Environmental Issue and the solutions

Climate change due to the rapid industrialization is inevitable, and is often associated with greenhouse effects and global warming. Global warming can be defined as the increase in Earth’s average temperature due to greenhouse effect, which is an essential environmental phenomenon for life. Atmospheric gases that help to retain part of the outgoing energy to prevent over-cooling of surface are known as greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, water vapour and methane. However, if excess heat energy is being trapped within the atmosphere than needed, the Earth might become less habitable.

Global warming has been shown to be largely caused by the greenhouse gases. Studies indicate the global surface temperature has increased by 0.3-0.6⁰C over the period.¹ Although the differences in numbers may be significantly small, it is believed to be able to trigger a large impact to the changes in weather patterns and subsequently affects the global climate change. For example, global warming has caused the melting of glaciers at the poles hence it is expected the average sea levels will increase by 0.09- 0.88m in the next century. ¹ Besides, due to the poor air quality, individuals are exposed to a greater risk of heat stroke and other lung and skin related diseases. In addition to the natural greenhouse gases presence, more greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane have been introduced to the atmosphere due to the human activities. This has caused the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to increase and hence, accelerates the warming of the planet. These human activities include burning of fossil fuel and natural gas, deforestation as well as the increased population on Earth. The burning of coal and fossil fuels for transportation, electricity and manufacturing have raised the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Clearing of forests for the purposes of farming practises and other commercialization also contributes to the increase in concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As more trees are logged to meet the human needs, this would cause an imbalance of carbon dioxide- oxygen in the atmosphere.

Environment provides the essential resources for the globalization, yet at the same time imposes global environmental challenges to the communities. This interconnected relationship between the environment and globalization is indeed important to be optimally maintained to achieve the full potential of globalization in a more environmentally friendly way. This is where the technological solutions come into place in determining the future of globalization. Researches have been carried out by multinational companies to create eco-friendly and greener technology, which will replace the current ones that harm the environment. For example, hybrid cars are developed that will increase the conservation and energy efficiency, resulting lesser burning of fossil fuels thereby decreasing the emissions of harmful greenhouse gases to the environment. Alternatively, renewable energy resources can also be considered to replace the existing energy sources including fossil fuels and nuclear power that are expensive and non-environmentally friendly.

The willingness of national governments, industries, communities, families and individuals to address this global problem is a positive aspect of globalization. Action to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases could and should begin with steps taken by governments, industries and individuals in industrialised nations. The energy-intensive consumer lifestyle in the industrialized countries is the main contributor to the world major climatic changes as these countries required rapid development to meet the basic needs of the nation. These developed countries including Germany and UK were unable to sign the UN Climate Change Convention at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, as they will not meet their commitment to stabilize emission levels by the year 2000. Governments play a vital role in reducing the environmental problems. In face of the demands to have a better environmental quality, international environmental agreements are in place including Montreal Protocol on the protection of the ozone layer and law implementation reinforced the agreed-upon standards. There are studies that evident that improvement in energy efficiency would benefit ecosystem, social and economic. Hence, commercial campaigns have been organized by the governments or private organizations to encourage the awareness of the importance of the reduction in greenhouse gases emissions among the public. 

The rapid globalization is accompanied with advancing technology development, where information and news are easily transmitted around the world. By making use of the convenient of social media and internet, it is easy to capture the attention of people and raise their concern on the current environmental situation around the globe. For example, the increased concern by the public about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and how that might impact the world’s climate is also partly due to the instantaneous transmission of news and images of the natural disaster.

The climate change issues have shown the closely dependent relationship between the globalization and the environment. A healthy environment is required for the development of the globalization. On the other hand, the development of technology facilitates the transmittance of environment issues and hence increases public awareness in an efficient manner.

References

1.      Stanford Solar Center http://solar-center.stanford.edu/sun-on-earth/glob-warm.html

2.      David G.Hallman. Globlazation and Climate Changes http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/justice-diakonia-and-responsibility-for-creation/climate-change-water/globalization-and-climate-change