Global warming
Global warming is causing a big impact that is affecting Earth as
we speak. Its effects can cause sea levels to rise and will flood San
Francisco and even Oakland. Global warming is the warming that happens
when certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat. Global warming is
caused mostly by humans that release these gases through factories,
electricity production, and the burning of fossil fuels. Due to the fact that
temperatures will rise, sea levels will rise too because the majority of the
ice will melt. Yet, there is always a solution for every problem and in this
case, humans can use renewable energy and recycle as much as possible to
preserve our Earth.
There are several greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Human activity produces those gases in many different ways. According to
National Geographic, “most of these greenhouse gases come from the
burning of fossil fuels in cars, factories, and electricity production” (Cohen
3). In other words, most greenhouse gases are trapped in the atmosphere
for a long time because humans release them, increasing global warming
with rising temperatures. The burning of fossil fuels in cars, factories, and
electricity production is a constant, continuous problem for the
environment. “The gas responsible for most warming is carbon dioxide,
also called CO2. Another gas that causes global warming include methane
released from landfills and farming” (Cohen 3). In other words, carbon
dioxide, or CO2, increases global warming due to the fact that it is
released into the atmosphere from factories and electricity for example.
Methane is worse than carbon dioxide though and it is released from the
trash in landfills and from the cow’s manure. Humans kill plenty of cows
to produce beef and other dairy products and that is affecting the
environment with the releasing of methane.
There are also several effects of global warming including the fact
that glaciers are melting and temperatures are rising. According to Neil
Morris, “a warmer world has always meant rising sea levels…Warm water
is less dense than cold water, so global warming makes the ocean expand”
(Morris 14-15). In other words, warmer climate melts glaciers.
Consequently, if all the ice melts, there will be an extinction of polar bears,
penguins, and other species because their habitat will be destroyed. With
more water in the ocean, that can cause sea levels to rise. As a result,
coastal regions will be flooded and the majority of people who live there
will suffer from drought.“Experts anticipate that rising temperatures may
lead to more people becoming ill or even dying from the heat” (Morris 20).
In other words, human health depends on good environmental conditions
and it is linked to the temperatures on Earth. If temperatures get hotter,
there will be a higher risk of catching a disease such as malaria on account
of mosquitoes. Rising temperatures may also lead to people dying from
heat, and the heat will dry up most of the land as well, leading to crop
failure and starvation.
It is not too late to fight global warming. There are plenty of
solutions including renewable energy and an individual’s decision to
decrease the amount of CO2 they emit into the atmosphere. According to
Global Solutions, “solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun’s
energy and make it usable. Today, the technology produces less than one
tenth of 1% of global energy demand” (Mendel 3). In other words, solar
energy is an important renewable energy source that can help reduce
global warming. It is a fuel source that won’t run out and won’t cause any
pollution or noise. Due to the fact that the sun’s heat can generate energy,
solar panels can produce electricity on its own and without releasing
CO2 into the atmosphere. According to The Cheeseburger Footprint,
“there’s a little thing called methane. It’s a greenhouse gas that is, pound
for pound, about 23 times more effective a greenhouse gas than carbon
dioxide” (Cascio 1). In other words, methane is worse than CO2 since it is
23 times more effective because it pollutes most of the air. Cows produce
about 220 kilos of methane per year in manure. In addition, beef and dairy
products come from cows, and they are releasing way too much methane.
Humans should eat less red meat and dairy products, such as yogurt and
milk, to reduce methane from making a bigger impact on global warming.
Although humans are the ones that are causing global warming by the
minute, and the effects of global warming are leaving fast results, there is
still time to fight it. Renewable energy will help the environment a lot and
so will recycling. Global warming is a major problem because it can
destroy not only our Earth, but it can kill us too. People should be aware of
their lives and the planet they live in, and they should take a step forward
now before it's too late. Global warming is very dangerous and it's
happening, but it's worth fighting against it.