“Although nature needs thousands or millions of years to create a new species,

man needs only a few dozen years to destroy one.” This quote from Facebook had me
thinking for a while. I am a human, the most privileged living creature on Earth. And
I thought that one of the scariest things a human can do is destroy its home. As
curiosity goes by, a man invents things that can help his daily life, to make work
easier and faster, but at the end of the day, he also creates the greatest weapon that
can kill himself, a knowledge that goes beyond imagination. Greenhouse gases
trapped in the atmosphere are causing global warming, resulting in the pollution of
our planet. A man’s curiosity is destroying his home, and I am that man, a destroyer.
I cannot deny that one of my nightly routines is to watch TikTok before
sleeping, and then one clip shows the devastating consequences of a waterless Earth,
depicting a barren and desolate planet. The next one is what will happen without air.
It became so yellow that I could not even comprehend what was happening. Third,
without trees, it shows the earth is burning, and without the sun, it is freezing. Last
but not least, without humans, it shows a beautiful green planet, just like a vivid
painting of contemporary art. I learned from that clip that our planet is built for
humans, but humans do not deserve it.
Humans have no intention of destroying their planet; who in their right mind
would? But the question is, do humans know their limitations? As the economy
continuously progresses, the world, on the other hand, is starting to die. Factories
produce greenhouse gases, but they are necessary for manufacturing essential
products. Cars and other vehicles contribute carbon dioxide, but our reason for using
them is to make transportation easier and faster. We have no intention of destroying
our planet, but our curiosity and recklessness make it happen.
Furthermore, in this modern world, technology has become the means of
living. In contradiction, we can actually live without it but as time goes by, our wants
become our needs, resulting in improper uses of natural resources. A modern man
has no contentment in a world without technology. In return, nature is the one who
is suffering. Nature's suffering affects humans as they receive back what they have
given. What we gave is what we received in return, and we cannot blame anyone else
for global warming but ourselves. From the perspective of an average man,
environmental calamities are just normal, occurring whenever the time takes place,
not knowing that calamities themselves are human work and results of their efforts
to achieve their ultimate happiness that has no limitation.
In the research article I have read recently, it states the definition of global
warming as the rapid increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature in the past
few decades. The article talks about the causes and effects of this phenomenon and
the effects are so alarming and concerning. The major causes are the burning of fossil
fuels, the depletion of the ozone layer, and aerosols. The major effects are extra water
vapor and evaporation, the shrinking of glaciers, and excess heat (Shahzad, 2015).
After reading the article, I have reflected on how unfortunate our planet is at
the hands of humans. I am afraid of telling myself that global warming is slowly
killing people by destroying urban and rural areas, particularly in the present time in
Mindanao. Mindanao is currently experiencing heavy rainfall due to the low-pressure
area that has been circulating in the past few weeks. Filipinos were used to
experiencing typhoons, storms, earthquakes, floods, and many more environmental
problems, not just because of their tropical location but also as part of a global
warming effect, which is climate change. In the context of Mindanao, heavy
precipitation resulted in floods and landslides that caused schools to stop operations
for about a week and also caused deaths among flood victims and landslide victims in
some areas of Barangay Masara, Municipality of Maco, Province of Davao de Oro,
Philippines. Human activity particularly mining, and heavy rain, is to blame for the
landslide incident. The majority of victims are miners and people living in that area.
The said incident can be normal in the Philippines, but if we dig deeper into the
context of global warming, extreme heat can cause an increase in evaporation, which
can be the reason for the production of many water vapors from the atmosphere,
resulting in heavy rainfalls, floods, and landslides.
Going back to the article, global warming is the result of the production of
greenhouse gases, which are mostly produced by: 3.4% from waste disposal and
treatment; 10% from land use and biomass burning; 10.3% from residential,
commercial, and other sources; 11.3% from fossil fuel retrieval, processing, and
distribution; 12.5% from agricultural byproducts; 14% from transportation fuels;
16.8% from industrial processes; and 21.3% from power stations. These gases are
composed of 72% carbon dioxide, 18% methane, and 9% nitrous oxide. The statistics
clearly stated the effect of annual greenhouse gas emissions by sector, and three of
the biggest contributing factors are power stations, industrial processes, and
transportation fuels. The world will continue to evolve, so as the biggest industries
form now, our planet will continue to suffer together with people themselves.
