Abstract
Over the years, there has been discussion on whether global warming is a hypothesis or a fact. Global warming and the obvious climatic shift pose as one of the most contentious, ambiguous, and hotly contested occurrences in the world right now, with proponents and detractors taking opposite sides of the issue. The recent suspicious climatic variations, steadily increasing temperatures and depletion of ice cover are indications that the global warming issue may not be a myth after all (IPCC, 2001). One of the most famous and recent such conferences is the Kyoto conference. The 1997 conference led to a partial consensus on global warming as a reality. However, sceptics and climate scientists have stepped forward to disapprove that global warming is in fact a reality and that human activities are responsible for it. This short paper aims to convince those who doubt the notion of global warming that it is a reality and not a myth by addressing the changes in climatic conditions, global temperatures, and greenhouse gases; also, by revealing the sceptics’ claim vis-à-vis global warming to be a myth; the claims of advocates of global warming; as well as the position of the signing Kyoto Protocol to the proponents. Information was collected from secondary data and can be accessed by researchers.
Intro
The concept of global warming has been widely rejected by sceptics and those opposed to it as a mere myth or assumption with no scientific evidence linking it to anthropogenic activities and which is greatly unapprehensive (Wollstein, 2007)[1], despite the fact that its proponents firmly believe that the phenomenon is a reality and is largely responsible for the variations in climate observed in recent years as a result of increased emission of greenhouse gases (Proctor, 2009)[2].
According to Wollstein (supra), the advocates of global warming contend that the irregular climatic variations and global warming are the results of increased human activity, which has boosted greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. The recent climatic variations, steadily rising temperatures, and loss of ice cover are signs that the global warming issue may not be a myth after all. Scientists have not yet produced convincing evidence linking changing climatic changes with the destruction of the ozone layer due to the increased emission of greenhouse gases. (IPCC, 2001). The theory of global warming has received renewed attention in the wake of the 1997 El Nino and other climatic indicators that seem to refute the theory. The global warming debate has led to the organization of a global forum to debate the problems and seek solutions with the shared aim of “saving” the world from impending disaster (IPCC, 2001).
The Kyoto conference was held in Japan in 1997 and attempted to address the global warming phenomena as well as develop adequate solutions. It culminated with the signature of the “Kyoto protocol,” a famous international law intended to stop additional greenhouse gas emissions (COP-3, 1997). Even though the partial consensus on global warming significantly increased the issue’s visibility as a reality, sceptics and several climate scientists have come forward to contest that global warming is in fact a reality and that gas emissions from human activities were to blame for global warming and other climate variations. To convince those who doubt the notion of global warming that it is a reality and not a myth, this paper gives a thorough defence of it. It aims to demonstrate that human activity—in particular, increased emissions of greenhouse gases, primarily CO2 is to blame for global warming.
The changes in climatic conditions, global temperatures, and greenhouse gases
The premise that underlies both the global warming phenomenon and the discussion that has followed is the world’s ongoing, unprecedented climate variability (IPCC, 2001). The ideal scenario would be for such climatic changes to be clearly visible and indisputable, even by sceptics of future global warming who have agreed that there are unusual and unmatched variations in the global climate, which have steadily continued to change over the last few decades. However, the observed changing climatic conditions are heavily dependent on global climatic trends observation rather than global climate models. But those who reject global warming have steadfastly maintained that the assertion that climate changes are a direct result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because of increased human activity is false (Wollstein, 2007). In short, they wrote off the global problem as a fiction that is difficult to support with scientific data. However, information on unsettling climatic patterns greatly increased the worry and provided a legitimate platform for those who support global warming to present their case.
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting global warming, individuals who disagree with the hypothesis have cited two key studies to support their position. In essence, the studies have been disregarded by those who believe in global warming as unreliable and untrustworthy. They leave little room for anyone to draw a conclusion that global warming is a fantasy. Also, despite being the greatest component of greenhouse gases, water vapour has been shown to consistently predict temperature changes, according to those who believe that human activity is contributing to global warming (Wollstein, 2007).
In his book, The Greenhouse Effect, William Archer argues that increased human activity has contributed to a rise in the number and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Archer, 2005; P.J. Hoegh-Baker, et al., 2006). Methane and associated gas concentrations in the atmosphere have unquestionably increased because of emissions from landfills, ruminant animals, rice paddies, natural gas operations, and worldwide wetlands, termites, and water bodies, particularly oceans (Archer, 2005). According to Archer, an increase in the usage of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture has resulted in a rise in the atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide and other associated gases.
Furthermore, the absence of any known natural sources for any of the chlorofluorocarbons is strong evidence of the contribution of human activities to global warming. The increased atmospheric concentration of these chemicals is completely due to human activity, as well as an increase in the use of fertilizers in agriculture. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases keeps the planet warmer than it could be if those gases were less concentrated, according to Proctor (2009) and Hansen (2006).
