According to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we must cut the worldwide use of fossil fuels by at least 90% if mankind is to have any chance of stopping global warming. The gases that are released from fossil fuels get trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere like a heated dome known as the greenhouse effect. The condensed heat melts or dissolves all the glacier and ice in the Arctic regions. The sudden change of climate can have everlasting effects on mankind and the Earth. Global warming must be handled immediately because, if not the rising sea levels, inability of animals to live, and changing weather patterns will have major results on human lives.
Global warming is a major …show more content…
By figuring out ways to discover replacements for the fossil fuels being burned. Some replacements that humans can utilize are wind, sunlight, nuclear, and the Earth’s internal energy (232b). Machines that use these energy sources are wind turbines, solar panels, nuclear reactors, and interior fission heat devices. While humans use the other sources of energy this will allow the atmosphere to stabilize (232b), also when humans put use to these machines they do not release carbon dioxide. Other ways to conserve energy is to turn off and unplug electronic devices while not in use (232b). Moves are being made to slow down carbon emissions. “The Kyoto Protocol requires developed countries to restrict emissions of carbon dioxide by 95% every year” (232c). Once the countries restrict the carbon emissions this will reduce the greenhouse gases. A few plans are already in place to decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. One way would be a Carbon Tax, which is a tax on fossil fuels used by motor vehicles (232d). Then there is a Carbon Offset, which counteracts carbon dioxide emissions by eliminating an equal amount. One step would be Carbon Sequestration where carbon dioxide is stored either underground or in plants (232c). Geoengineering requires the change of the environment to limit global warming. These include adding iron to the ocean and putting screens …show more content…
Such changes that will occur to the humans happen to be the Yupik who live in the Arctic regions. According to the Union of Concerned Scientist the Yupik reported a hindrance in the development of sea ice as early dissolving has held up their hunting season. The Yupik also report more precipitation, mist, and overcast during the time when the dry their food for storage (para 6). Not only are there ramifications for humans but the animal species are paying the price as well. “Scientist project that 20 to 30% of known animal species would likely face a higher risk of extinction if average temperature rose more than 2.7 degrees to forty-five degrees Fahrenheit” (232a). This data further confirms that if global warming’s progress is not decreased the animal species will be reduced to nothing. Animals that live in the Arctic are penguins, polar bears, seals, walrus’, and caribou. The sea ice deteriorating at such a fast rate that polar bears cannot migrate, this also means newborn seals and walrus pups will not be able to wean (accustom to food other than it’s mother’s milk) correctly and they will not survive (para 7). According to Peggy J. Parks, several penguins have not been able to find food due to the break ups of the B15 and have died of starvation (61). The plant species is diminishing as well due to the shift of biomes and lead to