Disha NEET Physics Guide for classes 11 and 12.pdf
The Threats of Climate Change
1. The Threats of Climate
Change
A Presentation Explaining the Threats of Climate Change
2. Climate Change
Thousands of students are refusing to go to
school on Fridays to protest their
government’s apparent lack of progress in
fighting climate change. The climate
strikes that began earlier this year
demonstrate a change in attitude for many
people towards climate change. People
are beginning to understand that climate
change is not something that will happen
in the distant future but is beginning to
affect them now. A large part of the
growth of awareness towards climate
change has come from global outreach
programs headed by organizations such as
the United Nations’UNESCO. However,
though public opinion is beginning to
shift towards a more accepted view on the
reality of climate change there are still
many people who do not see it as a
serious issue. But climate change is real,
and society needs to take steps to reverse
it because it exacerbates extreme weather,
damages precious ecosystems, and
ultimately it will harm the economy.
3. Exacerbation of Weather
The exacerbation of extreme
weather is one of the reasons
society needs to fight against
climate change. This change in
weather causes more
droughts, especially in areas
where they are already
common. Even now we can see
the increase in wildfires
occurring in california due to
these droughts. Along with
droughts the severity of
hurricanes will increase which
will damage coastlines and
infrastructure.
4. Damage to Precious
Ecosystems
Another factor that contributes to
why society needs to fight climate
change is because of the damage it
causes to precious
ecosystems. For example, coral
reefs that provide essential
nutrients to marine food chains
are experiencing mass coral
bleaching. This is caused by an
increase in temperature on the
Earth, and leaves the coral more
susceptible to death. The arctic is
another ecosystem that is
suffering due to this change in
temperature. Polar bear
populations have been steadily
decreasing over the past few
years as the Earth has warmed up
and the sea ice has melted.
5. Harm to the Economy
Finally, society should take an interest
in stopping climate change because
it will ultimately harm the economy.
As climate change continues to
increase the devastating power of
natural disasters it will cost more
money every year to repair damaged
infrastructure and provide disaster
relief. According to some estimates
the United States spent close to 415
billion dollars over the last three
years in response to hurricanes and
wildfires (Earth Institute). Rich
countries such as the United States
can pay these bills, but poor
countries will struggle to find
enough money to do so. This will
cause a mass migration of people to
richer countries, which will put a
large tole on these economies.
6. Arguments Against the
Threat of Climate Change
However, not everyone agrees over the
harms that climate change will bring.
Some think that effects of climate change
come not from humans but from a natural
cycle of the earth. Some argue that the
changes that the earth has experienced is
cyclical in nature. Meaning that the earth
warms up and then cools down on its own
having nothing to do with humans. Larry
Bell, who is a contributor at Forbes and
writes on the environment, cites a study
conducted by a researcher at Duke
university to back up these claims (Bell).
But again, the majority of scientists hold
the view that climate change is correlated
with humans. A graph from Nasa helps
demonstrate this fact. The graph shows
how carbon dioxide has increased to an
unprecedented level. This fact flies in the
face of claims that climate change is
cyclical or has nothing to do with
humans.
7. Conclusion
Climate change is a serious issue that
will affect numerous people and
animals. If nothing is done about
climate change the exacerbation of
weather, such as the increase in
severity of hurricanes, will lead to
more deaths and the destruction of
people’s homes. It will also result in
ecosystems being damaged and even
destroyed with more species of
animals facing extinction. Further,
as times goes on and nothing is done
about climate change the economies
of world will begin to suffer from
massive damages to their
infrastructure and the mass
migration of people. Ultimately it is
vital for the future and for the
present that society take climate
change seriously and do something
about it.
8. Works Cited
Bauer, and Adriana. “Importance of Coral Reefs - Biodiscovery and the Great Barrier Reef - Queensland Museum.” Importance of Coral Reefs - Biodiscovery and the Great Barrier Reef
- Queensland Museum, www.qm.qld.gov.au/microsites/biodiscovery/05human-impact/importance-of-coral-reefs.html.
Bell, Larry. “Global Warming? No, Natural, Predictable Climate Change.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 26 Jan. 2012, www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/01/10/global-warming-no-
natural-predictable-climate-change/#7eb821773adc.
Cho, Renee, and Stuart Scott. “How Climate Change Impacts the Economy.” State of the Planet, 20 June 2019, blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2019/06/20/climate-change-economy-impacts/.
“Drought and Climate Change.” Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, 9 Nov. 2018, www.c2es.org/content/drought-and-climate-change/.
“Electric Towers during Golden Hour.” Free Stock Photos, www.pexels.com/photo/air-air-pollution-climate-change-dawn-221012/.
“Factcheck: How Global Warming Has Increased US Wildfires.” Carbon Brief, 20 Aug. 2018, www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-how-global-warming-has-increased-us-wildfires.
“Free Image on Pixabay - Climate Strike, School Strike.” Climate Strike School - Free Image on Pixabay, pixabay.com/illustrations/climate-strike-school-strike-school-4113371/.
“Free Image on Pixabay - Wildfire, Forest, Fire, Blaze.” Wildfire Forest Fire - Free Photo on Pixabay, pixabay.com/photos/wildfire-forest-fire-blaze-smoke-1105209/.
“Hurricanes and Climate Change.” Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org/resources/hurricanes-and-climate-change.
“Hurricanes and Climate Change.” Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org/resources/hurricanes-and-climate-change.
Impacts at the Ecosystem Level: Damaging the Arctic Web of Life,
www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/climate_law_institute/the_arctic_meltdown/slideshow_text/ecosystem_impacts.html.
“Photo of Brown Bare Tree on Brown Surface during Daytime.” Free Stock Photos, www.pexels.com/photo/earth-desert-dry-hot-60013/.
“UNITED NATIONS Climate Change - Summit 2019.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/en/climatechange/education-key-climate-change.shtml.
US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “How Does Climate Change Affect Coral Reefs?” NOAA's National Ocean Service, 3 Mar. 2015,
oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html.
Weiss, Daniel J., and Jackie Weidman. “Disastrous Spending: Federal Disaster-Relief Expenditures Rise amid More Extreme Weather.” Center for American Progress,
www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/reports/2013/04/29/61633/disastrous-spending-federal-disaster-relief-expenditures-rise-amid-more-extreme-weather/.