[Text] [Production] [Essay] [Draft] [2]

Earth is getting warmer over the last century as there is a sustained increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, where this phenomenon is known as global warming (Chris Woodford 2006). Carbon dioxide from human activities is posing a serious threat to the planet as it is causing dangerous global warming (Nzone Tonight 2008, television recording, Shine TV.). This situation would be catastrophic towards our mother nature. Hence, it is vital to gain knowledge of what are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and ways to curtail the worsening of global warming.

According to Woodford (2006), hotter temperatures will change the climate across the whole planet and it does not mean that the temperature will increase in every place as temperamental weather will induce more hurricanes and storms, heavier downpour, more snow in certain regions, longer periods of drought, and more paramount heat waves. Unexpected chaotic hurricanes even happened in Brazil even though it is surrounded by hurricane-free South Atlantic and the major Hurricane Katrina during 2005 which destroys whole of New Orleans into debris and took away innocent lives (An Inconvenient Truth 2007, DVD, Paramount Pictures.). Woodford (2006) also reports that series of more persistent El-Niño has increased three times more often than a century ago, floods are belike to hassle some countries and it is estimated that 100-200 million people would be homeless for good by year 2100.

Moreover, another unavoidable impact of global warming is sea-level rise due to melting of ice (Riebeek 2007). North Pole and South Pole are warming drastically and sea ice in the Arctic has reduced significantly according to the proof provided by Woodford (2006). When the trapped sun ray absorbed by the oceans, it starts to increase the rate of melting of ice (An Inconvenient Truth 2007, DVD, Paramount Pictures.). From the photo provided by NASA, since the 1940s, the Larsen-B Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula can be seen caved in due to global warming (Riebeek 2007). Woodford (2006) indicates that some glaciers are melting apace, run out water into the oceans and causing fears about humongous rises in sea-level. This would jeopardize low-lying countries facing the chance of submerging underwater. Al Gore also shows that the polar bears in the arctic may not be able to survive in this kind of condition.

Scientists are very certain that the warming of the planet is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (Riebeek 2007) and emission of carbon dioxide due to human activities is causing dangerous global warming (Nzone Tonight 2008, television recording, Shine TV.). Therefore, reducing the emission of carbon dioxide is the sole solution to address this issue. We can start off by reducing personal carbon dioxide emissions for instance, using efficient fluorescent lamp, establish renewable energy in company and reduce usage of air-conditioners (Woodford 2006). Besides driving with better fuel economy, Woodford suggested people should walk, cycle or take a bus rather than driving cars. Al Gore also suggested that by making our earth greener like planting more trees and recycling would be able to minimize global warming (An Inconvenient Truth 2007, DVD, Paramount Pictures.).

On the whole, temperamental weather, sea-level rise and animal extinction are in the lists of the impact of global warming. The rate of increase in earth’s temperature in the last five decades has doubled the rate discovered over the last ten decades and it is believed that the temperatures are sure to step-up farther (Riebeek 2007). Consequently, we should avoid activities that emit carbon dioxide. As said by Al Gore (2007), ‘the solutions are in our hands, we just have to have the determination to make it happen.’ If people still do not put their foot down and look into this serious matter, the whole planet would be in chaos in the future.