...driven by the attention of high-profile personalities, politicians and green activists. But Al Gore did not discover global warming. Nor did Tim Flannery, Peter Garrett, Greenpeace or Malcolm Turnbull. Scientific concern about global warming is not new. A single scientific paper, published more than three decades ago, can place the discussions about climate change into historical perspective. Tomorrow it will be 35 years since the leading science journal Nature published a review paper entitled "Man-made carbon dioxide and the 'greenhouse' effect", by the eminent atmospheric scientist J. S. Sawyer, director of research at the United Kingdom Meteorological Office. In four pages, Sawyer summarised what was known about the role of carbon dioxide in enhancing the natural greenhouse effect leading to warming at the earth's surface, and made a remarkable 28-year prediction of the warming expected to the end of the 20th century. His prediction can now be compared with what has been observed. We can also compare his review of the science in the early 1970s with that in the latest (2007) assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. After summarising recent calculations of the likely impact of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations on global surface temperature, Sawyer concluded that the "increase of 25 per cent in carbon dioxide expected by the end of the century therefore corresponds to an increase of 0.6 degrees in world temperature - an amount somewhat greater...
Words: 881 - Pages: 4
...driven by the attention of high-profile personalities, politicians and green activists. But Al Gore did not discover global warming. Nor did Tim Flannery, Peter Garrett, Greenpeace or Malcolm Turnbull. Scientific concern about global warming is not new. A single scientific paper, published more than three decades ago, can place the discussions about climate change into historical perspective. Tomorrow it will be 35 years since the leading science journal Nature published a review paper entitled "Man-made carbon dioxide and the 'greenhouse' effect", by the eminent atmospheric scientist J. S. Sawyer, director of research at the United Kingdom Meteorological Office. In four pages, Sawyer summarized what was known about the role of carbon dioxide in enhancing the natural greenhouse effect leading to warming at the earth's surface, and made a remarkable 28-year prediction of the warming expected to the end of the 20th century. His prediction can now be compared with what has been observed. We can also compare his review of the science in the early 1970s with that in the latest (2007) assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. After summarizing recent calculations of the likely impact of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations on global surface temperature, Sawyer concluded that the "increase of 25 per cent in carbon dioxide expected by the end of the century therefore corresponds to an increase of 0.6 degrees in world temperature - an amount somewhat greater...
Words: 855 - Pages: 4
...445–459 Barriers perceived to engaging with climate change among the UK public and their policy implications Irene Lorenzonia,b,������, Sophie Nicholson-Coleb, Lorraine Whitmarshb a School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK b Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK Received 25 August 2006; received in revised form 12 January 2007; accepted 17 January 2007 Abstract This paper reports on the barriers that members of the UK public perceive to engaging with climate change. It draws upon three mixed-method studies, with an emphasis on the qualitative data which offer an in-depth insight into how people make sense of climate change. The paper defines engagement as an individual’s state, comprising three elements: cognitive, affective and behavioural. A number of common barriers emerge from the three studies, which operate broadly at ‘individual’ and ‘social’ levels. These major constraints to individual engagement with climate change have implications for achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gases in the UK. We argue that targeted and tailored information provision should be supported by wider structural change to enable citizens and communities to reduce their carbon dependency. Policy implications for effective engagement are discussed. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Climate change; Engagement; Barriers; Public perceptions;...
Words: 13826 - Pages: 56
...EDUCATION COURSE CODE: AGE 121 COURSE TITLE: ARABLE CROP PRODUCTION QUESTION: DISCUSS THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BY ABDUL-RASHEED MUHAMM DEPARTMENT: SHI/AGE DR. S. O. AGBATO AND MRS. SALAMI LECTURER IN CHARGE Climate change induced by increasing greenhouse gases is likely to affect crops differently from region to region. For example, average crop yield is expected to drop down to 50% in Pakistan according to the UKMO scenario whereas corn production in Europe is expected to grow up to 25% in optimum hydrologic conditions. More favourable effects on yield tend to depend to a large extent on realization of the potentially beneficial effects of carbon dioxide on crop growth and increase of efficiency in water use. Decrease in potential yields is likely to be caused by shortening of the growing period, decrease in water availability and poor vernalization. The overall effect of climate change on agriculture will depend on the balance of these effects. Assessment of the effects of global climate changes on agriculture might help to properly anticipate and adapt farming to maximize agricultural production. At the same time, agriculture has been shown to produce significant effects on climate change, primarily through the production and release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide,...
