If the rest of the world lived the way the people in the United States did, humans would need 5 piles of the earth's worth of resources to sustain life (Berger). This fact is very alarming to grasp, and it demonstrates how climate change has affected the United States for the worse. Additionally, it shows how Americans cannot continue to live the way they do now as the rapid effect is detrimental. As humans, taking responsibility and taking hold of the dominion that God gave to us is essential. Climate change began in the United States in the late 18th century due to Industrialization that led to the creation of greenhouse gases, which resulted in creating the greenhouse effect; This effect creates global warming and health issues for humans, however, a solution to this problem is to reinstall fossil fueled products with solar-fueled products.
Climate change is described in two main definitions. The first is, how Humans’ actions affect our environment in negative ways (Hausfather). This definition describes the activities humans do in their day-to-day lives that influence our atmosphere. The second definition states that just as a greenhouse contains heat, new gases that float into our atmosphere hold heat ('Climate Change Impacts”). This definition represents how climate change is created from new gases from oil and traps heat as it rises, which overconsumes the Earth’s atmosphere resulting in many issues. Overall, a clear definition is important to understand what climate change is, how it occurs as well as how it affects the society today.
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In the first place, Climate change derives from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s. The Industrial Revolution created a spark in climate change in America due to the innovations that occurred during this time. It is described that “This rate of warming is ~50 times faster than the rate of warming during the previous 21,000 years.” (Scotese as cited by Fox). The warming of the atmosphere was set off by an ample amount of carbon being pushed into the atmosphere due to factories and transportation such as trains and cars. To support this, thousands of students in an outlined document, that looked at melting glaciers and other natural disasters concluded that it is clear that, climate change is created by human activity (Wuebbles). The facts that have been obtaining it prove that climate change does exist and that we need to help the Earth flourish rather than contribute to the damage.
The United States government enlisted laws to help prevent climate change from persisting. One law that the government put into effect is the Clean Power Plan of 2015. The Clean Power Plan of 2015 focuses on carbon emissions reductions and using clean energy rather than coal-fired power. ('Climate Change Laws'). With laws like the Clean Power Plan, it helps find ways to use renewable resources rather than using coal-fired fuel as coal-fired fuel damages the environment significantly. Limiting natural gases allows people to implement their ideas on replacing old and harmful products with safer and green-friendly strategies which will help reduce adding toxins in the atmosphere significantly.
Natural gases are a massive cause of climate change. Natural gases are created through decomposed plants and animals that are fossilized into the oil. For example, natural gases are used in cooking, heating, electricity generation as well as fuel for vehicles; this just demonstrates how much people use these gases in their day-to-day lives. This gas is exposed through “...leaks into the atmosphere from oil and natural gas wells, storage tanks, pipelines, and processing plants.” (“Natural gas explained”). Due to the copious number of ways natural gas can be exposed to our atmosphere, 29% of America's methane emissions are produced through all the leaks and deserted oil wells (“Natural gas explained”). The methane percentage as well as the number of leaks shows how important it is to reduce the amount of natural gas we use.
Additionally, not only does the amount of gas add to climate change, but human activity also plays a key role in this contribution. The United States economy holds a major reliance on fossil fuels; therefore, climate change is looked over by many people because they either do not know how bad it is for the atmosphere or it is overlooked as this process is a profit to the economy for many. Due to this negligence, humans do not account for things like how “Well drilling activities produce air pollution and may disturb people, wildlife, and water resources.” (“Natural gas explained”). The blindness and thoughtlessness of humans contribute to the negative effects on the climate.
Once the Industrial Revolution hit the United States, greenhouse gases began to create what we know as the “greenhouse effect”. The greenhouse effect is how greenhouse gases hold heat in the earth's atmosphere. Due to specific human activities causing the mass production of gases “...the total warming effect from greenhouse gases added by humans to the Earth’s atmosphere increased by 37 percent.” (“Climate Change Indicators”). The main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, has been increasing since we have focused on the production of coal, oil, and natural gas to produce electricity. Humans contribute to these gases Greenhouse gases not only affect the earth’s ozone but also confine the sun’s radiation which then makes the earth’s exterior temperate (“What are greenhouse gases?”). The greenhouse effect put the damage humans are doing to Earth in perspective.
