Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Escalante
EH 402
Natural Resources and Environmental Law
October 20, 2014
Mr. Cornelio Guantero
Climate Change is Not Purely Environmental
The temperature of the earth is changing. Weather patterns have changed and natural calamities have
brought greater disaster to communities 1. This is the newest trend... and this is a recurring threat to the
survival of the human race. This is Climate Change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have listed some of the regional impacts of global
change. In Asia alone, it has been projected that freshwater availability shall decrease in Central, South,
East and Southeast Asia by 2050. On top of this is an increased risk of flooding in coastal areas and a
higher mortality as a consequence of water-borne and drought associated diseases.2
As a consequence, government leaders all over the world together with international organizations and
environmental advocates put forth a parcel of their resources in order to find ways in resolving this
problem. This is evidenced by the different conventions 3 being conducted throughout the years with the
aim of looking into the issue and seeking solutions to find a stop or at least mitigate climate change. Also,
through these conventions, humanity made a great leap in humbly admitting the participation of the
human species in the aggravation of climate change.
But solving the problem of our environment is more complicated than we thought. The interplay of every
system that operates within each country as well as each countrys stand over climate change plays an
important role in our collective efforts. Together with this is the need to assess whether our measures in
combating climate change have been helpful or more incremental not just to Mother Earth but to every
individual.
A varied outlook
However, despite all the efforts that most have exerted in order to combat climate change, not everyone
is convinced that climate change is real. Despite all the years spent in order to comprehend this
phenomenon, there are still those that refuse to acknowledge its existence. Some are still in denial of
mans participation in climate change. Many still refuse to accept that we made this problem and we need
to take full responsibility over it. A concrete example would be the Americans where in a conducted
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/global-warming-climate-change/threats-impacts/index.htm
The threats and impacts of climate change based on the Nature Conservancy are (1) of the Earths species shall be extinct in 2050, (2) higher
temperatures, (3) changing landscapes, (4) wildlife being at risk (5) rising seas, (6) increased risk of drought, fire and floods (7) stronger storm
resulting to greater damage (8) increase in heat-related illness and disease, and (9) economic losses.
2
http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
North America: Decreasing snowpack in the western mountains; 5-20 percent increase in yields of rain-fed agriculture in some regions;
increased frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves in cities that currently experience them
Latin America: Gradual replacement of tropical forest by savannah in eastern Amazonia; risk of significant biodiversity loss through species
extinction in many tropical areas; significant changes in water availability for human consumption, agriculture and energy generation.
Europe: Increased risk of inland flash floods; more frequent coastal flooding and increased erosion from storms and sea level rise; glacial
retreat in mountainous areas; reduced snow cover and winter tourism; extensive species losses; reductions of crop productivity in southern
Europe
Africa: By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to increased water stress; yields from rain-fed agriculture
could be reduced by up to 50 percent in some regions by 2020; agricultural production, including access to food, may be severely compromised.
Asia: Freshwater availability projected to decrease in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia by the 2050s; coastal areas will be at risk due to
increased flooding; death rate from disease associated with floods and droughts expected to rise in some regions.
3
http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/6031.php
survey last November 2013, 23% dont believe in climate change 7% higher than last April 2013s
survey. 4
And what does this mean?
When we neglect the existence of climate change, we refuse to believe that something is wrong. When
we refuse to believe that something is wrong, we continue doing those that we do unconscious of
whether they are good or bad to the environment. When we continue doing our bad ways, our activities
continue to contribute to the abnormalities of the changing climate. We think that nothing is wrong
unaware that we are denying everyone the right to live. We think that everything is okay.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2540926/The-rise-climate-change-denier-New-figures-23-Americans-not-believe-globalwarming-happening.html
http://www.livescience.com/42633-climate-change-disbelief-rises.html
5
6
http://www.irinnews.org/report/85179/global-twelve-countries-on-climate-change-hit-list
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3031376/these-are-the-countries-most-vulnerable-to-climate-change#1