Jasmine Alvarez
Professor LaDuca
ENG102 18224
Rough Draft
In our everyday lives we don't notice the small ways that we are contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Things that are now deemed convenient and normal are doing irreversible damage to the Earth. This essay is going to discuss ways people can implement renewable energy at home and reasons as to why it's important, the history and extent of climate change. It will also discuss the repercussions of the problem, a Band-Aid, and a long-term solution. The intended audience for this essay is policy makers, people who are leasing and owning a home/property and want to know more information on renewable energy and how they can implement it in their homes. Understanding that there are more alternative options to be a part of the solution and why change for the better of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is crucial.
To start off, in 1827, Jean Bapiste Fourier discovered the warming of the Earth and how the atmosphere can trap the heat. From 1856-1859, Frourie's theory was confirmed by U.S. scientist Eunice Newton Foote, and another physicist John Tyndall reached the same conclusion. Then, climate change concern began to grow in the late 19th century. Greenhouse gas levels were rising; this means the gases are trapping the sun's heat near the surface of the Earth. This led to climate change becoming more political and public. In 1911, the amount of greenhouse gases emitting reached its highest. The temperature of the Earth continues to rise rapidly every year. The debate around climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss is multifaceted. Some argue that climate change and biodiversity aren't real, or they say it's too late for anything to be done. Climate scientists claim that global warming and climate change are humanly caused. People often try to downplay the climate crisis. In 1983, the New York Times released an article on global warming and discusses why the author believed there was no reason for people to worry about it. As Dean Burnett states, "some of you reading this may have been taken in by the fear-mongering governments or corrupt scientists so brainwashed into thinking climate change is a real thing that 'threatens all of humanity' or some other nonsense". This shows that people do believe that climate change is something that was made up to provoke fear into people. In 2024, artificial intelligence has the possibility to worsen climate change. The article states that there are two threats that come with AI; massive amounts of water and energy used to operate ai systems, and social media spreading lies about climate change. The article states, "scholars and activists describe AI as a tool of 'electronic capitalism'" (Friends of the Earth, 2024). However, artificial intelligence data centers are still getting built and continue to grow.
Next, the extent of climate change is an issue the society is currently seeing is that the rise in sea levels is rapidly rising. Since 1880, sea levels have risen around 8-9 inches. There was a tv showing 1958 that warned people that polar caps were melting and are causing the sea levels to rise. The reason for sea levels at an all-time high has to do with glaciers and ice sheets melting. Another contribution to climate change is deforestation. Rather than allowing indigenous and locals to have control over their own territories, there are people cutting down trees and clearing out land to build structures. This issue with deforestation is that the trees are able to store massive amounts of carbon. When trees are burnt or cut down, all the carbon being stored in the trees is released back into the atmosphere. The importance of renewable energy is to improve public health, fight climate change, and ensure sustainable economic growth. As stated by the UNTAD, "Unsustainable consumption and production underpin the deeply interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, which are inseparable threats to people and the planet". This shows that people need to understand and address the role they play in their consumption and their unsustainable lifestyle.
The repercussion of this issue is that the Earth is facing drastic weather changes. The Earth is facing droughts and floods. Additionally, droughts can make an impact on people's health and slow the production of food and floods is increasing the risk of diseases being spread. Another repercussion the Earth is facing is biodiversity loss. Animals and plants are struggling to live and adapt to the worsening environment. In addition to that, the quality of the air is decreasing, and the amount of pollution is rising. In 1963 the Clean Air act was passed by the U.S. Congress; this act is still in effect however it faces limits. The 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment standard for vehicles was repealed by the EPA. This was a decision that doesn't help with climate change and only furthers the issue more. There are many people and organizations that speak out on the issue and how the government and society need to do more to help save the Earth. For example, Juliana V. United States, is a constitutional climate case that was filed by a group of people against the U.S. government. This case is regarding the government's policies that are the reason behind the damage of the climate and is violating their constitutional right to life, property, and liberty. This case continues to be dismissed to the present day. This shows that the government could be doing more and implementing better policies to help the decline in the Earth's health.
