A controversial topic of debate in today’s society questions the validity and ironic connections between climate change and human activity. While some would argue that climate change does not exist nor it’s impacted by human activities, it is still important to realize that we as humans have a direct impact on the Earth; affecting us currently and in the future, that will negatively impact the ecosystem of the Earth. A major factor that results in the dispute over this situation are the political factors that hold major influence and power over this debate. The ocean’s acidification levels and the immense number of extreme weather events both demonstrate the problem of climate change in the world today.

The warmer winters and hotter summers currently being endured by almost all inhabitants of Earth are no longer just a flake in the climate system; it is a direct result and warning sign to all of humanity that the Earth is warming at an alarming rate. This warming trend is currently effecting the livelihood of the Earth and its inhabitants; more than 95% of the global warming that is occurring today is a result of human activity (Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know? 2). However, this revelation is old news to scientists and researchers, “In 1977, The U.S. National Academy of Sciences warned that unrestricted greenhouse gas emissions might raise global temperatures as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit” (12). Further reiterating the fact that climate change is indeed real, and it is only worsening as time continues on.  A dangerous characteristic of the greenhouse gas, CO2, is that it is long-lived in the atmosphere; the effects of its presence in the atmosphere and its released emissions today can sustain for hundreds of years (Ward 3). Our future is immensely volatile in the eyes of scientist’s due to this fact. Since 2001, the warmest years ever recorded have been consecutive since the study was executed in 2016 (How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming? 1). This fact then brings to light the question of why and how is the Earth warming at such an alarming rate? A primary factor that correlates and coincides to an immense extent are the cumulative levels of greenhouse gas emissions by humans that have only increased dramatically since the Industrial Revolution (Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know? 12). With the increase of these harmful emissions in the atmosphere it will only increase the progression of the effects of climate change through rising sea levels and extreme weather events. These emissions are detrimental to the future of the atmosphere and the livelihood of mankind as we know, so it is necessary to come to a solution for this growing problem.

The most harmful aspect of these emissions are the levels of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. The carbon emissions released from fossil fuels have a distinct difference compared to other various types of carbon that is released in the atmosphere. This difference makes fossil fuel emissions easily distinguishable from other types of emissions. Scientists have been able to determine that fossil fuel emissions are the biggest contributor of carbon dioxide concentrations to the atmosphere. In past years the levels of other types of carbon have been decreasing while the cumulative amount of CO2 has increased (How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming? 1). With high levels of carbon dioxide, the global temperature will rise as a result (How Do We Know That Humans Are the Major Cause of Global Warming? 1). Yet a main question that arises with this conclusion is why are the levels of carbon dioxide increasing in our atmosphere? Human activity is the answer that 97% of scientists believe to be the reason for global warming and the culprit for increasing the carbon dioxide levels globally (Ward 1). This statistic from research only solidifies the fact that humans are responsible for the CO2 in the atmosphere that then, in turn, results in the major consequences of climate change.

An opposing factor that some may believe takes the blame away from human activity for increasing carbon dioxide level is the fact that modern volcanoes, although dormant, are also releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. However, their argument is only backed up by miniscule evidence; the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere by modern volcanoes is only 1% to 2% of the cumulative carbon dioxide emission (Ward 2). There are natural aspects of the environment that emit CO2 into the atmosphere; volcanoes, oceans and respiration by plants and animals, however they do not explain how and why there was a rapid increase of CO2 emitted.  Rather, considering the simple fact that the world’s oceans are now gaining CO2 and becoming acidic, this only further proves that human activities are causing the warming (Ward 2).  The natural emissions of CO2 are miniscule factors compared to the large amount of emissions from greenhouse gases and industrialization. The result and consequence of human activities is a much deeper and larger culprit for the rising levels of carbon dioxide than natural emitters; therefore, it is necessary for stronger standards and limitations of pollution to be set in place. 

