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Climate Change

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Introduction

This chapter gives an overview of the concept of global climate change. It provides the

problem statement for the research and its objectives. The research question at hand is also

clearly stated. The effects of climate change can be felt by everybody today. The paper

emphasizes the essence of limiting climate change to ensure the progress and survival of

humans.

1.2 Problem Statement

Climate change refers to prolonged shifts in weather patterns. It includes changes in

temperature, precipitation, and other elements of weather. Climate change imposes a significant

threat to the survival and prosperity of humans. It stresses societies and the environment as a

whole. Its scope is global and the scale is unprecedented. Drastic shifts in weather patterns, for

example, interfere with the normal food production levels. Increased temperatures in polar

regions melt the ice, which in turn raises sea levels to an extent that they become a risk of

catastrophic flooding. Climate change advances by the day as people continue to pollute the

environment. Failing to take action today would doom the future. The impacts will be more

difficult and costly to address in the future than today. The study is, therefore, focused on

discussing the concept of global climate change, its associated causes, economic and health
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consequences, and appropriate solutions. It appeals to the concerned authorities to act swiftly to

avoid an irreversible build-up of greenhouse gases. If people are let to go on with using fuels that

emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases, severe impacts of global warming in the future will be

inevitable. The earth’s biodiversity will be reduced and several species would undergo extinction

(Klingelhöfer, et al. 2). Collaboration is needed among governments, private sectors, and the

general public to form an unprecedented level of cooperation that would enable the formation of

appropriate and sustainable solutions to global climate change.

1.3 Research Question

The research question addressed in the paper is, what is the global impact of climate

change? The question accommodates all the implications of climate change on global economic

progress, primary productivity, and people’s livelihood.

1.4 Research Objectives

The general objective of the research is to detail the effect of global climate change and

offer remedies. Specific objectives include;

i. To examine the impact of global climate change on the world’s economy.

ii. To analyze the effect of global climate change on worldwide primary productivity.

iii. To scrutinize the implications of global climate change on people’s lives.

Chapter 2: Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

This chapter entails findings from reputable sources associated with the impact of climate

change and its solutions. Summary from past studies is provided to show clear insight into what

global climate change entails. Only peer-reviewed sources and reliable websites are used in the

section. Particular attention is paid to theoretical positioning, statistics of climate change,

implications of climate change, legislation, and possible solutions.

2.2 Theoretical Positioning

Climate change was once perceived as an issue for the distant future. Today, however, it

is a reality that cannot be overlooked. The steady increase in the human population means a firm

rise in fuel consumption primarily used for production. Fossil fuels are the major source of

energy in contemporary society. The fuels release CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the

atmosphere when burned. The corresponding result is elevated global warming that dramatically

changes the climate. Over the last century, atmospheric and ocean temperatures have gradually

escalated, sea levels have risen, and the acidity of oceans has increased (Melillo, et al. 4).

Precipitation patterns have also changed a lot. In some regions, especially in the temperate, the

occurrence and intensity of extreme weather have continued to surge. The Climate Science

Special Report ascertained that humans are accountable for the observed climate change since

the 1950s (Wuebbles, et al. 32). The report proceeded to emphasize that there is no convincing

alternative explanation to the recorded global warming. Fundamental urgent measures must be

taken to rectify the consequences of climate change to ensure a stable and secured future for

humanity.

2.3 Statistics of Climate Change

As of 2020, the earth’s surface temperature was estimated to be 0.98 Celsius degrees

warmer than the mid-20th century’s average. The global emission of CO2 in 2019 was 40%

higher than it was in the 19th century (Wolff, et al. 6). Consistent record-breaking temperatures

have been recorded in the past few years. The world’s largest producer of CO2 is China. The

United States is also among the top producers of greenhouse gas, emitting at least 4,570 MtCO2

annually over the past ten years (Jaganmohan). The global anomaly in surface temperature has

triggered severe weather-related catastrophes such as drought, wildfire, floods, and storms. In

2012, for instance, the United States economy lost about $20 billion due to the historic drought

that dawned on the country.