Moreover, the power station has the biggest contributing factor in greenhouse
gases, which is 21.3% in total. World Bank Data (2017) claimed that, “approximately
91.4% of the world’s population will have access to electricity in 2021. This represents
a significant increase from 83% in 2010. Despite this progress, approximately 757
million people will still be without access to electricity by 2020. Electricity levels vary
across neighborhoods and do not differ between urban and rural areas. Sub-Saharan
Africa has the highest number of unauthorized people: the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, etc. Greater
efforts are needed to improve the situation.”
Additionally, the second biggest contributor of greenhouse gases is from
industrial processes. Industrial processes contribute significantly to the emission of
greenhouse gases, which is a major factor in global warming. According to the US
Environmental Protection Agency (2020), “the industrial sector is the largest
contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, accounting for 30% of
total emissions in 2021, including both direct and indirect emissions associated with
electricity use. The types of fossil fuels used in industrial processes, such as coal,
natural gas, and oil, emit large amounts of CO2, with the combustion of fossil fuels
accounting for 15% of total US CO2 emissions and 12% of total US greenhouse gas
emissions in 2022. The industrial sector emits 25% of global carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions, including emissions from activities such as cement, steel, iron, and
petrochemical production. These emissions contribute to the overall increase in
greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and its associated impacts.”
In continuation, the third biggest contributor of greenhouse gases is from
transportation fuels which is 14% of the total production of gases. Majority of people
uses cars or any transportation vehicles in order to use on daily basis. This is the best
alternative transportation in the present, it is also time efficient. However, the use of
fuels can greatly affect the greenhouse gases contribution for global warming. This is
primarily due to the combustion of fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, which
releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (Reynolds,
2021).
As I reflected on the three various sources of greenhouse gas contribution, this
data gave me goosebumps, as it felt unstoppable and inevitable. It is because the
progression of modernity is continually evolving and the more progress, the more
uses of fossil fuels. It is hard to stop this behavior, as the modern mindset contains
self-centeredness and does not even care about the environment. It is the first
responsibility of the biggest organization to start with the mitigation of these
problems.
In the context of global warming effects, the environment, humans, animals,
crops, and other living things can be greatly affected by the sudden increase in the
Earth’s average surface temperature. In our environment, one of the major effects of
global warming is the shrinking of glaciers. The Thwaites Glacier, also known as the
“Doomsday Glacier,” is one of the places where ice glaciers have been collapsing. It is
located in West Antarctica and is particularly vulnerable to the warming of the
oceans, which is causing rapid melting and leading to the disintegration of its ice
shelf. The collapse of this glacier is of great concern because it could contribute to
catastrophic sea level rise, impacting coastal regions across the globe (Rush, 2023).
As global warming continues to raise the air’s temperature, an increase in
evaporation can contribute to extra water vapor that can cause floods and draughts
in many areas of the world. Warmer temperatures lead to increased evaporation,
causing more water to enter the atmosphere. This can result in heavier rainfall and
more intense storms, leading to an elevated risk of flooding. On the other hand, the
increased evaporation can also lead to drier conditions in certain areas, contributing
to the onset of drought. The increased water vapor can cause the water cycle to
intensify, which can result in more extreme weather conditions like prolonged dry
spells and heavy precipitation.
In humans, it can cause stress, which may lead to high blood pressure and
heart disease. According to the European Society of Cardiology (2022), climate
change-exacerbated high air temperatures and heat extremes are associated with a
significant burden of cardiovascular disease, particularly among the elderly and
people with pre-existing conditions. Adverse environmental conditions, such as air
pollution, have an interactive effect on heat-related health effects, further increasing
the risk of acute cardiovascular events. Additionally, epidemiological studies have
shown that heat can result in ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and
arrhythmia.
In animals, because the planet is getting hotter as a result of global warming,
animals are being forced to relocate to cooler environments in order to survive. There
are numerous locations where this phenomenon has been observed, including the
Alps, the alpine region of Queensland in Australia, and the misty forests of Costa
Rica. Even fish that live in the North Sea are migrating to locations that are cooler
(Shahzad, 2015). The way in which animals move can provide insight into the degree
to which the earth is warming up. They believe that global warming is steadily
causing harm to the habitats of a great number of creatures, which is ultimately
leading to their extinction. It is a significant issue, and we must make efforts to put a
stop to it. The most disheartening aspect of the situation is that it is solely our fault,
but animals are impacted by it. Once more, we are the ones responsible for the
destruction of our own home as well as our own planet, which is the Earth.
