming: How scientists know that

humans are responsible. Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from

https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/03/causes-of-global-warming/
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Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018, June 1). Climate change and

mental health: Risks, impacts and priority actions. BioMed Central. Retrieved March 24,

2022, from https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6

Herring, D. (2021, September 22). Are humans causing or contributing to global warming? Are

humans causing or contributing to global warming? | NOAA Climate.gov. Retrieved

March 24, 2022, from

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/are-humans-causing-or-contributing-gl

obal-warming

Just Energy. (2021, November 16). Why Alternative Energy Sources are the future? Just Energy.

Retrieved March 26, 2022

McKeever, A. (2021, September 9). Why climate change is still the greatest threat to human

health. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/why-climate-change-is-still-the-great

est-threat-to-human-health

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2021, August 12). Humans are

causing global warming. Nationalacademies.org. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from

https://www.nationalacademies.org/based-on-science/climate-change-humans-are-causin

g-global-warming