Next, a band-aid solution is geoengineering; activities that have the intent to cool the planet or remove the gases from the atmosphere. Additionally, solar engineering was made with the intent to limit/change the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface. Marine solar radiation management was made with the intent to prevent ice/glaciers from melting by adding materials into the ocean to help reflect the sun. Another band-aid solution is adapting the infrastructure to the climate. Adapting the infrastructure to be able to withstand future disasters like flooding would help prevent isolation when it occurs. Investing in the cost to prevent damage to the infrastructure would cost less than having to rebuild/fix them when disasters do happen.
Onto the long-term solutions to climate change; increasing the use of renewable energy. To dig a little deeper, cutting the use of coal powered coal plants would reduce the CO2 emissions by 30%. This also impacts the air quality; coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants. For example, mercury, nitrogen oxide, and lead are released when coal burns, this causes difficulty breathing, brain damage, cancer, heart problems, and premature death. A great way to substitute fossil fuels is using solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal energy as an alternative. Another long-term solution is to protect forests and oceans. As discussed earlier in the essay, trees can store massive amounts of carbon. Additionally, planting more trees and plants rather than cutting them down would help with carbon levels. Oceans can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a problem that contributes to deep sea mining. Deep sea mining causes serious, irreversible damage to the oceans and sea life. Wildlife loses their habitat because of the extraction of oil and gases. Polar bears have been deemed endangered in 2008, and there are still no actions that have been taken to help save them. So, prohibiting deep sea mining, oil, and gas drilling would help stabilize carbon dioxide levels.
In conclusion, climate change, biodiversity loss, and global warming are continuing to worsen. This essay discussed the history of climate change; there was a spike in greenhouse gases in the late 1900's. Then, the extent of the problem; deforestation and rising sea levels. Next, there was a discussion about the repercussions of the issue; drastic weather changes and biodiversity loss. Lastly, band-aid solutions and long-term solutions were geoengineering, adapting our infrastructure, increasing the use of renewable energy, and protecting forests and oceans. Understanding that there are alternative options to be a part of the solution and why change for the better of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is crucial.
Works Cited Page:
Professor LaDuca
ENG102 18224
Rough Draft
In our everyday lives we don't notice the small ways that we are contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Things that are now deemed convenient and normal are doing irreversible damage to the Earth. This essay is going to discuss ways people can implement renewable energy at home and reasons as to why it's important, the history and extent of climate change. It will also discuss the repercussions of the problem, a Band-Aid, and a long-term solution. The intended audience for this essay is policy makers, people who are leasing and owning a home/property and want to know more information on renewable energy and how they can implement it in their homes. Understanding that there are more alternative options to be a part of the solution and why change for the better of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is crucial.
To start off, in 1827, Jean Bapiste Fourier discovered the warming of the Earth and how the atmosphere can trap the heat. From 1856-1859, Frourie's theory was confirmed by U.S. scientist Eunice Newton Foote, and another physicist John Tyndall reached the same conclusion. Then, climate change concern began to grow in the late 19th century. Greenhouse gas levels were rising; this means the gases are trapping the sun's heat near the surface of the Earth. This led to climate change becoming more political and public. In 1911, the amount of greenhouse gases emitting reached its highest. The temperature of the Earth continues to rise rapidly every year. The debate around climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss is multifaceted. Some argue that climate change and biodiversity aren't real, or they say it's too late for anything to be done. Climate scientists claim that global warming and climate change are humanly caused. People often try to downplay the climate crisis. In 1983, the New York Times released an article on global warming and discusses why the author believed there was no reason for people to worry about it. As Dean Burnett states, "some of you reading this may have been taken in by the fear-mongering governments or corrupt scientists so brainwashed into thinking climate change is a real thing that 'threatens all of humanity' or some other nonsense". This shows that people do believe that climate change is something that was made up to provoke fear into people. In 2024, artificial intelligence has the possibility to worsen climate change. The article states that there are two threats that come with AI; massive amounts of water and energy used to operate ai systems, and social media spreading lies about climate change. The article states, "scholars and activists describe AI as a tool of 'electronic capitalism'" (Friends of the Earth, 2024). However, artificial intelligence data centers are still getting built and continue to grow.