 In terms of crops, global warming can cause crops to fail, which can lead to
famines and a loss of the body’s ability to fight off viruses and illnesses
(Shahzad,2015). Extreme weather events like heat waves, droughts, floods, and
wildfires are getting worse because of climate change. This makes it harder for farms
to grow food and for hungry people to get it. There is a high risk of crop failure and
hunger in places where farming families are already weak and where climate change
is having a big effect on food security. Studies have shown that changes in weather
trends and rising temperatures can cause crops to fail at the same time, which lowers
harvests and food production. Also, global warming can completely mess up the
world’s food markets, which can lower the amount of food that is produced and
available. Because of poor diet and lack of food security, these effects can eventually
make people less resistant to diseases.
In order to avert this problem, various solutions have been promoted and
implemented at the present time. This solution might be effective if we are
responsible individuals, since change will start with ourselves. The research article by
Shahzad (2015) stated that the most effective solution to global warming is to use
alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydro.
Other strategies can also help, such as cutting the usage of vehicles, which are the
primary producers of toxic emissions, producing awareness campaigns, recycling,
reforestation, and using nuclear power with care.
The use of alternative energy sources can be the biggest contribution to
lessening the production of greenhouse gases. One example of this is through wind
power. Wind power is a beneficial alternative energy source for mitigating the impact
of global warming. It is a renewable and emissions-free energy source with fewer
effects on the environment compared to many other energy sources. Wind turbines
do not release emissions that can pollute the air or water, and they do not require
water for cooling. Additionally, wind energy produces lower lifecycle greenhouse gas
emissions compared to fossil fuels, contributing to the fight against climate change
and reducing harmful air pollutants (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2022).
Secondly, using solar power is also important to lessen the carbon dioxide
production to our atmosphere. According to Solar Technology Office (n.d.), to fight
global warming and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it is important to use solar
power. Solar energy is a source that can be used over and over again. It is a key part
of lowering greenhouse gas pollution and slowing down climate change. Burning
fossil fuels is replaced by clean, natural energy. Solar power helps lower the amount
of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are released into the air. Solar
panels also help make the electric grid more stable and reliable by lowering both
global warming and the urban heat island effect. There are worries about the possible
unintended effects that huge solar farms in the desert could have on the climate, but
solar energy does have a big effect on lowering carbon dioxide pollution and fighting
climate change as a whole. Using solar power is one of the most important things we
can do to fight climate change and lower our carbon footprint.
Third, reducing the effects of the situation can also be helped by using
biomass, geothermal, and hydropower. Using hydropower, geothermal, and biomass
power can help slow down global warming. These forms of renewable energy put out
very little or no carbon, which helps lower greenhouse gas levels. Geothermal energy
comes from the Earth’s core, electricity from moving water, and biomass energy from
plants and other organic matter. Paleontological Research Institution (2021) says
that all of these sources help cut down on our use of fossil fuels, which lowers carbon
dioxide pollution and fights climate change. Energy that does not harm the
environment, like wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, and geothermal power, is
called sustainable energy. By using these green energy sources and adding them to
our energy mix, we can make big steps toward reducing global warming and its
effects.
Lastly, raising awareness, recycling, planting trees, and using nuclear power
are all things that can be done to slow down global warming. Campaigns that raise
awareness can teach people about climate change and its effects and push them to do
something to lower their carbon footprint. Recycling can help cut down on the trash
that ends up in landfills, which can release methane, a powerful warming gas.
Planting trees again can help take carbon dioxide out of the air and lower the amount
of greenhouse gases in the air. Nuclear power is a low-carbon way to get energy,
which can help cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, these plans can
help slow down global warming, but it's important to think about the problems and
limits they might have (Panepinto et al., 2021).
As I reflect on these words, I am filled with a sense of responsibility and hope;
a realization that I possess enough knowledge of the world to make a positive impact
and save it. It all begins with us taking the first steps towards change. However, we
must acknowledge that our efforts will be futile if we do not work together. Let us not
forget that we are the ones causing harm to our own planet, and it is our duty to
repair it by taking small but meaningful actions each day. By doing so, we can ensure
a bright and happy future for generations to come. And just like how we need fresh
air to breathe, so does mother earth, and it is up to us to surround her with the pure,
fragrant beauty of nature.