Emily Jensen

In political debates, classrooms, households, and countless television broadcasts the idea of global warming has been widely debated. The idea of global warming has spread throughout the county making its way into the curriculum and lives of many citizens throughout the world, but what does this debate truly stem from? 

Global warming according to Webster’s dictionary is an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution. The idea behind global warming is that we, by using industrial transportation and by using factories, we are creating a hole in the ozone layer or the atmosphere around the earth. This ozone is an essential part of the systems on earth and the idea that we are slowly wearing it away is a big issue. According to EPA’s website, “Greenhouse gases act like a blanket around Earth, trapping energy in the atmosphere and causing it to warm. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect and is natural and necessary to support life on Earth. However, the buildup of greenhouse gases can change Earth's climate and result in dangerous effects to human health and welfare and to ecosystems.” We are slowly making our world uninhabitable and a less convenient place to live. National Geographic also listed many things that cause greenhouse gases. They explain that many scientists have studied natural cycles for quite some time and have found that over time these natural cycles have changed as a consequence of our actions. 

What does this increase of greenhouse gasses to do us? According to National Geographic there are many issues that are created in response to the rise of these chemicals. They list many, some being melting ice caps; elimination of many species; rising sea level; migration of many species of plants, animals, and many insects; increased rainfall; and increased numbers of potentially dangerous species. They also list things that could happen if we continue polluting as much as we do. Some of those being stronger storms, biodiversity decrease, less fresh water, and many other important things. Each of these problems causes other problems to happen as a result of the linked systems throughout our planet. One of the most substantial issues that happens and was listed is the rise of sea level. Most of the world’s population lives on coastline or right on the edge of the water, if not on the water. The rise of sea level would wipe out hundreds of homes and cause those who do not have the resources or the means to fix the damage to be displaced. Another major issue is the depletion of many species. Scientists believe that by 2050 more than half of the world’s species will be extinct. This poses a problem for many of the environments throughout the world. This disrupts the food chain and makes it harder to obtain food for us to eat. In all, global climate change is a major issues with major consequences