Causes of Global Warming Essay Sample

Between 1994 and 2017, 28 trillion tonnes of ice melted around the planet (Stubely). This alone is proof that global warming is real; the controversy arises when the possible causes are discussed. Global warming is defined as the general warming of the planet ("Global Warming and Climate Change.") This term is often confused with climate change, which is caused by global warming ("Global Warming and Climate Change."). Climate change is overall, deep-rooted adjustments in weather patterns ("Global Warming and Climate Change."). Both climate change and global warming could have long-term effects on the human population as well as the global environment and biodiversity ("Global Warming and Climate Change."). Some people believe that global warming is a natural phenomenon that the earth goes through, or naturogenic. Others believe it is anthropogenic, meaning that it is caused by human activity. It is very apparent that, regardless of some people’s belief, global warming is real and is being expedited by human activity. As a teen, I am terrified of the direct consequences of global warming, such as more severe natural disasters and destroyed ecosystems. I, just like every other person on the planet, will have to deal with these consequences. Additionally, climate change and global warming are not temporary issues; they will be around for our future generations. People who refuse to help the planet are actively aiding in the destruction of it.  Learning, understanding, and spreading awareness of the causes and effects of global warming will cause people to help the planet rather than hurt it. 

Many believe that global warming is fueled by human activities, meaning it is anthropogenic. The driving force behind this point of view is the increasing greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is created when “several gases that trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping into space”(“Global Warming and Climate Change”). These gas emissions get stuck in the atmosphere and trap in the heat from both the sun and the planet, thus heating up the Earth. Carbon gases are largely released by the burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation vehicles. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon emissions have increased from 280 parts per million to 400 parts per million recently (Downie).  To put that into perspective, one article states that “carbon released from the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities now adds an estimated 9.9 gigatons of carbon to the atmosphere annually”(Downie). Not only is the human population releasing more carbon, but many companies are removing natural systems that regulate carbon, like forests and jungles. Over 2 gigatons of carbon are absorbed by forests annually; by destroying the forests, there are fewer plants to absorb and deplete carbon emissions(Downie). According to estimates from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, “10 million hectares of forest around the world are cut down every year”(Downie). One might think since the agricultural industry grows many plants, it would negate the effects of deforestation; this is far from true. Overall, agriculture accounts for 10-12% of annual anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions(Downie).  Agriculture and farming release methane, a greenhouse gas that is “25 times more potent than carbon dioxide meaning that even though there is less of it in the atmosphere, methane is more toxic and dangerous(Downie). These emissions have correlated with the rate at which the ice caps are melting.  One study found that it “had accelerated from 0.8 trillion tons per year in the 1990s to 1.3 trillion tonnes by 2017”(Stubely).  The increasing release of greenhouse gases and the recent accelerated heating of the planet have led many people to believe that global warming is caused by human activity. 

The alternate opinion in this debate is that global warming is a natural and cyclical phenomenon; this is called naturogenic global warming. A large portion of the proof used to support the existence of naturogenic global warming is that this warming is periodic, recurring throughout the centuries. One article observed that  “In the last 1.6 million years there have been 63 alternations between warm and cold climates, and no indication that any of them were caused by changes in carbon dioxide levels”(Contoski). Additionally, these variations don’t always happen in uniform intervals. One study found that the Earth “warmed 0.6 degree Celsius (1 degree Fahrenheit), but that warming has been wiped out in a single year with a drop of 0.63 degrees C. (1.13 F.)” (Contoski). Some of these skeptics argue that an increase of 0.6 degrees is not significant enough to agonize over (Contoski). Moreover, another skeptic scientist states that his belief is that "we are a long way from attributing all or much of current warming to man-made carbon dioxide"(Knickerbocker). Many people validate this belief by stating that only 0.035% of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide (Contoski). Since there is, relatively, so little of it, carbon dioxide is not viewed as a threat to the planet or ecosystem by the skeptics. In addition to looking at the patterns of our planet, scientists look at the patterns of other planets in our solar system in hopes of better understanding Earth. Certain scientists observed that “Other planets in our solar system have expanding and contracting ice caps”(Knickerbocker). This suggests that, like on other planets, variation of the size of Earth’s ice caps may be normal and just part of a natural cycle. Most global warming skeptics look at the cyclical changes of the planet and deduce that if it is real, global warming is not caused by humans. 

 To me, it is clearly evident that modern human activity is expediting global warming. While doing my research, I found drastically more information confirming this; the research found was also much more credible and had more reliable content than the research for the other point of view. In 2001, a study contributed by hundreds of scientists predicted that “if current warming trends continue, average global surface temperatures will rise between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Centigrade by 2100”(Lobe).  An additional two studies both found that the ocean temperature had risen 0.6 degrees C between 1955 and 2001(Lobe). The temperature of the ocean is much more consistent than that of the atmosphere, which is why this information is so alarming. The same 2001 study deduced that "most of the observed warming over the last 50 years is likely [66 to 90 percent chance] to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations."(Lobe). Furthermore, the discussion around global warming is not a new one and has been talked about for decades.  In 1990, the IPCC “anticipated a sea-level rise of 1.9 millimeters per year from that year onward”("Global Warming and Climate Change”). However, they later found that between 2006 and 2018, it had risen 3.7 millimeters per year("Global Warming and Climate Change"). The last few decades have been some of the warmest on record, leading much of the scientific community to believe that greenhouse gas emissions do, in fact, affect global warming(Lobe). In addition to overall heating, global warming contributes to climate change, which can and will have drastic effects on human life and all ecosystems. Scientists speculate that there will be more frequent hurricanes, heatwaves, drought, and forest fires, all more frequent and disastrous than seen in the past.  In 2021, a heatwave of unprecedented severity tore its way through the Pacific Northwest United States, in which  “temperatures reached triple digits and led to the deaths of more than two hundred people in the region”("Global Warming and Climate Change”). It seems that global warming skepticism is a defensive measure adopted by those too scared to face the imminent danger they have put Earth, as well as themselves, in. There is undoubtedly a connection between human activity and the recent increase in global warming. 

Clearly, I believe that global warming is an anthropogenic phenomenon. Although I have always believed this, the process of researching this topic cemented my knowledge and belief. Both quantitatively and qualitatively, there was more information and studies supporting anthropogenic global warming. The statistics I found emphasized the deteriorating tragedy that is the atmosphere. Many of them emphasized the sheer amount of greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere, and how they are only increasing with time. The release of greenhouse gas is exponentially accelerating the issue of global warming.  While my feelings have not changed, I am definitely more passionate about this issue. This research accentuated my fear and anxiety about the future. Since global warming is such an imminent issue, it is nerve-wracking to see so many people completely disregard it.  Anthropogenic global warming can and will completely uproot the biosphere; if humans continue to be complacent in this destruction, we will be the cause of our own expiration. 

Writing my I-search paper was an insightful and enriching experience. Over the course of the research project, I gathered lots of information, data, and statistics to support my beliefs. I believe that in writing about a point of view that I personally do not believe in, I became a better writer. I found ways to substantiate a point of view with little to no evidence and was able to put my personal beliefs aside. In doing this I improved my critical thinking skills. It is important to set personal bias aside while doing the research portion of the I-Search process.