role of government in climate change

role of government in climate change

The continuous changes in global climate, rise in temperature, and unpredictable weather patterns are facts for everyone to see. The discussion on global warming is common in most media, schools, and community forums directly or indirectly. The increasing interest is because the effect touches on everyone, and there is a need for a collective approach in mitigation processes. According to Umair, global warming begins when the sunlight gets to the earth’s surface, and some heat is retained by water vapors, methane, and carbon dioxide (2). The heat from the sun is essential in warming the earth and sustaining life. Nature has a system that releases 30% of the heat to back to space (Umair 2). The disruption of the heat’s cycle causes climate change, and its effects are transferred to other weather elements. To fully understand the concept, it is essential to look at the causes, results, and the role of government in climate change.

Human activities are the primary cause of global warming. However, some politicians and business people dispute this scientific finding. Umair states that greenhouse gases are the primary culprits of climate change (4). The scientific community came to a consensus that gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide are the most notorious greenhouse gases (Henderson et al. 2). These gases naturally exist, and the excess gets eliminated. Nonetheless, anthropogenic activities increase their concentration beyond the capacity of the cycle system. Accumulation of the gases alters atmospheric radiation equilibrium (Umair 4). Some of the radiations that are supposed to return to space are retained in the greenhouse gases.

As population increase, humans look for means they perceive to meet their needs sufficiently. These activities include clearing of forests, exploitation of fossil fuels to power engines, and the use of CFCs aerosols. According to Umair, a study conducted in 1985 proved that the reduction of the ozone layer over the poles in the 1980s had a direct link to the use of CFCs (4). The ozone layer has a critical role in controlling the amount of radiation to the earth. The ultraviolet rays from the sun atomize CFCs to chlorine atoms that act as a catalyst in the destruction of the ozone layer (Umair 4). Besides the CFCs, humans produce other aerosols from agriculture, burning of biomass, and consumption of fossil fuels. These aerosols absorb and scatter solar radiation and may also change the chemical and microphysical properties of clouds, which are essential in regulating global temperature (Umair 4). When these factors are not controlled, the effects of climate change have far-reaching consequences.

The interest in climate change is mainly because of the indiscriminating effects that affect the entire globe. Notorious consequences include a rise in sea level and extreme weather. According to Henderson et al., the increase in atmospheric temperature melts the ice at the pole, and the thermal effects cause the expansion of seawater (3). The rise in sea level is a threat to infrastructure and settlement along the coastline and small islands. Though there is no direct relation of global warming to erratic and extreme weather, Henderson et al. argue that a rise in temperature increases the atmospheric capacity to hold more water, which causes heavy precipitation and runoff (4). The notable change is the less frequent and heavy rainfall. The disruption of weather patterns causes uncertainty on agricultural planning and, in turn, puts pressure on food and water. As of 2014, only 16% of farmland was under irrigation, and this produced accounted for 36% of world harvest (Henderson et al. 4). With most of the food production depending on nature, change in weather patterns will cause more risk in security, politics, health, and the whole ecosystem. In 2007-2008 there was an upsurge in food prices, causing riots in nations like India, Haiti, Cameroon, and Argentina (Henderson et al. 4). Besides the health challenges due to food shortage, increase in temperature also cause health crisis. Heat-related injuries caused 70,000 death in Europe in 2003, 50,000 more died in Russia in 2010). Looking at the magnitude and potential effect of global warming there is a need for a government coordinated initiative to control global warming.

The government has the responsibility to pass legislation to control emissions and population. According to Rosso Grossman, there is a necessity for judicial review of the US climate statues to provide more stringent adaptation or mitigation measures (349). The governments must produce a comprehensive policy that considers the contribution of experts. Moreover, federal and state policies on the environment must foster a common goal. Climate change is a significant issue that needs political supports from the legislature, judiciary, and international organization (Rosso Grossman 352). Besides the environmental policies, the government should also help in population control. According to Bongaarts and O’Neill, there 32 million out of 85 million unintended pregnancies every year results in birth, especially in developing countries (651). These uncontrolled births lead to strain on resources, increased consumption, and change in economic structures. The past increase in emission is a result of a change in the economy that demands more goods and transport services (Bongaarts and O’Neill 651). Firm government policy should consider both direct and indirect effects causes of global warming.

In summary, global warming is a severe challenge with definite causes and effects with the possibility of government intervention. The change is mainly due to human activities that increase the concentration of CFCs and aerosols. These increase the amount of radiation and retain some of the heat that needs to get back to space. The effects include the rise of sea level, extreme and unpredictable weather patterns and health, political and security crisis. The government has a responsibility to make laws and policies that mitigate climate change. Finally, international forums must discuss mitigation measures as climate change does not discriminate.