The reasons for global warming are controversial, but all people agree that its consequences are harmful to humans and the environment. Some scientists believe that climate change is caused by human activities, while others think that natural factors contribute to global warming more than humans. Although the opinions about the causes of climate change are diverse, the effects of human activities and natural elements are similar and lead to global warming.
The main human factors influencing climate change are burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture. According to the European Commission (2017), some human activities increase the concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect (para. 4). According to the book Health and Fitness (n.d.), the greenhouse effect occurs when “the heat is radiated from the Earth’s surface,” and it is further absorbed and radiated by greenhouse gases mentioned above in the troposphere (para. 2). Consequently, the global temperature increases, leading to weather changes and damaging the environment and human health.
In addition, deforestation and agriculture contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. People cut forests, thus decreasing the natural process of CO2 photosynthesis. The fewer trees are left on the planet, the higher levels of CO2 emissions will be found in the atmosphere. Moreover, increasing livestock in farming and using more fertilizers and pesticides leads to greater emissions, increasing global warming (European Commission, 2017, para. 8). All these human factors negatively affect climate change and lead to drought, flood, reduced crop yield, and other adverse consequences.
On the other hand, natural factors contribute to climate change as well. For example, solar variability may have a negative impact on climate change. If the Sun produces more radiation, and if the volcanic activity increases, the Earth’s surface will be heated more, and global temperature will rise. Nevertheless, recent investigations showed that “global warming cannot be explained by changes in the energy from the Sun” (NASA, 2021, para. 22). Thus, within the recent two hundred years, the amount of solar radiation has not changed significantly. Moreover, if the Sun’s activity caused global warming, all layers of the atmosphere would be heated (NASA, 2021). However, the upper atmosphere is cooling while the lower atmosphere is warming, which means that climate change does not depend on the Sun.
One can see that global warming is mostly caused by human actions, and these actions lead to negative consequences. Thus, an increase in heat waves leads to heat strokes and deaths related to heat (Health and Fitness, n.d., para. 11). Melting ice and rising sea levels lead to natural disasters and the extinction of the inhabitants. Aquifers may also be affected, becoming too salty and exhausted. Plants and animals will suffer too: plants will wither, and animals will need to find cooler places for inhabitation. All these changes are already happening, and if global warming continues, the consequences will be fatal for many living creatures.
Climate change is a worldwide matter that should be addressed immediately. Although some people argue that human activities do not cause global warming, recent research proved the opposite. To decrease the adverse consequences of climate change, humans should reduce greenhouse gas emissions, using alternative energy instead of fossil fuels. Planting trees will be a positive response to deforestation, and various adaptation strategies will help farmers decrease the negative effects of agricultural businesses. These and other activities will help mitigate the adverse effects of global warming and save the planet from exhaustion.
References
Health and fitness. (n.d.). Web.
European Commission. (2017). Causes of climate change.
NASA. (2021). The causes of climate change. NASA.