Evidence shows that periods in the past marked by high atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were associated with greater temperatures, and the opposite is true today. If these gases were virtually absent from the atmosphere, the earth’s surface temperature would have been 50°F lower than it is now. According to those who support global warming[3], the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases has the capacity to affect global climate change years after they are released into the atmosphere. As a result, the climate system has a high degree of climatic inertia, primarily because oceanic dynamical processes have long lifetimes. The ozone depletion has contributed to global cooling in a way that is favourable to the notion of global warming (Archer, 2005). There is some evidence that the lower the global temperature is because of their cooling effects, and not because they are damaging to the ozone layer.
The IPCC[4] has concluded that it is impossible to determine the precise role played by human activities, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, and subsequent global warming. However, evidence from climate scientists suggests that during the past decade global temperatures have risen by between 0.3 and 0.7 degrees Celsius (PIRCS, 1998)[5]. The ability and accuracy of climatologists as well as those who support global warming greatly depend on their ability to significantly reduce the uncertainty surrounding the role of changes in clouds, water vapour, ice, and oceanic circulation (PIRCS, 1998), among other factors.
The sceptics’standpoint
Evidence that sulphate particles of sulphur dioxide, which are produced when humans burn coal, have cooling effects and brighten clouds negates the prior claim made by sceptics that there is a strong likelihood that human activity is to blame for global warming. The proponents of global warming formerly claimed that further discussion of the issue was unnecessary. Advocates of global warming tend to view sceptics as either industrial trills, incredibly foolish people, or terrible people who deserve to be immediately silenced. They even suggested that those who disagreed with them should be labelled as Islamic terrorists since their denial would spell the end of humans.
The sceptics argued that the rise in global temperatures over the previous 133 years was visible in the early 20th century, long before the alleged inflation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Satellite temperature measurements from 1979 showed evidence of warming, but critics contended that the latter was only half as accurate as surface temperature observations at the same time. Global warming sceptics argued that the rise in global temperatures over the previous 133 years was visible before the alleged inflation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The claims of advocates of global warming
The proponents of the global warming theory claim that rising levels of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide from anthropogenic sources, are the primary cause of global warming. Anthropogenic sources include but are not limited to emissions from cars, significant industries and factories, barbecue grills, or even the most natural act of breathing. The current deterioration of climatic conditions caused by increased anthropogenic activity and increased atmospheric pollution amply justifies how seriously the global warming issue is being addressed. The advocates have persisted in their efforts to persuade the public that human activity, including the release of greenhouse gases, primarily CO2 into the atmosphere, is the primary cause of global warming.
The proponents of global warming tend to view sceptics as either industrial trills, incredibly foolish people, or terrible people who deserve to be immediately silenced. The British foreign secretary once said that those who are sceptical should be punished the same as those who support Islamic terrorism and shouldn’t be allowed access to the media.
The Kyoto Protocol’s signing is a victory for the proponents
The Kyoto Protocol sought to limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions. The signing of the agreement fulfilled the conference’s primary goal, which was to find ways to reduce carbon dioxide. The decree effectively obligated all its signatories to act responsibly in the complete control of greenhouse emissions (COP-3, 1997)[6].
Conclusion
The concept of global warming has been rejected by sceptics and those opposed to it as a mere myth. The sceptics have vehemently denied the involvement of humans in global warming even though there is little evidence linking it to anthropogenic sources. The repercussions of global warming, which are ideally demonstrated by sharp and life-threatening changes in the world’s climatic conditions, serve as the best pillars on which proponents can construct their case for global warming. The global warming argument intensified in response to recent exceptional global fluctuations in climatic conditions. The recent suspicious climatic variations, rising temperatures, and loss of ice cover are signs that the global warming issue may not be a myth after all. The time for debating the issue has long since passed, and drastic steps must be adopted to control such activities to prevent the planet Earth from perhaps extinction. All evidence indicates that global warming is not a myth but an unquestionable truth.
References
Archer, D. (2005). “Fate of fossil fuel CO2 in geologic time: Journal of Geophysical Research 110 (C9): p.1–6″
Christy, J., Spencer, R., & McNider, R. T. (1995). Reducing noise in the MSU daily lower tropospheric global temperature data set. J. Climate 8,888-896.
COP-3, 1997: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of Parties – 3, Kyoto, Japan.
IPCC (1995). Summary for Policymakers: The Science of Climate Change. IPCC Working Group.
PIRCS, (1998). Project to Intercompare Regional Climate Simulations, Iowa State University. Web.
Proctor, J. (2009). Is Global Warming a Myth? How to respond to people who doubt the human impact on the climate: Scientific American.
StudyCorgi. (2022). ‘Global Warming is Not a Myth’. 8 June. (Accessed: 18 August 2022).
Wollstein, J. (2007). Global Warming: Myths and Reality, ISIL home.
[1] Wollstein, J. (2007). Global Warming: Myths and Reality, ISIL home.
[2] Proctor, J. (2009). Is Global Warming a Myth? How to respond to people who doubt the human impact on the climate: scientific American.
[3] See Archer, 2005.
[4] IPCC (1995). Summary for Policymakers: The Science of Climate Change. IPCC Working Group.
[5] PIRCS, (1998). Project to Intercompare Regional Climate Simulations, Iowa State University. Web.
[6] COP-3, 1997: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of Parties – 3, Kyoto, Japan.