  The acidification of the ocean is harmful for not only marine life, but also for the future of the ocean’s ecosystem as well. An increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere it then correlates to the ocean absorbing more carbon dioxide as well. Comparing the acidity of the ocean now to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution there has been a 30% increase (Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know? 1).  In terms of per year, this statistic shows an increase in the carbon dioxide absorbed by the upper layer of the ocean to be 2 billion levels of CO2 absorbed per year (Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know? 1). More than a third of the carbon levels in the world are absorbed by the ocean (Wells 1). These statistics depict the hazardous effects global warming has on the ocean ecosystem. Specifically, the influence global warming has on coral reefs is truly disheartening; coral bleaching occurs and ocean chemistry is altered severely through altering the food chain (Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know? 1). A globally prominent coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef, located on the coast of Australia, is currently suffering from the repercussions of ocean acidification from climate change.  Over the past few years there has been news worldwide about how this once magnificent coral reef is on the verge of dying, in terms of marine life, due to the ocean acidification challenging the reef.  Not only is ocean acidification severely changing the ecosystem of the oceans, but it is also effecting the food half a billion people depend on; fish (Wells 1). As a world, we are already seeing the negative consequences of global warming; something we cannot stop or change, but only control at this point if there is a uniform agreement to alter what we are doing to the environment and our Earth.

There are currently parts of the Earth’s oceans that are considered to be “dead zones”, in terms that marine life is incapable of thriving/living in that specified area. This is the process of how the ocean’s carbon absorption could result in a loop in which under oxygenated waters produce various microbes that turn the water anoxic; deprived and depleted of oxygen. This result of parts of the ocean being deprived of oxygen is hydrogen sulfide, “It’s the planet’s preferred gas for a natural holocaust” (Wells 1).  A situation that is not too common for the everyday individual to even be aware of that is responsible for the time that 97% of all life on Earth died millions of years ago is beginning to happen now (Wells 1). This fact is utterly discouraging to hear; the future of the world is truly in jeopardy all as a result of the carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere and oceans from climate change. Alongside the fact that in areas of the Gulf of Mexico and the area of Namibia in southwest Africa dead-zones where this process is occurring is already flourishing to this day. Climate change activists must make this worrisome fact known to the public through any means possible. Ignoring climate change and the fact a “natural holocaust” is en route to engulfing the Earth is completely hidden from the public and everyday individual’s knowledge. 

Examining the statistics and levels of extreme weather events such as heat waves, wildfires and superstorms depict the relationship between these events and the evidence of climate change. Since 1950 the number of record low temperature events have been decreasing as the number of record high temperature events have been increasing (Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know? 1).  The most recent examples of extreme weather events faced the United States during the summer and fall of 2017 that left many with massive devastation. A heat wave of an unruly 106 degrees Fahrenheit left San Francisco, California to deal with the deaths of 6 individuals and a major power outage, Hurricane Harvey caused major flooding across Texas resulting in 70 deaths and over 80 wildfires already burned through nine western U.S. states (Levin 1). Not only have these events taken away people’s homes and lives, but it is also costing the United States a large sum of money. Just Hurricane Harvey itself has an estimated $150 - $200 billion worth of damages and the wildfires across the U.S. result in $1.75 billion spent by the U.S. Forest Service alongside with the $400 million spent by the Department of Interior (Levin 1). These funds could be spent on a number of more beneficial things that would in the long run help improve the livelihood of the national as a whole rather than using it for damage control. A question to ponder is the fact of why all of a sudden have these extreme weather-related events become out of control? A major and vital factor to figuring out why weather-related devastation is occurring more frequently is looking at the role and impact of climate change on the environment itself. 

The world’s ecosystems are facing the irreversible effects of climate change that will greatly influence the future of the Earth. Specifically, grassland and tundra ecosystems are directly impacted by the warming global temperatures that then increase the grass and shrub plants. The increase of these plants results in a diminishing the competitive performance of various other plant types; consequently, rearranging the hierarchy of plants within this ecosystem (Grimm 2). This factor may seem miniscule in the grand scheme of things; however, any change in an ecosystem then affects the functions that play a role into the entire environment. These functions of an individual ecosystem could be a change in the nutrient cycling, water cycling, and the regulation of its regional climate (Grimm 2).  A change in any of these functions can then alter the entirety of the Earth’s ecosystem as a whole.

