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Desiree Nixon

Ms. Self

Grammar and Composition II

7 November 2018

The Boiling Pot: Why Climate Change Is the Biggest Issue Facing Our Nation

Ever since middle school, I have studied climatology and its influence on our planet. My

knowledge on the topic of climate change actually scored me a second place win at state in

Science Olympiad and first place win in LAD fair, a literary arts fair in the Southwest Missouri

area. At the time when I was a middle schooler, I was just studying and writing facts. I had no

idea of the magnitude of what was beneath my fingers. The magnitude of climate change. It was

not until I got to high school that the Paris Climate Accord was signed and in the news. That

sparked an interest to find out more and made my knowledge take off at exponential levels. That

is when I was provided the opportunity to interview people like Congressman Billy Long,

Senator Claire McCaskill, climatologists from the National Weather Service, the President of

City Utilities, and even a written interview from former Vice President Albert Gore, all to

discuss this issue of the climate changing. After my interviews, I was baffled. It turns out that our

local congressman was putting industry above the environment. And that the climatologist from

the National Weather Service could not confirm global warming on camera, only off, for fear of

losing his job. It was then that I realized climate change is the biggest issue facing this nation and

that we must act immediately to try and preserve anything we care about on earth.

Global warming is a highly debated topic people often debate on if human involvement is

the main cause. Nonetheless, it is obvious that human involvement is the main inducer. Arguing

exactly that human involvement is the main cause, Christopher Cumo states that [the temperature
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is growing, this is a result of the amount of carbon dioxide in the air accumulating. Amounts of

carbon dioxide have accelerated from the combustion of fossil fuels. Humans have used more

fossil fuels since the time period known as the Gilded Age. Nature cannot get rid of the CO2 as

quickly as homo sapiens are adding it] (Cumo 3). These facts help bring to life the point that

climate change is caused by humans. Since the Industrial Revolution humans have relentlessly

been releasing CO2 into the atmosphere with extremely detrimental effects. Carbon dioxide is

harmful to the atmosphere because it gets trapped into the atmosphere through a process known

as the greenhouse effect. As evidence of this, Alex Rich and Tom Warhol explain, [whenever the

air temperature increases the greenhouse effect begins to act alone without human involvement.

This is a result of the issue of greenhouse gases growing in concentration. This causes a higher

temperature within the layers of the atmosphere. As a repercussion, the mean temperature on

Earth gets higher] (Rich and Warhol). This author confirms that whenever the greenhouse gasses

are trapped the earth holds the warmth. This never weakens, more gas is being produced and

none is being released. There are some natural causes of greenhouse gasses, but none compare to

the outrageous amounts caused by humans. Some people argue that humans are not the main

cause of global warming when they do they often provide data that is skewed or not put with

current studies and amounts of substances in the atmosphere.

The extreme heating of the earth is caused by us; however, most humans do not truly

understand the damaging effects that it will have on human life. Climate change has the

possibilities of causing a sixth mass annihilation. In a discussion between the relationship of

climate and humans, Andrea Nakaya deduces, [throughout Earth’s existence there has been five

bulk eliminations of human’s. During the previous 500 years, people have cause hazards,

localized community decreases, and eliminations of species that are proportionate to the degree
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of the “five mass extinctions”. This is a result of homo sapiens creating global warming,

destroying earth’s organisms, and dwelling eradication] (Nakaya). This helps draw the

conclusion that citizens are not aware of the brutal trends they are producing. The first five mass

extinctions were not caused by humans so it is devastating to look back on. Be that as it may, this

mass extinction is a direct result of humans. It is difficult to look at all the lives of people

including the children and elderly who are near death due to global warming and to look at the

predictions of other lives is even more devastating.