Words: 1342 - Pages: 6
...The climate change war. “Is global warming indeed caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases or by natural variations”? (Pigliucci, M. (2010), 134) The controversy is that global warming is not just a scientific matter, it also correlates with sociology, individual’s lifestyle, but above all, politics. (Maslin, Mark (2004) Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: OUP.) According to Pigliuci [Pigliucci, M. (2010), 141] Since science is constantly changing with their predictions, how do we know that it will not change again? He goes on to say that this is what we call dishonest play on widespread public misunderstanding in the process of science, in which revision in previous results is not only normal, but also mistrust of scientific expertise overall. With that being said, how can we determine what is the proper scientific position on Global Warming/Climate Change? How can non-scientist evaluate the evidence and choose which experts to believe, also how to detect and evaluate the effect of political/economic pressures on scientific conclusions. Do Not Throw Away Your Kids, Protect the Planet and Recycle Them The skepticism of global warming has been a constant ongoing war for quite some time based on its uncertainty. Human activities is what causes the change in the Earth’s climate is just merely a scientific opinion. Basically the scientist leverage on global warming is this: “Without substantial disagreement, scientists find human activities are heating the...
Words: 628 - Pages: 3
...Climate Change Impacts & Risk Management A Guide for Business and Government Published by the Australian Greenhouse Office, in the Department of the Environment and Heritage. ISBN: 1 921120 56 8 © Commonwealth of Australia 2006 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth, available from the Department of the Environment and Heritage. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: The Communications Director Australian Greenhouse Office Department of the Environment and Heritage GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Email: communications@greenhouse.gov.au This publication is available electronically at www.greenhouse.gov.au IMPORTANT NOTICE - PLEASE READ While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Climate Change Impacts & Risk Management A Guide for Business and Government Prepared for the Australian Greenhouse Office, Department of Environment and Heritage by: Broadleaf Capital International Marsden Jacob Associates CONTENTS A What This Guide Is About 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose...
Words: 23094 - Pages: 93
...Brad Miller Final Research Paper Steve Oberlechner English 102 30 April 2010 A Skeptic’s View of Global Warming Is global warming really happening? Is it something that we should truly fear, and if so, why? Scientists and other climate experts have been trying to answer these important questions and many others concerning global climate change for decades. Before one can truly delve into the details of global warming, it is important to define the concept. The entire study of climate change is difficult to explain, and is not yet fully understood by scientists. However, global warming can be simply described as the process of the earth’s atmosphere increasing in temperature due to the presence of greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide and are produced through the burning of fossil fuels and various other means. These gasses are actually part of Earth’s natural processes, for they trap heat that allows Earth’s temperature to sustain life. The effects of this process can be seen as a blessing and a curse. Just the right amount of them helps the earth maintain a somewhat constant temperature; too much may cause temperatures to rise to frightening heights. Since 1880, when instruments used to precisely measure atmospheric temperatures were invented, the Earth’s surface temperature has risen about 0.36° F for each decade up to the twenty first century (Voiland). This information presents a clear warning about the matter: that global warming is present and cannot be ignored...
Words: 2294 - Pages: 10
...We’re Thinking about Climate Change Wrong Climate Change. Also known as global warming, is the irreversible end that we will face if we do not change our ways. The effects of climate change have already started to take effect. Over 50% of The Great Barrier Reef is dead over the past two years. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent such as Hurricane Harvey and Cyclone Debbie. With all these natural disasters taking place, it begs the question, why do some people still don’t believe that climate change is a real issue? One of the most common arguments against climate change is that “If global warming is real, then how come it is cold outside?” or “Why is it snowing?”. This is a common misconception. People mix up the climate, with the...
Words: 1616 - Pages: 7
...Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) between the start and the end of the 20th century.[2][A] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that most of the observed temperature increase since the middle of the 20th century was very likely caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.[2] The IPCC also concludes that variations in natural phenomena such as solar radiation and volcanic eruptions had a small cooling effect after 1950.[3][4] These basic conclusions have been endorsed by more than 40 scientific societies and academies of science,[B] including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries.[5] Climate model projections summarized in the latest IPCC report indicate that the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the 21st century.[2] The uncertainty in this estimate arises from the use of models with differing sensitivity to greenhouse gas concentrations and the use of differing estimates of future greenhouse gas emissions. Most studies focus on the period leading up to the year 2100. However, warming is expected to continue beyond 2100 even if emissions stop, because of the large heat capacity...
Words: 265 - Pages: 2
...Running Head: Anthropogenic Climate Change Anthropogenic Climate Change Name: Course Name: Informal Logic Presented To: December 13, 2011 Anthropogenic Climate Change 2 Table of Contents Introduction............................................................................................................... 3 1. Part 1- Argument ................................................................................................... 4 Global warming caused by the man- made gases. The advancement of industries and factories should be halted in order to control global warming. Emission of the CO2 gases by the industries is polluting the air that is ultimately leading to global warming. According to the US Climate Change Science Program “Global warming is a real and manmade issue and immediate actions are mandatory to save the environment”. (Deepte, 2011)....................................................................................4 Why it is considered as a man made issue? .........................................................4 a. Green house gases emitted by the industries/ Factories:...................................5 2. Part 2 - Counter Arguments ................................................................................... 6 A. Solar Variations:................................................................................................. 6 b. Green House gas is natural Process:..................................................................6 c....
Words: 2255 - