A Closer Look at the Evidence
Geologic History of Earth
The graph on NASA’s website (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016a) shows the levels of CO2 that have been witnessed on the Earth since the beginning of time. It also indicates that a drastic increase in the CO2 levels started in the 1950s and has been continuing ever since. The United Kingdom’s National Meteorological Service (2016a) points to the fact that not only the emissions from vehicles may cause an increase in the levels of CO2.
Apart from the factors that are considered purely anthropogenic, a part of the ENSO cycle known as El Nino has had a direct effect on the subject matter: “The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is rising year-on-year due to human emissions, but this year it is getting an extra boost due to the recent El Niño event” (The United Kingdom’s National Meteorological Service, 2016a). To be more accurate, the ENDO phase has contributed to the creation of a more arid environment in the tropical areas of the Earth.
Information Arrangement
The way in which information is arranged at the NASA site seems quite rational and sensible. Particularly, the crucial facts are split into the following categories: evidence, causes and effects, scientific consensus, and vital signs (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2016b). The identified approach to data management is slightly different from the one used by The United Kingdom’s National Meteorological Service (2016a).
The latter is comprised of the following parts: “What do we mean by climate?”, “What is climate change?”, “Climate science”, and “Climate news” (The United Kingdom’s National Meteorological Service, 2016b). The approach used by the National Meteorological Service is a bit confusing, though, since the cause-and-effect relationships are not established as clearly as at the NASA’s site.
Effects of Climate Change
Among the essential effects of climate change, a rise in the mean temperature across the world needs to be mentioned first. As a result, numerous environmental systems may cease to exist. Thus, there is a threat of extinction for a range of species.
Economic Growth as a Part of the Solution
Negative Effects of Economic Growth
Although there is a range of positive effects that the economic growth has on the environment, the negative outcomes are quite tangible, as explained in the article “Hang on” (2013) in The Economist. For instance, the increase in the consumption rates implies a threat to the endangered species and a number of habitats. Similarly, agricultural activities affect the environment significantly.
Principal Threat to Biodiversity
Furthermore, the current approaches to production and consumption raise a few concerns. The lack of sustainability in the current economic policies can be deemed as the greatest threat to the environment. Unless people reduce the amount of produced waste, the environment will be destroyed.
Positive Effects of Economic Growth
As stressed above, the effects of economic growth are not entirely negative. The discovery of new approaches toward the production and the use of resources may serve as a foil for a more sustainable policy. New strategies for pesticide regulation, improved sanitation, etc., become a possibility as the economic growth rate increases, as “Averting the sixth extinction” (2013) warns.
Connections between the Key Variables
Nevertheless, there is a need to maintain consistent supervision of the trajectories of economic growth and the tendencies in the use of resources. Unless a sustainable approach toward the use of resources is designed, the uncontrolled consumption of resources will lead to the destruction of habitats, extinction of species, and a rise in CO2 levels. Therefore, it is crucial to consider carefully the effects that anthropogenic activities have on the environment.
References
Averting the sixth extinction. (2013). The Economist. Web.
Hang on. (2013). The Economist. Web.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2016a). Effects. Web.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2016b). Global climate change: Vital signs of the planet. Web.
The United Kingdom’s National Meteorological Service. (2016a). El Niño drives record rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Web.
The United Kingdom’s National Meteorological Service. (2016b). What is climate change? Web.