Not only is human death potential outcome, but animal death is possible and is already

happening. In the oceans, there are massive amounts of animals that are dying. The United

Nations, an international committee which includes 193 countries created in 1945, reports, [the

amount of fish differentiation has begun changing on areas of the earth. Coral reefs are already

causing negative effects to the tiny and massive fisheries that reefs normally help. This is

happening because reefs are facing bleaching due to global warming. The globe warming is the

cause of the destruction of the amount of oceanic life, the dispersion, and the number of

offspring's being produced] (United Nations 1). This statement proves that species in the oceans

are greatly affected by human-made global warming. The oceans are absorbers of all things that

are in the environment. They are taking in immense amounts of CO2 that it is destroying them. It

is possible that humans are not aware of the effects they are causing upon ocean life because we

do not live in the ocean; that is devastating because there are tremendous numbers of lives lost

due to this horrific phenomenon. The effects on animal life are not limited to ocean life. Many of

the small or large fluffy animals are dying as well. Polar bears are becoming endangered because

of global warming. It is particularly difficult for them to live their normal life when they have
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withered away to nothing starving to death because their food has died from global warming. We

are destroying nature without caring at all.

There are distressing effects of global warming, yet, there is still a portion of the country

who believes that climate change is not man-made and is an issue that will resolve itself. Many

deny global warming's existence, regardless, or claim it caused by nature. Some of the arguments

made by the opposing side claiming it is natural to include things like Shaidurov’s theory and

volcanic eruptions science. Shaidurov’s theory is based upon an event that happened over Serbia

where a comet exploded in the atmosphere in 1908. Some climate skeptics claim that this lead to

a thin layer of cloud that has trapped the heat. To further explain, W.E. Jacobs and Tom Warhol

state, [water particles that are cold in the atmosphere form ice. That ice can affect the earth’s

temperature. This is very similar to what CO2 does. A theory called Shaidurov’s claims that the

Tunguska Event, when a comet went through the atmosphere, it created ice crystals changing

what makes up the upper atmosphere] (Jacobs and Warhol). This source unfairly assumes that all

of the globe's warming has been caused by a small isolated event more than 100 years ago. There

is little scientific basis to support this considering clouds also reflect rays back due to albedo, the

rate of reflection based on a color, which causes cooling. Additionally, skeptics will claim that

volcanic eruptions are the cause of world climate change. They release many of the famous

greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and sulfur. In contrast, an article arranged by Andrea

Nakaya, it gathers information that states, [or three years the earth's temperature decreased half a

degree. The US Geological Survey claims it was caused by a massive volcanic eruption.

Although most of the time small eruptions have little effect] (Nakaya). This article helps to

solidify the argument that climate change is not the most influenced from things like comets or
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volcanoes. Instead, the globe is warming from human influence through the burning of fossil

fuels.

Although the arguments against man-made climate change can easily be rebutted, our

own president, Donald Trump, the one who nominates the director of the Environmental

Protection Agency is a denier of climate change. Since the very beginning of his campaign, he

has been vocal on his thoughts upon the issue. He often tweets his opinions in a less than

scientific manner. You can see this when looking at his Tweet which was included in an article

called, “Weatherman Trump,” it states, “The concept of global warming was created by and for

the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive” (Earth Island Journal). This

man wrongly infers that climate change is some kind of government propaganda. This is

completely irrational considering a coalition of 193 countries, called the United Nations, has

been one of the leaders in this fight about global warming, not China. Regardless of the fact that

multiple scientists agree climate change is not a form of propaganda, President Trump still

rejects their studies in his policies. In an article written by Christina Lyons, one learns [the fossil

fuel industry is supported by the president. President Trump’s goal has been to weaken anything

he finds is negative on business. In doing this, the White House has undone Obama regulations

that seek to slow down global warming. This directly goes against what scientists say the

negative impacts of climate change are] (Lyons). This helps to presume that the President and his

party care more about the economy than the people. The economy is important, but, there will be

none anywhere if something is not changed immediately. President Trump has been and

continues to be a representative of the fossil fuel industry. Earlier this year tariffs were placed on

the solar industry, limiting possible growth. Big business has been put above the lives of our
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future. Policies are not being made that care about our children and grandchildren. A dystopian

future lies ahead for them.

