Global Warming

Many people moan throughout the winter season. I know I do. I hate shoveling snow and
worrying about whether my pipes will freeze. But I understand that snow and cold
temperatures are a part of life. But will they be forever? The news about global warming has
dire predictions about the future. Global warming is not a scary myth that scientists have
made up, but a very real natural condition that is affecting the world more and more each
day.

Global warming is, in essence, the gradual warming of the earth’s surface. The Earth’s
average temperature is slowly rising, causing shorter and milder winter seasons in various
countries around the world. But understanding global warming is nearly impossible without
also having a base knowledge of another phenomenon: the Greenhouse Effect. Greenhouse
gases are building up in our planet’s atmosphere and are acting like a blanket – trapping in
heat that would otherwise be released back out into space. This is why global temperatures
are rising.

There are many gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, but many are natural and harmless.
CO2, however, is not healthy for the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide gas is considered as the
second biggest heat absorber on the earth which absorbs heat from sun rays. The major
reason of CO2 emission is human activities affecting the level of carbon dioxide in the
earth’s atmosphere. Deforestation and fossil fuels burning are the main human made
reasons for CO2 emission. This continuous in carbon dioxide and other gases causes
earth’s temperature to increase and make it warmer than before. Methane is more powerful
than CO2 and can absorb 25 times more infrared radiations. This gas is created by the
biological activities like digestive process of domestic animals, rice cultivation, leakage in
domestic and industrial gas lines, etc. according to the Environmental Media Services
Organization, it is found that only through the greenhouse effect the earth’s surface
temperature may increase by 6 degrees by the year 2100. Global warming is affecting the
whole ecological balance, sea level, corals reefs, marine life, plants, human beings, etc.
CO2 remains in the atmosphere longer than other gases and traps in heat extremely well.
Even a slight increase in CO2 in the atmosphere can cause significant increases in global
temperatures. Most CO2 emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels. Cars and other
vehicles can produce up to 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually, and coal-burning power plants
can produce 2.5 billion tons. Sadly, the United States is responsible for a great deal of these
emissions. And though the U.S. is doing their best to rectify this problem by lowering their
emission rates, other countries are doing the opposite.
 So what affect does global warming actually have on the environment and human
civilization? Does an annual (average) increase in temperature of less than a degree actually
transfer to a change in daily life? The answer is: yes. Global warming has been linked to the
increase in wildfires and floods. It has been seen as the cause of rising sea levels and
stronger hurricanes. Heat waves in Europe in 2003 led to the death of 20,000 people and
over a thousand people in India. Also, the Arctic’s polar ice caps are melting at a rate of 9%
every decade. Animals, such as polar bears, are losing their habitats and may end up
extinct.

There are solutions to global warming, thankfully. Scientists and governments are
working together to create ‘greener’ alternatives to daily life. People don’t have to give up
their vehicles, but they may decide to choose hybrid cars instead of ones that rely solely on
fossil fuels. Governments need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and promote
alternatives. . Plant-derived plastics, biodiesel, wind power and solar power are all things
that are a step in the right direction, but governments need to enforce the limits on CO2
emissions for the polluting industries in their countries for these to be effective. Also,
individuals can play a part by making lifestyle changes. People should try to buy cars with
the best fuel economy, and only use their car when really necessary. They can also switch to
energy companies that use renewable energy rather than fossil fuels. Finally, small things
like buying energy efficient light bulbs, turning off electricity in the house, and planting trees
in the garden can help.Wind turbines and other sources of renewable energy can prevent
the burning of coal, which is a major contributor to CO2. Planting trees will improve the level
of oxygen and will cause decrease in harmful gases as trees intake carbon dioxide as a
major component in their food. Finally, solar energy has developed as a major source in
generating electricity this can be used in many other domains to reduce the impact of air
pollution.Global warming is not a problem that cannot be solved, but it is an issue that
governments and average people need to be aware of in order to protect the people,
animals, and habitats of planet Earth.

In conclusion, a big threat is facing us in the form of global warming. It is the

responsibility of every person on earth to save our planet, mankind needs to wake up in case
we want to make our future generations survive and present them the same planet in which
we lived.