A significant factor being used in the argument of the existence of climate change is the current sea level rise, and especially what it means for our future. In the last two decades alone, the world’s sea levels have rose double of what it has in the last century; 8 inches (Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know? 1). With climate change continuing to cause global temperatures to rise, sea levels will increase steadily as well posing a major threat to mankind. On the current path of which we are releasing emissions into the atmosphere, sea level is estimated to rise by 1 food per decade (Romm 94). This threat comes in terms of the fact that there are major cities worldwide that are on coasts and with the increase of sea levels these cities will end up being engulfed by the ocean. A 2015 study found that the population of coastal cities could hit 1.3 billion by the year 2060. However, the major issue and problem that arises with this statistic is the fact that storm surges would then put more than 400 million people in the flood zone during storms (Romm 94). This is dangerous in many ways; for the safety of individuals, their homes and also the cities and infrastructure that would constantly be damaged by the occurrence of these massive surges. Out of all the effects climate change has on the environment, the most pressing and dangerous one that can currently negatively affect humanity are the rising sea levels.

So why has there been no formal addressment to this issue in order to put the negative effects of the changing climate under control?  The debate over the validity of the existence of climate change and our responsibility, as humans in the matter is a long-argued controversy. Pertaining specifically to the United States of America’s political system, climate change is one of the most controversial arguments currently facing the government. The Republican party of the USA, currently being led by President Donald Trump, are strong believers that despite the evidence climate change is not real. This has been an issue for many years specifically for this party publicly displaying their distrust and disbelief over the proof of climate change. However, there are individuals within this party who stray from the main stream belief that is associated with this party. Senator John McCain, his daughter and the mayor of Miami are some of the few who display their belief that climate change is indeed real (Concha 1). This division within a political party and then the controversy associated with other parties and beliefs further complicate the conclusion that can be made regarding this threatening situation. A public display of the separation within the Republican party occurred during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 when Senator McCain’s daughter tweeted via Twitter questioning the reasoning behind the Republican’s belief of climate change not being real after a very obvious superstorm occurred due to climate change (Concha 1). It is this public display of doubt and denial regarding the true existence of climate change that sparks and further complicates the controversy. The occurrence of extreme weather events is just another example of the consequences humanity is facing from the evolving crisis of climate change. 

One the other hand, there are those who believe that climate change is not real, nor that humans are responsible for it; the climate change deniers. These individuals are a few percent in the climatologist community, only 2% of published climate scientists are convinced that climate change is not real (Perry 1).  A core argument of a climate change denier is the simple fact that the Earth has always warmed and cooled in the past; asserting that the current temperature rise falls within the normal range of temperatures (Perry 1). However, many scientists of whom do believe in climate change make it well-known that the Earth is indeed warming at a much faster rate than predicted; refuting what climate change deniers set their major belief on. Despite the apparent evidence there are public individuals who are firm deniers of climate change; President Donald Trump and Texas senator Ted Cruz, both members of the Republican party. A party of which is known to be non-believers in regard to climate change. There have been numerous times both of these individuals have made it public knowledge that they do not believe in climate change, and that a major belief within their political party is likewise. Cruz regarded climate change to be a religion and that he does not understand the belief that humans caused global warming (Perry 1). Similarly, to Cruz, President Trump also expressed his opinions saying directly that “I’m not a believer in global warming” (Perry 1). Having political leaders express their disbelief in such a controversial topic only further complicates matters to address and fix the issue of climate change.

Overall, it is evident and scientifically proven that climate change is an occurring factor and a negative effect that is challenging the Earth today. In order to save the sustainability of our future and prevent any further complications within the environment, atmosphere and Earth as a whole, a major change must be made in unison with all of humankind. The believers and deniers of climate change must unite to stop the further progression that may potentially end civilization. The believers must continue to further spread their ideals and message across the world; both within the political aspect and the public aspect to encourage a worldwide change. On the other hand, the deniers must recognize that climate change needs to be controlled, perhaps for the security of their own economic well-being will be enough motivation to have them harmonize with the believers in this matter. Many different actions have already begun to occur to control climate change through international affairs such as the Paris Climate Agreement and though smaller matters of updating the infrastructures in the United States to be more “green”. Ultimately, it is necessary for political motives to be put aside in the world today and for humans to take responsibility for controlling the issue that they induced and to create constructive solutions to climate change.