Some people may think that global warming and climate change are the same, but global warming is an effect of climate change; the effect that climate change has on global warming creates an increase in temperature in the United States. The Union of Concerned Scientists, the creator of Solutions of Global Warming in North America states, “Substantial scientific evidence indicates that an increase in the global average temperature of more than 2°F above where we are today poses severe risks to natural systems and human health and well-being.” (“Solutions of Global Warming”). Although 2 degrees does not originally sound like a massive change, over time, the temperature begins to add up and creates additional problems. Global warming begins to create drought which can result in uncontrollable wildfires, which can then create even larger problems, for not only the atmosphere but also for other aspects of life. Not only does Climate change cause global warming but it can also cause health issues as well.
Health issues are another main concern that comes from climate change. Health issues resulting from climate change start when greenhouse gases eliminate parts of the ozone that leads to the sun's radiation seeping through and putting human health at risk (“What are greenhouse gases?”). As the sun radiates more due to these changes, it can heighten the chances of skin cancer; which can be life-threatening over time. People often deflect skin cancer to being in the sun with no sunscreen or being ‘prone’ to it however they often do not consider the other factors such as climate change that can be a factor. Secondly, respiratory problems in animals and humans can arise from climate change (“Climate Effects on Health”). The dangerous gases that are being mass produced can consume human and animal lungs causing numerous amount of raspatory problems. Respiratory problems not only can be fatal, but they can also contribute to other health issues if not resolved or treated. To help reduce respiratory problems and unnecessary radiation from the sun being caused by climate change, society needs to take the necessary steps to address the problem.
Biblically, climate change should have never existed. After God created the Earth, He chose to create humans to take care of it. In Genesis 1:28, God tells us, “... Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Bible Gateway). In this verse, God is telling us to take care of the Earth and everything in it. As Christians, we need to obey Him and treat the Earth the way God intended it to be treated. Everything is made in God’s image and by not taking care of what He gave us we are losing the opportunity to love God’s creation in full. A solution is needed to stop the damage we are inflicting.
The solution to climate change is to replace fossil-fueled objects with solar-powered products. Since the 1970s oil crisis, Denmark has been trying to replace fossil fuels with biofuels and wind-powered objects through their energy policies (Bellefonds). Denmark’s government has the ability to put the law in place that states, “Every five years, the government must set a legally binding emissions target across sectors of the economy including energy, housing, industry, transportation, agriculture and forestry.” (Bellefonds). This benefits Denmark's environment as it cuts its carbon emissions by nearly 70 percent (Bellefonds). Denmark is able to implement laws like this because they obtain a government that works for change. Denmark is also a much smaller country than the United States, so the laws are easier to enforce and there are fewer people contributing to their pollution. With that being said, the United States government should enforce the idea of solar-powered objects rather than coal-powered objects. Just with the company, Solar Energy Industries Association alone, “...the 2 million residential, commercial and utility-scale solar installations produce enough electricity each year to power more than 12 million American homes.” (Mackenzie). This means that if the government enforces solar energy, America could use clean and efficient power over polluted power caused by coal and oil; helping to contribute to a clean environment while still obtaining the energies needed to function. Implementing solar power into businesses, factories, houses, and transportation is key to developing a clean Earth.
In conclusion, climate change has been around since the 18th century and increased due to the Industrial Revolution. Climate change is caused by natural gases and human activity which then created the greenhouse effect, global warming, and health issues for Americans. In order to stop climate change and help reverse the effects already created, we need to implement solar-powered objects into factories, houses, and transportation. If people in the United States do not act soon, the obscure thought of resources running out could become a reality. Taking initiative and responsibility will lead to the downfall of climate change and a rise of a safe and clean Earth.
References
- Bellefonds, Collen. U.S. News. 7 January 2020. https:www.usnews.comnewsbest-countriesarticles2020-01-07denmarks-aggressive-new-climate-law-blazes-path-for-developed-countries. Accessed 27 January 2021.
- Berger, Daniel. “7 scary facts about climate change”. MSNBC. 14 April 2015. https:www.msnbc.commsnbc7-scary-facts-about-climate-change-msna573931. Accessed 5 February 2021.
- 'Climate Change Impacts on the United States.' Environmental Issues: Essential Primary Sources, edited by Brenda Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner, Gale, 2006, pp. 114-117. Gale InContext: Biography, link.gale.comappsdocCX3456400053GPS?u=d0_mlpbcls
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