Next, the extent of climate change is an issue the society is currently seeing is that the rise in sea levels is rapidly rising. Since 1880, sea levels have risen around 8-9 inches. There was a tv showing 1958 that warned people that polar caps were melting and are causing the sea levels to rise. The reason for sea levels at an all-time high has to do with glaciers and ice sheets melting. Another contribution to climate change is deforestation. Rather than allowing indigenous and locals to have control over their own territories, there are people cutting down trees and clearing out land to build structures. This issue with deforestation is that the trees are able to store massive amounts of carbon. When trees are burnt or cut down, all the carbon being stored in the trees is released back into the atmosphere. The importance of renewable energy is to improve public health, fight climate change, and ensure sustainable economic growth. As stated by the UNTAD, "Unsustainable consumption and production underpin the deeply interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, which are inseparable threats to people and the planet". This shows that people need to understand and address the role they play in their consumption and their unsustainable lifestyle.
The repercussion of this issue is that the Earth is facing drastic weather changes. The Earth is facing droughts and floods. Additionally, droughts can make an impact on people's health and slow the production of food and floods is increasing the risk of diseases being spread. Another repercussion the Earth is facing is biodiversity loss. Animals and plants are struggling to live and adapt to the worsening environment. In addition to that, the quality of the air is decreasing, and the amount of pollution is rising. In 1963 the Clean Air act was passed by the U.S. Congress; this act is still in effect however it faces limits. The 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment standard for vehicles was repealed by the EPA. This was a decision that doesn't help with climate change and only furthers the issue more. There are many people and organizations that speak out on the issue and how the government and society need to do more to help save the Earth. For example, Juliana V. United States, is a constitutional climate case that was filed by a group of people against the U.S. government. This case is regarding the government's policies that are the reason behind the damage of the climate and is violating their constitutional right to life, property, and liberty. This case continues to be dismissed to the present day. This shows that the government could be doing more and implementing better policies to help the decline in the Earth's health.
Next, a band-aid solution is geoengineering; activities that have the intent to cool the planet or remove the gases from the atmosphere. Additionally, solar engineering was made with the intent to limit/change the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface. Marine solar radiation management was made with the intent to prevent ice/glaciers from melting by adding materials into the ocean to help reflect the sun. Another band-aid solution is adapting the infrastructure to the climate. Adapting the infrastructure to be able to withstand future disasters like flooding would help prevent isolation when it occurs. Investing in the cost to prevent damage to the infrastructure would cost less than having to rebuild/fix them when disasters do happen.
Onto the long-term solutions to climate change; increasing the use of renewable energy. To dig a little deeper, cutting the use of coal powered coal plants would reduce the CO2 emissions by 30%. This also impacts the air quality; coal releases airborne toxins and pollutants. For example, mercury, nitrogen oxide, and lead are released when coal burns, this causes difficulty breathing, brain damage, cancer, heart problems, and premature death. A great way to substitute fossil fuels is using solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal energy as an alternative. Another long-term solution is to protect forests and oceans. As discussed earlier in the essay, trees can store massive amounts of carbon. Additionally, planting more trees and plants rather than cutting them down would help with carbon levels. Oceans can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a problem that contributes to deep sea mining. Deep sea mining causes serious, irreversible damage to the oceans and sea life. Wildlife loses their habitat because of the extraction of oil and gases. Polar bears have been deemed endangered in 2008, and there are still no actions that have been taken to help save them. So, prohibiting deep sea mining, oil, and gas drilling would help stabilize carbon dioxide levels.
In conclusion, climate change, biodiversity loss, and global warming are continuing to worsen. This essay discussed the history of climate change; there was a spike in greenhouse gases in the late 1900's. Then, the extent of the problem; deforestation and rising sea levels. Next, there was a discussion about the repercussions of the issue; drastic weather changes and biodiversity loss. Lastly, band-aid solutions and long-term solutions were geoengineering, adapting our infrastructure, increasing the use of renewable energy, and protecting forests and oceans. Understanding that there are alternative options to be a part of the solution and why change for the better of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is crucial.
Works Cited Page:
