Human Role In Global Warming

Critically discuss the role of human in global warming and related issues

Introduction

Over the recent past, whenever there has been a mention of environment or issues related to it, the concept of global warming and climate change commonly came up. With growing industrialisation and human population, global warming has become a topic that has gained global attention. Emphasis on the global environment began in the year 1972 with the conference of the United Nations on the Human Environment in Stockholm; which led to the development of United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) (Aucamp, 2005). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines climate change as a change in climate caused either due to natural influences or induced

Many believe that humans have increased the concentration of energy-trapping greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere, therefore impacting the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect (McMichael, 2003). Maqbool (2013) supports that greenhouse gases emitted from land-use change and burning of fossil fuels add to the climate change, but admits that they do not solely cause it. He argued that water vapour is the primary greenhouse gas and the high solar activities of the sun itself would result in elevated temperatures on Earth (Maqbool, 2013). Research by the US Global Climate Research Programme (Alaska Regional Assistant Group) highlights that global climate change has the potential to affect tropic levels and human health by means of food chains (McMichael, 2003). Maqbool (2013) debated that melting of glaciers is not a consequence of global warming, but occurs as a result of drifting of tectonic plates. Hansen et al. (2000) argue that the increasing warming of the Earth’s surface over the recent years has occurred because of non-CO2 greenhouse gases such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs), methane and nitrous oxide; and not by burning of fossil fuels. Also, Hansen et al. (2000) discussed that the climate change induced by non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs) can be eliminated in the near future by decreasing the sources of

Research is undertaken by humans to develop suitable mitigation measures to combat climate change (Gill et al., 2009). Climate models are being used by humans to determine future possible impacts of anthropogenic activities on the climate and possible occurrence of weather extremes (Meehl et al., 2000). Such models function by comparing the existing climate data with the possible changes that may take place as a consequence of human influence (Meehl et al., 2000). Agricultural adaptations such as use of tillage, crop rotation, organic fertilisers may be applied to combat the effects of agriculture on climate change (Adams et al., 1998). Efficient management of grazing lands ad manure can reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (Gill et al., 2009). Urbanisation characterised by rapidly developing infrastructures can cause urban warming by increasing the surface temperatures and this may influence local climatic conditions (Xue et al., 2012). Maqbool (2013) suggested to implement the use of green technology to reduce greenhouse