Why are we delaying action to reduce greenhouse gases despite knowing the severity of global warming?

The dangers of global warming are scientifically proven, and the resulting sea level rise and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. However, many people only superficially recognize the seriousness of the problem and are putting off taking action to reduce greenhouse gases because they don’t see an immediate impact.

 

People don’t take global warming seriously these days. Even if they are fully aware of the dangers and causes of global warming, they overlook them because they don’t see any immediate impact. However, despite this, carbon dioxide concentrations are steadily increasing, and as global warming progresses, sea level rise, climate instability, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters are on the rise. All members of society need to be alert and make efforts to reduce greenhouse gases now.
Former U.S. Vice President and environmentalist Al Gore warned the public about the dangers of global warming in his documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and while some have criticized the film for exaggerations and contradictions, it is true that the recent trend of rising carbon dioxide concentrations and rising average temperatures is the same. Currently, the average global temperature has risen about 0.8 degrees Celsius over the 20th century, and 0.6 degrees Celsius over the last 30 years. In his book, Six Degrees, British environmentalist and journalist Mark Lynas posits a scenario in which 90% of the planet’s species will become extinct if the average global temperature rises by more than 6 degrees, starting with a 2-degree increase. If temperatures continue to rise at the current rate, scientists warn, the average global temperature will rise by more than 2 degrees Celsius when carbon dioxide concentrations reach 480 parts per million. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognizes this 2-degree rise as an important milestone, and calls for greenhouse gas reductions to stay within it. However, the rate of carbon dioxide increase has been 2.25 parts per million (ppm) per year for the past three years, and it’s rising every year, meaning that if it continues, the average global temperature is expected to rise by more than 2 degrees by the middle of the 21st century. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is therefore urgent if we are to avoid irreversible catastrophe.
However, most people only superficially recognize the seriousness of the situation and the need for action. While the effects of climate change are currently being felt, the changes have yet to be significant enough to make the public aware of the problem, and many people don’t know how to take action even if they wanted to. However, if we broaden our horizons and look at climate change globally, we can see that in some regions, significant changes are already occurring. The Antarctic and Arctic are experiencing much greater climate fluctuations than other regions, and we shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the fact that we don’t feel much change right now.
It is scientifically irrefutable that the greenhouse effect is accelerating global warming due to human emissions of carbon dioxide. Even taking into account the natural cycles of climate change, the recent rise in temperature is an unusual phenomenon that has been accompanied by a sharp increase in carbon dioxide concentrations. Therefore, the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations caused by human activities is having a clear impact on global warming.
However, some people are skeptical of the idea that increasing carbon dioxide concentrations are causing global warming. They argue that global warming is the result of a combination of factors, including the eccentricity of the Earth’s orbit, changes in the tilt of its axis of rotation, precession, and solar activity. Others argue that the effect of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations on global warming is minimal and that there is insufficient evidence to prove a correlation.
Of course, there are many factors that contribute to global temperature changes. However, even taking these differences into account, it is likely that the rapid increase in carbon dioxide concentrations has played a large role in the recent anomalous temperature rise. For example, the Milankovitch Cycles, which analyze climate patterns based on the Earth’s orbital motion, predicted that over tens of thousands of years the Earth would gradually cool and enter an ice age. Recently, however, global temperatures have been rising rapidly, contrary to expectations. In addition, a 2011 study predicted that solar activity is currently slowing down, which should lead to a decrease in global temperatures, but instead, temperatures are actually increasing. This provides strong evidence that the cause of warming is linked to the increase in greenhouse gases.
The concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane, two of the most common greenhouse gases, have changed dramatically since before the industrial revolution. This is strongly related to the use of fossil fuels and the increase in pastoralism. In particular, carbon dioxide and methane concentrations have risen dramatically since the Industrial Revolution, far exceeding the levels seen over the past 800,000 years. It is therefore undeniable that human activity has caused a dramatic increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, which has contributed to the greenhouse effect and thus to recent temperature increases. Even if we accept that global climate change is cyclical and natural, the impact of human activity cannot be ignored.
If humanity does not do enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the status quo continues, global warming will one day pose a significant threat to human survival. While the effects are not yet life-threatening, the vicious circle of the greenhouse effect means that at some point, rapid and irreversible climate change is likely to occur. The vicious circle of the greenhouse effect is a phenomenon in which rising temperatures reduce the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide in the oceans, and melting permafrost releases the greenhouse gases it contains, further accelerating the greenhouse effect. If this process is repeated, the changes will hit relatively immobile plants hard, which could lead to species loss or extinction. The animals that feed on plants will also be affected, which in turn will lead to food problems for humans at the top of the food chain. Human societies could also face major threats from climate extremes, such as heavy rainfall, storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires caused by extreme weather. In addition, rising sea levels will continue to inundate settlements in low-lying areas and islands, creating an increasing number of climate refugees.
On the other hand, some experts argue that this trend of global warming is already out of our hands, and that it’s more realistic to start thinking about adaptation. They argue that global warming is the result of natural cycles and that humanity should be looking for ways to adapt rather than trying to stop it. However, as mentioned earlier, even when natural variations are taken into account, human influence cannot be ignored, and adapting without reducing greenhouse gases will prove limiting. Therefore, efforts to reduce greenhouse gases must be undertaken, even if they are all the result of natural cycles.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, countries around the world have been rushing forward to develop their economies. As a result, science, technology, and civilization have advanced, but environmental problems have become more serious. One of the biggest environmental problems is global warming. Global warming is still ongoing, and the pace is getting faster and faster. To combat this, international cooperation is essential. Although there are various international cooperation programs such as the Kyoto Protocol and renewable energy, they are still not enough to stop global warming. If countries ignore environmental issues and pursue their own interests, a tragedy of the commons will occur.
While the causes of global warming are still being debated, countries will need to recognize the impact of human greenhouse gas emissions on rising global temperatures and find ways to develop sustainably. Efforts to regulate GHG emissions and capture and store GHGs already in the atmosphere are necessary whether global warming is caused by human activities or natural cycles. Individuals in society must also recognize the seriousness of global warming and take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the Earth’s temperature is rising abnormally. To solve this problem, all members of the planet must be vigilant and work together.