In the 21st century, global warming, also known as climate change, has been an increasingly prominent topic of discussion among governmental officials and the general public. Although there is considerable debate over various aspects of global warming, there are also some generally recognized facts. These facts address the nature of global warming as well as specific facts concerning the phenomenon.
Climate Change Is Real
The average temperature on Earth has risen about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, according to National Geographic, quoting the Goddard Institute for Space Studies at NASA. Much of this temperature rise has occurred in recent decades. The last two decades of the 20th century were the warmest recorded for the past 400 years. Temperatures in western Canada, Alaska and eastern Russia have risen at twice the average of the rest of the planet.
Humans Are Responsible For Global Warming
The general consensus in the scientific community is that human activity is a major factor in global warming, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, quoting a 2005 report issued by the United States Academy of Sciences. Much of the responsible human activity is associated with the Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 19th century. Deforestation and pollution have contributed to higher levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and methane that trap heat near the surface of the earth, according to National Geographic.
Sea Levels Are Rising
Coastal areas and small islands are among the most vulnerable areas to rising sea levels. National Geographic reports that in the United States, Florida and Louisiana, especially the region around New Orleans, which is located below sea level, are most at risk. On Tegua, an island in the Pacific Ocean, rising sea levels forced the relocation of 100 residents by the government. There are plans underway to move 2000 more residents for the same reason, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
Climate Change Adversely Affects Human Health
Climate change is implicated in the increased occurrence of many health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases, according to a 2010 report jointly published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Environmental Health Perspectives. Increased human exposure to pollen, ultraviolet rays and airborne particles are implicated in the report. Altered weather patterns, including extended heat waves, related to global warming, are also implicated in an increase in human health problems.
Climate Change Affects Extreme Weather Effects
National Geographic reports that an increase in the number of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and wildfires, can be at least partially attributed to climate change. The Environmental Defense Fund warns that the current warming trend is unlike anything that the human species has ever experienced. Another complicating factor is the fact that human populations are interconnected and interdependent because of globalization.
The Arctic Ice Cap Is Retreating
NASA reports that if the present rate of global warming continues, the Arctic polar ice cap will disappear entirely during the 21st century. In Alaska, the 400-year-old village Shishmaref is collapsing because of melting permafrost, and plans are underway to relocate the residents, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. The National Geographic claims that unless the present pattern changes, the Arctic region may have its first ice-free summer by 2040, if not earlier.
Climate Change Is Accelerating Species Extinction
Coral reefs, which are highly sensitive to even slight changes in water temperature, have suffered extensive bleaching as a result of climate change, according to National Geographic. More than 1 million land-based species may be extinct or nearly so by 2050. Habitat destruction and adverse effects on ecosystems threaten species diversity worldwide, according to National Geographic.
Climate Change Contributes to Malnutrition
Climate change is responsible for crop failures and food shortages worldwide, according to a report prepared by Oxfam International and reported on the website Guardian.co.uk. Prenatal and early childhood malnutrition caused by famine and food shortages are a human consequence of climate change, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Environmental Health Perspectives report.
Global Warming is Linked to Neurological and Mental Disorders
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Environmental Health Perspectives report implicates exposure of vulnerable populations to biotoxins found in items such as computer batteries, compact fluorescent lights and pesticides as causing an increased occurrence of neurological disorders. The report also warns that increased mental health support will be necessary to deal with the human cost of loss of life and property caused by climate change.
There is No Single Solution to Climate Change
Climate change is caused by multiple factors and affects many areas of human existence as well as the state of the earth's environment. The Union of Concerned Scientists and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change agree that global warming is a complex problem that does not lend itself to a single "silver bullet" solution. The key to slowing and eventually reversing the effects of climate change is to take a multi-faceted approach that focuses on developing renewable energy sources and reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.
References
- National Georgraphic: Global Warming Fast Facts
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Environmental Health Perspectives: a Human Perspective on Climate Change
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: The Arctic Perennial Sea Ice Could Be Gone by End of the Century
- Environmental Defense Fund: Global Warming Myths and Facts
- Pew Center on Global Climate Change: About Solutions
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