Analysis on the Threats Defense Argument
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assignment3a_AshleyCarver.pptxCRITICAL THREATS TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Ashley Carver
SOC 450: Solutions to Global Issues
Instructor: Hope Ball
September 1, 2019
Introduction
Based on the extensive research from the 8 threats that are a risk to the global environment, the following are the four main threats that are impactful to the current and the future global environment.
Climate change
Globalization
Energy sources
Lack of education opportunities
JUSTIFICATION
I believe these are the four main critical threats that affect the current and future global environment. Climate change is the main threat affecting the global environment. According to the United Nations Global impact, climate change has affected all world regions threatening global development and undermining global economy foundation. The second threat, globalization has brought benefits to the global world. However, it has had a major negative impact to the global environment. For instance, globalization has brought about industrialization which has further led to different types of pollution that toxically affect the environment. Energy sources especially fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are more hazardous to the environment more than the renewable sources of energy. People around the world have burnt down major forests for purposes of energy sources for profit. This has greatly impacted the global environment. In conclusion, lack of education opportunities is a major threat to the environment. Many people around the world lack the education on the long-term effects of a polluted global environment. Most actions performed by the people are for their business gains and hence do not look on how their actions is going to negatively affect the environment.
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Climate Change
Climate change has already taken effect all around the world and its effects are massively destroying the environment globally. The earth’s average temperature has increased by 2 degrees Fahrenheit during the 20th century. This is a very impactful as changes in the earth’s temperature lead to massive changes in the environment. For instance, there has been more intense heat waves, rise in the sea level and loss of sea ice.
It has been estimated that a fifth of the world’s population may become displaced by 2100 due to the climate change effect(Forbes, 2018). Moreover, the intergovernmental panel on climate change(IPCC) scientists forecast a rise in temperature from 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in 2100.
These global climate threats are predicted to continue over this century and beyond depending on the magnitude of heat-trapping gases that are emitted globally and how the earth reacts to these emissions.
One of the United nations goal is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. More scalable and affordable solutions are being provided to enable countries embrace cleaner environs and stable economy. These countries are rapidly adapting to the UN’s solutions and more people are embracing renewable sources of energy and other solutions that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts. To strengthen the response to the threat of climate change, countries have adopted the Paris agreement where all countries ought to work together to limit rise in global temperature.
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Countries Affected
The most vulnerable countries being affected by climate change are the developing countries. However, developed countries are also greatly affected by the effects of climate change
South America’s Amazon forest occupies about 40% of south America and is greatly affected by climate change(Moss $ Morton, 2018). There has been extreme droughts in the Amazon that has left the trees vulnerable to forest fires. Following the recent reports of the Amazon wildfire that extremely burnt down a part of the Amazon forest.
The North-east U.S countries are most affected by the heat waves and rise in sea levels due to the aspects of life in the North-east. Their agriculture, fisheries and ecosystems have been compromised.
Most African developing countries like Kenya have been affected due to the harmful gas emissions that affect climate change.
Effects of Climate Change
Climate change has resulted to a number of effects in the long-run which include:
Continued rise in temperatures leading to the need to adapt
Health risk due to drought disaster and heat waves
Rise in sea levels and extreme weather conditions
Changes in precipitation patterns that may cause heavy rain
Climate Change Effect Visual Diagram
The visual diagram shows the global countries and how climate change has affected different countries showing the intensity of the effect.
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Globalization
Globalization has impacted the world both positively and negatively. With the developments happening globally, it has impacted negatively to the global environment. There has been the rise in urbanization, industrialization brought about by globalization effect. The amount of different types of pollution as a result of either urbanization or industrialization has greatly increased in both the developed and developing countries.
Industrial wastes as a result of the production process have been dumped in the ocean leading to a massive pollution. It is estimated that 9 billion tons of plastic enter our ocean every year. More so, 3.5 million people depend on the ocean as a source of food (Forbes, 2018).
In addition 52,000 people in the U.S die every year due exposure in power plant emissions(Forbes,2018).
The United Nation’s 6th goal is to provide clean water and sanitation. To enable them achieve this, the disposal of waste products in the oceans ought to be discouraged to avoid water pollution. Poor water quality and inadequate sanitation has negatively impacted food security and the livelihoods of people around the world. It is estimated that more than 2 billion people are living with the risk of access to freshwater resources and this affects their public health. To improve sanitation and access to drinking water, there needs to be increased investment in management of freshwater ecosystems and sanitation facilities on a local level in several developing countries within Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Southern Asia, Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia(UN, 2018).
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Countries Affected by Globalization
Most countries affected by globalization are the developed countries due to the growth of their industries and urbanization. More so, developing countries like India, Syria, Iraq and some African countries have also been affected by globalization.
The developed countries in the USA have massive power plant machines that emit harmful gases and pollute the air. According to the world health forum, air pollution has the largest environmental threat to the public health.
The result of globalization in African countries has been minimal or negative(Amaoko, 2000). These African countries have deforested and burnt major parts of the forest for human encroachment. In addition, the toxic waste from the emerging industries are poorly disposed in soils and large water bodies leading to the pollution of soil and water respectively.
Effects of Globalization
There are numerous effects of globalization towards the environment that affect the world.