2.4 Implications of Climate Change

The primary cause of global climate change is the emission of greenhouse gases into the

atmosphere. The gases absorb terrestrial radiation coming from the earth’s surface. When the

concentration of the gases in the atmosphere is high, the earth’s absorption of energy skyrockets.

In turn, the surface temperatures rise to bring about global warming. Average levels of

greenhouse gases are beneficial as they act as the natural heat-trapping agents of the atmosphere.

The consequences of global warming are severe, yet inevitable in the current society where

unfriendly environmental energy sources are widely used. The recent climate changes are seen as

some of the biggest universal threats to human health of the 21st century (Forzieri, et al. 203).

Heat waves will most likely disrupt 75% of the world’s population by 2100 if the trend in

greenhouse gas emission is not addressed accordingly. Inadequate reduction of the gases in the

atmosphere would still render almost half of the human population vulnerable to deadly heat.

Predictions made within Europe revealed that rising temperatures would trigger weather

catastrophes, particularly heat waves and coastal flooding, all of which would escalate the cases
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of climate-related deaths by 2100 (Raftery, et al. 638). Developing economies will experience

the severity of climate change at an earlier stage than developed countries. Climate change will

affect nutrition in the third world due to the reduced availability of plant protein. Lack of other

reliable sources of food and health services could mean that the mortality rates in the rising

economies would surge.

2.5 Climate Change and Legislation

A lot of people and many organizations, both governmental and non-governmental have

always expressed the desire to limit climate change. It is unfortunate to note that nothing

substantial has been achieved. The US government has commissioned several statutes to oversee

human activities linked to climate change, but the country still lacks comprehensive climate

change legislation. Federal, regional, state, and local programs have promised to address the

effects of climate change in the past but with little success. The situation worsened when

President Trump assumed power. He diluted federal efforts such as the Obama administration’s

Climate Action Plan (Mehling 7). His actions resulted in increased emissions of greenhouse

gases and considerable failure to achieve the predetermined climate objectives. President Trump

went ahead to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement in August 2017, a move that

was condemned and criticized worldwide (Hersher). The president’s action was seen as a severe

backward move and a betrayal of the universal commitment to eradicating greenhouse gas

emissions. He overlooked the fact that the United States is the second-largest emitter of

greenhouse gases and so its obligation in rectifying the situation should not be compromised.

The global crisis of climate change has impacted the application of the law. It has engendered a

considerably developing wave of litigation in various countries. The judiciary is gradually

finding its way into enhancing the strategies proposed to mitigate climate change and its effects.
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2.6 Solving Climate Change

Climate change can be solved through mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation involves

reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (NASA's Earth Science

Communications Team). This can be done by lowering the number of sources of these gases or

enhancing the sinks that absorb them. Oceans, forests, and soils are good absorbers and storage

facilities for greenhouse gases (the United States Environmental Protection Agency 55). They act

as sinks that, when adequately managed, can reduce a significant amount of greenhouse gases in

the atmosphere. Mitigation is vital in ensuring that the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse

gases is stabilized within levels that can allow the ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate

change. It also strived towards sustainable food security and economic development. Adaptation,

on the other hand, encompasses adjusting to life in a changing climate (European Commission).

It is critical in reducing humans’ vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change. People

living around the coast should move deeper into the inland. Farming produce should also be

increased based on the longer growing seasons in some regions. Tackling climate change and its

effects is the only way humans can be assured of their progress in the future.
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Chapter 3: Methodology

3.1 Introduction

This chapter specifies the research methodology utilized in composing the paper. It

highlights the techniques used to collect and analyze data and why they were deemed the most

applicable for the study. Ethical considerations are also addressed as required.

3.2 Data Collection

The research activity is constrained by limited resources. There is not enough time and

money to facilitate primary data collection and analysis. As such, a narrative review technique

will be employed to pick only useful and reputable pieces of data from several publications. The

approach is significant in obtaining data from a wide geographical area and showing trends that

have been observed in climate change over years. An electronic literature search will be used to

identify appropriate articles for the study. Google Scholar offers numerous peer-reviewed articles

that will be of great help to the paper. Only journals of the 21st century will be used to make the

study as relatable and updated as possible.

