Ashley Bostian

MCOM 262
04/16/18

Research Translation: Climate Change

Climate change is a dramatic shift in global or regional patterns. Within the past few decades,
global warming has become more known, however, not everyone justifies the clear knowledge
that has been proven by scientists.

According to ​Nature ​magazine, the Arctic sea ice is shrinking at an increasingly faster rate than
was predicted. Studies have shown that the melting of the ice will eventually cause the seawater
to warm which will melt offshore methane. The estimate showed that the economic cost to
resolve the damage would result in $50 trillion in cost. The goal of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change recognized that the world-wide goal was to increase
global average warming to below 2C temperature.

If the 2C threshold passes the suggested tipping points it could increase the chances of methane
hydrate release from oceans, acidification of oceans, the death of the Amazon forest and loss of
albedo. “No serious person knowledgeable about climate change now thinks it is likely that we
will avoid 2C, and most put there hope in slowing down the rate of warming through
technological changes, and perhaps political action, as to buy further time to find mitigation
measures, according to Catriona McKinnon, the author of “Climate Change--Against Despair.”

For most people, they are considerate or at least aware of their carbon footprint; a footprint
correlates directly to the amount of greenhouse gases produced directly by human activities.
Humans are unmotivated to cut their emissions and take a personal stance or action towards
climate change, but the average person is innocuous of serious their daily activities are
contributing to the carbon in the air. While some are more cautious and self-aware, others tend to
feel insignificant in the large scheme of climate change and reject the possibility that an
individual would be capable of creating any difference.

The issue of ‘can I make a difference’ is argued on the basis of a few arguments. The first being
that no one person can individually create change in the climate. However, if a person were
willing to reduce their carbon footprint, stick with a plan and succeeded, they would undoubtedly
made a difference. It has been difficult for scientists to convince people who are more
uneducated and unwilling to listen to make any substantial adjustments.
It is essential that humans reduce their carbon footprint. Offsetting your unavoidable CO2
emissions is a practical way to personally contribute to a cleaner environment. Morally, most
people do not consider that taking a long, hot shower on a winter's day would be ethically
compromisable. Self-interest and weakness is the main source of objection to making a change,
but even the smallest modification can make a difference. Appliances in a home can be a large
source of CO2 gases, but more energy efficient options are available.
Ashley Bostian
MCOM 262
04/16/18

It is knowledgeable to say that a person truly believes that their emissions make no difference,
but rather people think that their environmental and lifestyle choices do not worsen the current
conditions of the earth. Global warming is beyond human control, but there are certain aspects
that are continually escalating the potential to make most life on Earth extinct.

The 2C global average warming is simply an estimated average. According to IFL Science,
regional warming and vulnerability to climate impacts will vary significantly. 2C threshold
creates an average for highly-temperature sensitive systems. The logic behind the Amazon forest
could becoming extinct and the reason for melting ice caps is because polar regions and high
mountains/tropical areas are more prone to climate changes.

Nasa provides a clear understanding and big idea of why climate change is affecting the Earth.
“​In the Earth system, a change in one part of the system will lead to a change in another part
through positive and negative feedbacks. Feedbacks render some parts of the Earth more
sensitive to climate change than others. Examine the evidence for changes in ice cover at the
Arctic and explore why climate changes at the poles are so important to the rest of the climate
system.”

To conclude, there are many aspects to climate change, the solutions for it, and how it is
presented to the public eye. The framing and presentation is currently seen as a sensitive and
hard to understand topic, resulting in individuals feeling incapable and make a difference through
their personal emission reductions.
Ashley Bostian
MCOM 262
04/16/18

Works Cited

McKinnon, Catriona. “Climate Change: ​Against Despair​.” ​Ethics and the Environment​, vol. 19,
no. 1, 2014, pp. 31–48. ​JSTOR​, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/ethicsenviro.19.1.31.

Andrew, Elise. “A Matter Of Degrees: Why 2C Warming Is Officially Unsafe.” ​IFLScience​,

IFLScience, 20 Mar. 2018,
www.iflscience.com/environment/matter-degrees-why-2c-warming-officially-unsafe/​.

“Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet: Impacts of a Warming Arctic.” ​NASA​, NASA, 15
Oct. 2015, climate.nasa.gov/resources/education/pbs_modules/lesson2Overview/.