Running Head: SHORT REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

Short Report about Climate Change

Student’s name:

Professor:

Course name:

Date:
SHORT REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE 2

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................3

2.0 Causes of Climate Change: Greenhouse Gases Concentration and Global Warming...............3

3.0 Effects of climate change...........................................................................................................4

4.0 Renewable energy......................................................................................................................5

6.0 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................6

7.0 References..................................................................................................................................7
SHORT REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE 3

1.0 Introduction

Climate change is a phenomenon that has been around for long, has been talked about

widely, and is causing immense anxiety. However, the many efforts directed towards preventing

climate change have not achieved much. The reality is that humankind will have to improve or

better its efforts in tackling the terrifying climate change phenomenon. Also, human beings have

little option but learn to live with an ever-changing global climate.

2.0 Causes of Climate Change: Greenhouse Gases Concentration and Global Warming

To understand climate change, it is important to examine the increasing atmospheric

carbon dioxide concentration and rising global temperatures. Two decades ago, the concentration

of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 361 parts per million (ppm). This was the time when the

first United Nations climate-change conference was held. However, in 2015, the atmospheric

concentration of carbon dioxide reached 399 parts per million. This is an increase of 28 ppm in

just two decades. Reports indicate that the 2000-2010 decade recorded an even faster rise in

greenhouse- gas emissions. Carbon dioxide, which is the main greenhouse gas, contributes to a

rise in global temperatures. The spike in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration saw 2014

become the hottest year ever since the preparation of records began. The Economist in its report

titled “Hot and bothered,” reports that “average surface air temperatures so far this decade are

about 0.9 degrees Celsius higher than they were in the 1880s”[ CITATION The151 \l 1033 ]. Despite

efforts by many countries to increase the percentage of green and energy as a share of the total

energy mix, the outcome is not laudable.

Global temperatures talk has found immense significance in the climate change

phenomenon. Most experts seem to agree that global temperatures must not be let to exceed the

pre-industrial levels by 2 degrees Celsius. Green groups, politicians, and climatologists treat the
SHORT REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE 4

2 degrees Celsius limit as inviolable. However, there is a guarantee that this going to happen.

Climatologists report that the greenhouse-gases emissions are going to warm the planet by more

than agreed level. This is down to the reality that atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide

persists. A sudden adoption of green and clean energy such as wind and solar in the Western

world is not going to automatically translate in reductions in carbon dioxide concentrations. The

developments in countries that are leading emitters are going to be influential in the battle

against climate change.

China and India hold a central position in the climate change because of their high

populations and high energy demand. China and India’s consumption of exploitation of non-

renewable sources of energy such as coal has a major influence on atmospheric carbon dioxide

concentration and global temperatures. China may reduce its dependence on coal and other fossil

fuels but India may increase the uptake of these energy sources thus resulting in a zero-sum

effect. There is no strong assurance that green-house gas emissions are going to keep stabilizing

and a downward slope will be the future trend. The reasons for this bleak future in reining in

climate change are simple and include: the Chinese will most likely drive more cars, India and

many poor countries will potentially burn more fossil fuels, and oil-rich Middle East will keep

ignoring the process of managing climate change.

3.0 Effects of climate change

Climate change has both positive and negative effects. The concentration of greenhouse

gases in the atmosphere produces the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse gases act as a blanket

and absorb infrared radiation thus preventing it from easily escaping into higher levels of the

atmosphere. The trapping of these radiations result in gradual heating of the atmosphere and

eventual rise in global temperatures. The global warming has profound climate change
SHORT REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE 5

implications. Global warming begets more global warming. Higher atmospheric temperatures

lead to evaporation of more water vapour from seas and oceans into the atmosphere[ CITATION

The162 \l 1033 ].

The extra water vapor comes down as destructive floods. Also, higher atmospheric

temperatures lead to melting of ice in places such as the Arctic resulting in floods. Furthermore,

oceans have the potential to slow down climate change by absorbing huge amounts of carbon

dioxide. However, this potential is reversed as they warm up and their absorption capacity of

carbon dioxide declines. Not to be forgotten is the reality that the concentration of other

greenhouse gases such as Sulphur Dioxide and nitrous oxide result in acid rain and eventual

acidification of seas. Acidification of water bodies has direct effect of sea creatures and human

beings. Therefore, the failure to keep global warming in check is not good for the global climate.

Its negative impacts include climate change, extreme weather events, acidification of seas, and

severe societal and natural impacts.

The impact of climate change is not all gloomy and bad for everything. Cold countries

stand to gain from climate change. The rise in global temperatures will enable more crops to be

grown in agricultural fields of cold countries. Also, fishing industry may be boom in some

waters of cold countries as fish migrate due to warming. Despite such benign outcomes of

climate change, the negative effects are far many and they outnumber the positive ones. Climate

change is therefore a global, slow-moving, and colossal problem that should be tackled by all

and contribution of everyone and every country matters.

4.0 Renewable energy

Promoting adoption of renewable energy remains crucial in lowering carbon dioxide

concentration in the atmosphere. Over reliance on fossil fuels is not good for the planet and
SHORT REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE 6

leading polluters such as China and the United States should play a leadership role in reducing

their emissions. With the adoption of Paris deal on climate change, the US has pledged to cut its

greenhouse-gas emissions by between 26-28% by 2025. This is ambitious but encouraging.

China is also in the lead in tackling change through adoption of green energy because it has

expanded its renewables capacity. The country has already installed nearly 50 percent of the

200GW of wind power it has planned for 2020. Renewable energy resources are expensive and

require rolling out of huge subsidies. This hurts energy markets and there is need to commit

more resources towards research that will led to the innovation of useful but cheaper

technologies[ CITATION The152 \l 1033 ].

6.0 Conclusion

Climate change is going efficiently tackled if countries work together and stay the course.

An example of an area of collaboration countries can collaborate is in improving the fuel

efficiency of manufactured cars. This will lead to a cut in oil consumption and hence low carbon

emissions from automobiles. Also, the United States, European Union, China, and India can

maintain their strong clean energy incentives and subsidies. The embracing of cleaner

technologies can therefore be a global phenomenon. Furthermore, support for adoption of

renewable energy should not be wholly political but should also come from the many huge oil

companies, consumers and environmentalists.

7.0 References
SHORT REPORT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE 7

The Economist. (2015). Climate Change: Hot and Bothered. New York City: The Economist.

Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/21678951/

The Economist. (2015). Energy and Technology: Let There be Light. New York City: The

Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/21639014/

The Economist. (2016). The Burning Question; Climate Change. Business Insights: Global.

Retrieved from

http://bi.galegroup.com/global/article/GALE/A471317483/0ef945cdbb9e28fe0f0e6bc2fa

bc151e?u=ucsandiego