Argument Analysis of An Inconvenient Truth
Perspective
We should start from now to alleviate the worsening climate crisis—global
warming.
Argument 1
Global warming is undoubtedly a truth.
Evidence
Ÿ Before-and-after pictures show the retreating glaciers in many corners of the
world, including Boulder Glacier in Montana, Upsala Glacier in Argentina,
Huascaran Glacier in Peru, etc.
Ÿ Ecosystem is gradually destroyed because of climate change, which results in
phenomena like the rising sea level and temperature of atmosphere.
Ÿ Due to the melting permafrost, China firs in Alaska are lopsided and buildings
in Siberia are collapsing.
Argument 2
Global Warming is largely caused by human activities.
Evidence
Ÿ Temperature record shows that ten hottest years ever recorded are among
the past fourteen years.
Ÿ Release the curve that shows the drastically rising temperature and
increasing amount of CO2 these years.
Ÿ According to Professor Roger Revelle, the amount of CO2 has been increasing
for more than half a century.
Counter-argument 2
Is global warming largely caused by human activities?
There are some theories pointing out global warming results not only from
human activities but from other natural phenomena. Al Gore ignored those
possible reasons and emphasized human activities only.
Evidence
Ÿ Sun variation theory: this theory says that the global warming is caused by
the change of sun activities, and we can see that the sun is still growing and
becoming stronger. The effect by the sun is also important. Hence, we can't
ignore the influence of sun.
Ÿ Little ice age theory: Around 1850, the climate began getting warmer and the
Little Ice Age ended. Some global warming critics believe that Earth's climate is
still recovering from the Little Ice Age and that human activity is not the
decisive factor in present temperature trends.
Argument 3
Some catastrophes are seemingly caused by natural forces but actually they
aren't, because they only happened after global warming became more and
more serious.
Evidence
Ÿ Species are being endangered a thousand times more quickly than natural
extinction rate.
Ÿ There was the first case that the polar bears were drowned because they
couldn't find the ice cap to rest on.
Ÿ The amount of global rainfall is twenty percent more than it was a hundred
years ago.
Ÿ Hurricane Catarina striking Brazil in 2004 was the first hurricane that ever
landed on the coast of South Atlantic.
Counter-argument 3
Gore insists that some catastrophes were seemingly caused by natural forces
but actually they weren't, because they only happened after global warming
became more and more serious.
Is it real? Al Gore said his argument was based on the IPCC report. However,
there are some points Al Gore can't explain clearly.
Evidence
Ÿ No one can prove the relationship between those serious catastrophes (such
as hurricane) and global warning. One professor of MIT used computer to
simulate the formation of Katrina, but he can't find the relationship between
Katrina and sea temperature. And the historical statistics of strength of
hurricanes can't explain Al Gore's theory either.
Conclusion
The Americans should and can do something to solve the problem of global
warming. They do have the obligation since America is the main country to
blame because the amount of CO2 emitted by America is more than that
emitted by all the other countries, including Asia, South America, Australia,
and so on. Also, Gore definitely believes the Americans are capable of doing
something as long as they don't feel desperate without making efforts. Judging
from the obstacles the Americans have successfully overcome, Gore is
extremely confident that they Americans can solve this problem if they can be
united and determined to do their bits.