The study will survey relevant literature on the global impact of climate change in

identified areas. It will utilize scholarly articles that analyzed global impacts up to 2100 and also

proceed to delineate a few regional impacts. Regional impact literature will not be prioritized

since it does not offer a worldwide image. Metrics from the selected studies will be examined

and the best course of action recommended at the end of the research paper. Fundamental metrics

will include the number of people affected, the impact on economic production, and the

challenge imposed on primary productivity. The global mean temperature (GMT) will be used as

the main indicator of climate change to gain a better understanding of the concept. GMT can

show changes in temperature, precipitation, and other elements of climate. It will be used to
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recognize the distinction between potential changes in regional climate and climate variance

linked with a specific adjustment in the global climate. Such analysis will be vital in ensuring

that the data presented is reliable. The focus will be made on finding out whether drastic climate

change arises monotonically with increasing GMT, whether there are optimal points beyond

which further impacts cannot be realized, or whether climate change exhibits a parabolic

relationship, i.e., negative impacts proceeded by a change in sign. Five categories to be examined

include agriculture, human health, biodiversity, sea-level rise, and water resources.

3.3 Ethical Considerations

The use of secondary sources of data is in itself ethical. The mechanism appreciates the

efforts of past papers by maximizing the value of any investment in primary data collection. It

even eradicates the burden on respondents. Given that the paper will purely use secondary

sources to collect pertinent data, it is suitable to recognize the scholars whose works will be

utilized. Credit will be given to whom it is due. Ideas from the publications will be paraphrased

to avoid plagiarism. Direct quotes, however, will be cited to recognize the researchers who made

them. The citation will also be beneficial in ensuring that the work is highly informed and the

conclusion made is dependable. Besides, the study will be of the public good. Results will be

communicated to achieve transparency and replicability. Climate change is a universal problem.

Making an effort to understand it better and recommend ways of controlling it would be

appreciated by the general public. Future researchers will also be invited to engage the findings

in strengthening their studies.

Works Cited

European Commission. "Adaptation to Climate Change." Climate Action, 24 Feb. 2021,

ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change_en#:~:text=Adapting%20to

%20climate%20change%20means,predicted%20impacts%20in%20the%20future.

Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.

Forzieri, Giovanni, et al. "Increasing risk over time of weather-related hazards to the

European population: a data-driven prognostic study." The Lancet Planetary Health,

vol. 1, no. 5, 2017, pp. 200-208.

Hersher, Rebecca. "U.S. Officially Leaving Paris Climate Agreement." NPR.org,

3 Nov. 2020, www.npr.org/2020/11/03/930312701/u-s-officially-leaving-Paris-

climate-agreement. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.

Jaganmohan, Madhumitha. "Topic: Global Climate Change." Statista, 4 Mar. 2021,

www.statista.com/topics/1148/global-climate-change/#dossierKeyfigures. Accessed

3 Mar. 2022.

Klingelhöfer, Doris, et al. "Climate change: Does international research fulfill global

demands and necessities?" Environmental Sciences Europe, vol. 32, no. 1, 2020,

pp. 1-21.

Mehling, M. "A New Direction for US Climate Policy." Carbon & Climate Law Review,

vol. 11, no. 1, 2017, pp. 3-24.

Melillo, Jerry M., et al. "Highlights of Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The

Third National Climate Assessment." U.S. Global Change Research

Program, May 2014, p. 148,

www.globalchange.gov/sites/globalchange/files/NCA3_Highlights_LowRes-small-

FINAL_posting.pdf.

NASA's Earth Science Communications Team. "Climate Change Adaptation and

Mitigation." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet, 21 June 2021,

climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2022.

Raftery, Adrian E., et al. "Less than 2 °C warming by 2100 unlikely." Nature Climate

Change, vol. 7, no. 9, 2017, pp. 637-641.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas

Emissions and Sinks." The United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2015,

p. 633, www3.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html.

Wolff, Eric, et al. "Climate Change: Evidence and Causes." An overview from the Royal

Society and the US National Academy of Sciences, 2020, pp. 1-36.

Wuebbles, Donald J., et al. "Climate Science Special Report: Fourth National Climate

Assessment." U.S. Global Change Research Program, vol. 1, 2017, p. 477, doi:

10.7930/J0J964J6.