Introduction

Global warming entails an increase in the average surface temperature of the earth as a result of greenhouse gasses emissions in the atmosphere, which works to trap the sun’s heat causing the earth to warm up. In 2001, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made a conclusion that human activities are the ones responsible for the changes in the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and these changes are the causes of the increasing temperature.¹ The IPCC also made a projection that lack of government action on the issue would result to increased greenhouse gasses and the increasing concentrations in the atmosphere would result in increased temperatures and climate change hence bringing about detrimental effects to humans. The history of global warming shows that the earth’s temperature has risen over the years (currently it is roughly 14.8 degrees Celsius). The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is also above 400 ppm; which is the highest in over millions of years.⁴ The inception of industrialization period saw the commencement of this increase due to increased human activities that resulted in the emission of greenhouse gasses.  Global warming has a negative effect on humans and the general ecosystem, but there are viable solutions that can help reduce its severity.

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Effects on the Ecosystem

Global warming tends to have a negative effect on the ecosystem. Over the years, the warming of the atmosphere has forced some species to migrate to higher elevations or higher latitudes in search of conducive conditions to enhance their survival. Similarly, the rise in sea level results to the intrusion of salt water into fresh water resulting in the death of some key species or some are forced to migrate.² This results in the removal of prey or predators that are deemed critical to the established food chain. Climate change as a result of global warming also interacts with varied human stressors like development. Some of these stressors only result in minor impacts when they are acting alone, but can result in dramatic ecological changes when their impact is cumulative.

The effect of global warming on the ecosystem should not be taken lightly. Global warming can result in food web disruptions, which can have an effect on varied organisms. A favorable example is how the polar bears are negatively affected by the decline of sea ice. The extent and duration of sea ice decline in the Arctic results in the decline of ice algae that tend to thrive in nutrient-rich areas on the ice.⁴ The algae are consumed by zooplankton, which are in turn consumed by Arctic cod. Arctic cod are an essential source of food for varied marine mammals including seals.⁴ Seals are in turn consumed by polar bears. This shows how a decline in sea ice results to decline in population for other organisms that could not be termed as being directly involved. Another insight is that more than 20% of fish that is found in fresh water has already become endangered, extinct or threatened.¹ Imagine the deprivation that would be caused by the continuous increase in sea level.

Climate change resulting to shift in ecological conditions also supports the spread of parasites, diseases and pathogens that have detrimental effects on fisheries, human health and agriculture.³ A good example is the Perkinsus Marinus, which is an oyster parasite with the capability of causing extensive oyster die-offs.

Causes/Effect

Global warming comes as a result of excessive greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Among the important greenhouse gasses, there is methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and water vapor. GHGs are more of naturally occurring gasses, which have no harm when they are kept in balance.⁴ Nonetheless, their excessive presence makes the system to become unbalanced, and this is when things start to go astray. Emissions from human sources have contributed to the continuous rise of these gasses levels to a point where they are no longer sustainable. This is to say that human activities are the major cause of global warming.

The effects of global warming are varied, and their severity could increase if appropriate actions are not taken by the relevant governments. Global warming has resulted in high air temperatures. This has resulted to ice melting in all parts of the world, more so at the Earth’s poles. The rising temperatures have also had an effect on many species. A good example is how it has resulted in the decline in the number of Adelie penguins on Antarctica. Their numbers have declined from 32,000 breeding pairs and now stand at 11,000 in a period of 30 years.³ Some foxes, alpine plants and butterflies have migrated to higher, cooler areas in to salvage their survival.

As a result of global warming, sea levels are also expected to rise in the region of 7 and 23 inches.¹ As a result of this action, storms and hurricanes are expected to become stronger.  Droughts and floods will become more prevalent, and availability of fresh water will decline. Some diseases such as mosquito-borne malaria will be on the rise too.

Global warming also has a negative effect on climatic conditions. In the United States, there is the presence of extreme weather. Currently, there is the prevalence of the hottest summers to be recorded, and winters have also become colder than normal.

Possible Solutions

There is no a single solution to help curb global warming. The only approach that would work best is a combination of national, regional and individual positive actions. Among the actions that people could take is reducing emissions. The government ought to come up with policies and regulations that deter people from producing excessive heat-trapping emissions.³ Individuals on their part should take the initiative to reduce personal carbon emissions. Among the ways to do this is by embracing green transportation in their daily activities. This would go a long way in curbing global warming since transportation alone contributes to around a third of the country’s climate-changing emissions.²

Curbing deforestation will also go a long way in ensuring that global warming prospects have been reduced. Destruction of tropical forests is responsible for around 10% of heat-trapping emissions that are experienced worldwide.⁴ Encouraging people to plant more trees by the relevant authority would help in reducing global warming as the trees have the ability to absorb the excess GHGs from the atmosphere. This works as a comprehensive long-term solution to the effects of global warming.

Phasing out fossil fuels and encouraging sustainable development would also help in curbing aspects of global warming. The initial step towards phasing out fossil fuel is by ensuring that new coal-burning power plants are not built, and closure of the existing ones should commence starting with the old ones. Sustainable development, on the other hand, involves development that does not bring about negative environmental impacts.¹

Conclusion

Global warming is a serious problem that is usually triggered by human activities that result in the emission of excessive greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. It usually exhibits a negative impact on the ecosystem since it results to death of some organisms that are deemed vital for the existence of others within that ecosystem. The rising temperatures also have a direct impact on some species and also results to rising of the sea level. The good thing is that that are solutions to this existing problem. The solutions require the involvement of all stakeholders at the national, regional and individual level. People should stop deforestation, phase out fossil fuels and come up with regulations that help in reducing greenhouse gasses emissions.

References

1. Haldar I. Global Warming:The Causes And Consequences. 1st ed. New Delhi: Mind Melodies; 2011.
2. Leiserowitz A, Maibach E, Roser-Renouf C, Feinberg G, Howe P. Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in April 2013. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2013. doi:10.2139/ssrn.2298705.
3. McCright ADunlap R. THE POLITICIZATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLARIZATION IN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC’S VIEWS OF GLOBAL WARMING, 2001-2010. Sociological Quarterly. 2011;52(2):155-194. doi:10.1111/j.1533-8525.2011.01198.x.
4. Stocker T. Climate Change 2014. Impacts, Adaptation And Vulnerability. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2015.

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