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Jerra Furay
Dr. Cassel
English 101-E
1 December 2016
Climate Change: More Than Just the Polar Bears
Climate change has been a heated debate amongst scientists, car manufacturers,
politics/press, big industrial sites, civilians and others for years. The discussion affects
many different people. People have very mixed views on the issue and whether they
believe it is an actual reality or not. However, according to International Panel on
Climate Change, Scientific evidence for the warming of the climate system is
unequivocal which shows climate change is a real issue that needs immediate attention.
One of the most significant causes of climate change is the excessive burning of fuels
from cars. All of these gases being burned is eventually going to cause earth to be
unsuitable for human life. Energy efficient cars need to be used by more people because
of the amount of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
In the 1950s scientists started to notice a change of the carbon dioxide level in
the atmosphere. Before the 1950s there had been different cycles of glacial advance and
retreat, which was concluded as normal because of slight variations in Earths orbit;
which would change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. (Bhor) By the mid
1950s scientist saw an alarming increase in the carbon dioxide level and it has been at a
steady increase to this day. For centuries the carbon dioxide level had not been over 300

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(parts per million), but today it has risen to over 400 (parts per million) (Nasa). Carbon
dioxide is one of the leading gases that is causing our Climate to change so drastically.
(Nasa) Thats an extravagant increase.
There are many causes and factors that can lead to an inevitable increase in
temperature on planet earth. Some are fuels being burned by the millions of cars on the
roads. Cars cause the greenhouse effect. This is the warming that results when the
atmosphere traps heat radiating from earth toward space (Oreskes). In addition to carbon
dioxide, there are three other gases that are also considered greenhouse gases which
affect our climate. Humans are expanding the greenhouse effect every day. There are
certain gases in the atmosphere that can block heat from escaping which is increasing
global warming: Water Vapor Which Increases as the atmosphere warms. Its the most
abundant greenhouse gas and it acts as a feedback to the climate, Methane which is a
hydrocarbon produced by both natural causes and humans. Some of the causes are
decomposition of waste in landfills and agriculture Methane is more active than Carbon
Dioxide but its just not as abundant in the atmosphere, and Nitrous Oxide which is a
very powerful greenhouse gas. Produced by soil cultivation practices, fossil fuel
combustion, nitric acid production and biomass burning (Lockwood).
These gases along with carbon dioxide are all caused by cars and this is a main
reason cars are so non ecofriendly and dangerous to our environment. Transportation
such as trucks and cars is responsible for about 26% of our countrys emissions.
(EPA)

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Almost all of those gases levels have increased in the atmosphere by human
activity here on earth. This is becoming a huge problem. The sad part is most people
are ignorant to this information and the vital role we all play in controlling our
climate.
The effects of the greenhouse gases being used are a large problem that
many do not know about. Its human nature to want to push aside things that dont
directly harm us or affect us in any way. Except for the fact that with the rapid
increases in greenhouse gases the effects of climate change wont be so subtle if we
dont take preventative measures. It is undeniable that the effects of climate change
will continue to develop over time. That is a fact. It has been at a steady increase for
years now. Earths climate is becoming increasingly sensitive to the emissions of the
gases in the atmosphere. Temperatures will only continue to rise in the future.
Agriculture will also be affected a great deal. The growing season, which is time that
the land is frost free, will lengthen. This not only brings change to agriculture but
also ecosystems in general. It is also said by The intergovernmental panel on Climate
Change from NASA that Taken as a whole, the range of published evidence
indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and
to increase over time which shows people that if nothing is changed the economy as
well as the earth will suffer.
With that said, some people may believe that climate change is saving us from a
current new ice age. The article written by James Delingpole admires a conspiracy theory

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about an ice age supposedly occurring in this time period and climate change being the
savior of our planet. Although some may not think this is a completely ridiculous idea;
the majority think that this theory is beyond insane. We now have scientific evidence on
how much climate change is destroying our planet so there shouldnt be much of an
argument. Although many conspiracy theories are out about climate change the facts
stand bold and show people what damage all of these greenhouse gases are really doing
to the Earth. Cars are in no way helping to save the earth but rather are helping to
destroy it.
Cars are one of the most significant causes of climate change and without making
cars more energy effective we are not doing much to reduce the devastating outcomes.
Think about whats been going on in the news this past year; the devastation from both
hurricanes and flooding. That is all directly linked to climate change and the greenhouse
effect. (Allison) These are all things that are affecting millions of humans here on earth.
Humans are said to have more respiratory and cardiovascular infections in the years to
come due to all of the air pollution in our air. (Bhor) This isnt just a topic to be talked
about in science class anymore. It has become more than that and now has come to the
point where drastic measures need to be taken to control and prevent this increase in the
warmth of our climate. If there is any hope to stop this disastrous thing we are doing to
our Earth one of the main things that could be done is to make cars more energy
effective. By doing this we are not only helping preserve the ozone, but we are also
making a step toward a more energy efficient life which would be huge for the world.

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Bibliography
1. Allison, I and et.al., The Copenhagen Diagnosis: Updating the World on

the

Latest Climate Science, UNSW Climate Change Research Center, Sydney,

Australia, 2009, p. 11
2. Bhor, Rohit J and et al. "An Overview On Current and Future Trends of Health
and Environmental Effects Of Air Pollution, Climate Change And By Various
Gaseous Air Pollutants." Asian Journal of Research In Chemistry 9.8 (2016): 385390. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Nov. 2016.
3. BreitbartNews. "Study: Global Warming Has Saved Us From a New Ice Age Breitbart." Breitbart. N.p., 2016. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
4. Lockwood Mike, Solar Change and Climate: an update in the light of the current
exceptional solar minimum,Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 2 December
2009.
5. NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
6. Oreskes Naomi, and Science03 Dec 2004 : 1686. "The Scientific Consensus on
Climate Change." The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change | Science. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
7. Peterson, T.C. and et.al., "State of the Climate in 2008," Special Supplement to
the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, v. 90, no. 8, August 2009
8. "Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency,
n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.
9. Ramaswamy, V. and et.al., Anthropogenic and Natural Influences in the
Evolution of Lower Stratospheric Cooling, Science 311 (24 February 2006)

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