Lower environmental standards
Overexploitation of resources
Localized environmental health problems due to pollution and overcrowding
City regional environmental problems like pollution of water bodies and air pollution.
Globalization Effect Visual Diagram
Energy Sources
All sources of energy have either a positive effect or negative effect towards the environment. Most renewable sources of energy bring a positive effect towards the environment. However, the non-renewable sources of energy have a negative impact towards the environment. The fossil fuels lead to both water and air pollution, wildlife loss, public health diseases and global warming emissions.
In summary, all forms of energy production and its emissions has some effect on air, water and land. The negative impact towards the environment begin with the extraction of these energy resources. The processing and purification of these energy sources lead to gas emissions and disposal of waste products from the production of these energy sources.
To combat that environmental damage, exploring and exploiting the utilization of combustible renewables and waste would be a necessary measure for decreasing the environmental impact of energy use (Sun, 2004).
The 7th goal of the United Nation is to ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable form of modern energy. In relation to the threat of energy sources that are a threat to the environment, UN plans to eradicate the fossil fuels and introduce the modern sources of energy which pollute less to the environment. Currently, it is estimated that 3 billion people lack access to clean-cooking solutions and are exposed to air pollution. Moreover, slightly less than 1 billion people are functioning without electricity and 50% of them are found in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. However, more progress is being made to encourage the use of renewable sources of electricity from wind power, solar energy, and water.
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Countries Affected
The developing countries in Africa are mostly affected by the environmental effects since they mostly use fossil fuel as a means of energy sources. Fossil fuels supply a large part of the total primary energy use in the world, about 75% (Demirbas et al., 2004a).
However, the developed countries in the middle east and USA are also affected due to the massive dependency on oil. These oil waste products are mostly polluted in the oceans and seas.
Effects of Energy Sources
Energy sources have a number of effects towards the environment that impact the world. Between 1995 and 2020, world energy demand will grow by 66% and CO2 emissions by 69% unless new policies are put in place to curb energy use and GHG emissions. These effects include:
Climate change to due the emissions of CO2 gases to the atmosphere.
Public health threat due to the air pollution caused by fossil fuels and energy waste products.
Water bodies pollutions In which people around the world depend for food
Energy Resource Effects Visual Diagram
Lack of Education Opportunities
Most of these hazardous effects towards the environment are mainly caused by lack of knowledge to avoid these environmental effects. Industries and organizations lack proper policies of disposing waste products, deforestation and gas emissions from these industries. Due to ignorance the environment has become a threat towards the human and animal species around the world.
Governments around the world ought to put tough regulations on these industries on how the dispose their waste products. More so, these industries should be isolated far from people’s residence to prevent them from these gas emissions. In addition, governments should avoid congestion in urban areas and educate people on proper hygiene and waste disposal.
The united Nations ought to spread the awareness to help social groups and individuals acquire awareness and sensitivity towards the environment as a whole, and issues, questions, and problems related to the environment and development. In addition, the knowledge acquired will help individuals, groups, and societies gain a variety of experience in, and acquire a basic understanding of, what is required to create and maintain a sustainable environment.
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Countries Affected
All countries around the world are affected by the illiteracy on how to prevent harmful effects towards the environment. The developing African countries lack the knowledge on disposal of waste products as they come up with industries and measures on how to prevent air pollution. More so the overdependency of fossil fuels in these African countries has led to the deforesting and burning down of forests.
The developed countries in the middle east mostly depend on oil products and the waste products are mainly dumped in the ocean which pollutes the water.
Effects of Lack of Education Opportunities
Lack of education opportunities lead to the following on the human population:
lack of quality water due to the water acidity from the water pollution.
Health hazards due to the emission of gases from these industries
Death of water and land animals that humans depend for food.
Global warming due to the greenhouse effect
Visual Diagram on the Awareness of Environmental Pollution
Conclusion
Based on these four most critical threats that are a major threat to the environment, relevant bodies of the UN should put policies that will enhance the prevention of these threats in the long run.
In addition the United nations should come up with educative programs that educates on the importance of keeping the environment clean and safe for the present and future generations.
Having put up these measures, the world will have a better chance of good health, long term life span and a conducive environment.
References
Abdulsattar, T. O. (2013). Does globalization diminish the importance of nationalism?. [Online] Available: http://www.e-ir.info/2013/11/14/does-globalization-diminish-the-importance-of-nationalism/ (January 06, 2016)
Boers, R. (2010). Globalization: In the era of environmental crisis. International trade forum magazine. [Online] Available: http://www.tradeforum. org/ Globalization-In-the-Era-of-Environmental-Crisis/ (January 06, 2016)
EPA-United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). What is environmental education?. [Online] Available: http://www.epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education (January 15, 2016)
Huesemann, M. H. (2001). Can pollution problems be effectively solved by environmental science and technology? An analysis of critical limitations. Journal of Ecological Economics. 37, pp. 271–287
References
Ullah, M. R. (2014). Economic impacts of globalization on urban environment at Dhaka city in Bangladesh. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development. 5(25): 15-29
McMichael, A. J. (2000). The urban environment and health in a world of increasing globalization: issues for developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78(9): 1117-1126
Keleş, R. (2012). The quality of life and the environment. Procedia – Journal of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 35: 23-32