Unfortunately, in the United States, our current administration and a large majority of

people refuse to acknowledge climate change and its destructive effects. Nonetheless, in other

parts of the world, they are more apt to acknowledge what is going on and make adjustments. In

Germany, there is a great effort being made to switch to 100% alternative energy. The article

“Energy and Climate Change” outlines what Germany has accomplished, [throughout 1990-2015

Germany has diminished 20% of their greenhouse gases. In just 2015, German had 32.5% of

their energy coming from alternative sources. The United States has done less than half of that.

Germany is making massive changes] (Adams). By looking at all of this information you can

witness that other nations in the world are making changes to help prevent the catastrophic

effects of global warming from taking place. Germany is one of the driving forces in the

alternative energy movement. Additionally, in France, there has been a push to help the

environment. In December of 2015, France held the Paris Climate Summit with the United

Nations to try and help the environment. This meeting was remarkable and showed genuine

recognition of climate change. As evidence of this, Adams continues to explain, [the Paris

Climate accord formed a legal document. Due to this, it had the most positive change produced

than the past 21 meetings regarding climate change. The United Nations was the leader of the

event. In December, delegates from 193 areas met in Paris to reduce the 40 billion tons of

greenhouse gases that we put in Earth's air] (Adams). This statement proves the argument that

France is helping lead the fight to help the environment as well as Germany. Although the

United States has led many revolutions in the past, the switch to alternative energy is not one of

those. France has used this well-known information to create the "Make Our Planet Great Again”
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movement in response to the “Make America Great Again” agenda put forth by President

Trump. Other nations are leading to help an agenda that the United States could be profiting on.

Although I have made great strides to try and inform you and inform myself upon this

issue this is only an informative paper without giving possible solutions for you to do. All those

interviews and documentaries are worthless if no one watches them and acts. The midterms are

about to happen, go out and vote. Elect representatives that you know care about the

environment. Do your research. Nearly every party issue can be reversed and fixed with each

party switch. If a party alters the economy in four years, the opposite party can come in and fix

it. Unfortunately, the environment does not work that way. Tell our government that the planet

matters. We only have one. Global warming is the biggest issue we are faced with today. Along

with voting, go out and try and reduce your carbon footprint. Walk instead of drive, do not eat

beef as cows produce methane, and change your light bulbs. Until the nation picks up on this

madness it is up to you, the everyday citizen, to try and stop this impending crisis. You need to

care about the next seven generations. Let us keep our planet great for our grandkids. If nothing

is done there may not be a planet for them to live on.

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Works Cited

Adams, Jill U. "Energy and Climate Change." CQ Researcher, 15 June 2016,

library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqr_ht_climate_change_2016. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.

Cumo, Christopher. "Climate." Encyclopedia of Global Warming & Climate Change. edited by

S. George Philander. vol. 1. SAGE Publications, 2012. 263-69. SAGE Knowledge, doi:

10.4135/9781452218564.n137. Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.

Jacobs, W. E., and Tom Warhol. “Counterpoint: The Causes of Global Warming Are Not Clear.”

Points of View: Greenhouse Effect, Mar. 2016, p. 3. Points of View, search.ebscohost.co

m/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=23727094&site=pov-live. Accessed 18 Oct.

2018.

Lyons, Christina L. "Climate Change." CQ Researcher, 13 Oct. 2018,

library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqr_ht_climate_change_2018. Accessed 18 Oct. 2018.

Nakaya, Andrea C. “Issues in Society: What are the Consequences of Climate Change?,” 2017.

SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks-sirs.com.proxy.missouristate.edu/webapp/article?

artno=000039 4025& type=ART#cite. Accessed 18 Oct. 2018.

Rich, Alex K., and Tom Warhol. “Counterpoint: Scientists Know That Human Activity Has

Caused Global Warming.” Points of View: Global Warming, Dec. 2017, p. 3. Points of

View, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=26159052&s

ite=pov-live. Accessed 18 Oct. 2018.

“Weatherman Trump.” Earth Island Journal, vol. 31, no. 2, Summer 2016, p. 12.

Academic Search Complete, search.ebscohost.com.proxy.missouristate.edu

/login.aspx?dire ct=true&db=a9h&AN=115610894&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Accessed 22 Oct. 2018.