Mahnoore Hamid Hamid1 Professor Studdard ENGL 1302 December 26, 2018 Is Global Warming Real or Not? Global warming is an issue that is currently faced by the entire planet, humanity needs to consciously tackle it in order to save the species and the planet from destruction. Global warming, which is also called the greenhouse effect, is a subject that has acquired much attention among media and government institutions in the recent years. However, many among the population are not aware of climate changes as an impactful event among out modern times. Global warming has impacted many livelihoods of people living in different areas and its effects are accelerating due to human activities that contribute to global climate change. The growth of the population has its demands and increased use of fossil fuels means of manufacturing and processing. All of these are factors in increased emissions into the atmosphere which in turn increases global warming. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. But how strongly do they impact the atmosphere? Some gases are more effective than others at making the planet warmer and ‘thickening the Earth’s blanket.’ Gases with a higher GWP absorb more energy, per pound, than gases with a lower GWP, and thus contribute more to warming Earth” (Environmental Protection Agency). The Global Warming Potential (GWP) was developed to allow comparisons of the global warming impacts of different gases. “Tropical deforestation, also by human hands, is another major contributor to global warming. When these forests are burned, they release huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and in addition, because the forest no longer exists, they are no Mahnoore Hamid Hamid2 Professor Studdard ENGL 1302 December 26, 2018 longer available to absorb CO2” said the Union of Concerned Scientists (Union of Concerned Scientists). The burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation, such as coal, natural gas, and oil are the actions that produce the most carbon dioxide. Over the years, the ration of heavy to light carbon atoms has decreased while the overall amount of CO2 has increased. This information basically tells scientists that fossil fuel emissions are the largest contributor of atmospheric CO2 concentrations since the pre-industrial era. When all the natural and humaninduced climate drivers are compared to one another, the dramatic accumulation of carbon from human sources is by far the largest climate change driver over the past half century. The main reason that is impacting and effecting global warming is the growth of human population and the increased need for resources and modes of productions that are harmful to the atmosphere and the general environment. The utilization land for shelters, cities, and other forms of settlements decreases the land that is supposed to harbor plants and trees that are supposed to balance the state of the air and also promoting the balance within the atmosphere. Modern manufacturing methods and the demand for processed foods also increase the rate of global warming due to the un-environments friendly modes of its mass production. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “Livestock production accounts for 70 per cent of all agricultural land use, occupies 30 per cent of the planet’s land surface and is responsible for 18 per cent of greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide” (David Suzuki Foundation). As global meat consumption increases so does its climate impact.
