Text Production Draft #1

What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how they can be arrested?

Global warming has been a hot issue in recent years because people in this planet start to feel the consequences of it, caused by the more erratic and serious climate change. As in the film of “An Inconvenient Truth”, Al. Gore (2006) says: “The era of Procrastination, of half-measure, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In this place, we are entering a period of consequences.”However, it is better late than never. We, as civil-minded citizens of this planet, therefore, should realize the significance of knowing the perils of climate change and taking initiative to carry out efficient and prompt actions to combat this disastrous global threat.

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.” (Holli Riebeek 2007) Global warming is no longer a scenario to be worried by our future generation but it confronts us right now. One of the most evident effects is the rising of sea-levels. Water expands when it is warmed up and takes up more volume, contributing to higher sea-level. Melting of glaciers and ice sheets is also believed to increase the sea-levels, threatening low-lying nations or places, such as Florida, California and Bangladesh. Scientists also believe that the sea-level will rise about 4 inches to 3 feet by 2100. (Chris Woodford 2006)

In addition, the increase in global temperature and the melting of glaciers at the Poles have tremendous impacts on the finely balanced ecosystem on earth. Polar bears depend on the ice sheets to move and hunt. The global warming causes the amount of ice sheets to decrease, resulting in the polar bears to lose their home. In the tropics, the rising temperature of the sea water has destroyed many coral reefs, with disastrous effects on the complex and colourful ecosystems that depend on them. More importantly, human beings are also well affected by the climate change. More erratic climate change could mean more storms and hurricanes. Floods are likely to plague some countries on occasions. Some predictions say climate change flooding could make about 100-200 million people permanently homeless by 2100. (Chris Woodford 2006)

To solve this, every quarter should work hand in hand. Anyone can contribute to reduce global warming by using energy efficiently and saving energy. Energy efficiency is considered as one of the best way to curb climate change. To do this, one can replace the incandescent lamps in his home and use energy-saving fluorescent lamps. You can also choose to walk, ride a bicycle or take public transportation instead of driving your car. You can put on a sweater instead of turning on the heating and open the windows instead of using the air-conditioners. (Chris Woodford 2006)Even these seemingly little moves can help to reduce climate change greatly. Governments of the world should also reduce their carbon emission. Developing countries like China and India may argue that the reduction in their energy consumption will put them at an economic disadvantage to the other nations. However, Stern Report states that the global economic activity which is measured by Gross Domestic Product will drop up to 20% if inaction continues but this drop can be reduced to merely 1% if governments are willing to take actions now. (Chris Woodford 2006)

In conclusion, though the increase of around only a few degree centigrade in the global temperature is capable of producing significant changes in our environment and way of life and it may seem remote and unimportant for us (Holli Riebeek 2007), the fact that climate change is affecting our daily lives is undeniably true. Hence, every one of us should start to play a role in saving our Mother Earth. Knowing the consequences of climate change, we should work in a more comprehensive way and make wise use of the technology to solve the climate change. Al. Gore (2006) says: “The solutions are in our hand, you just have to have the determination to make that happen.” As the saying goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”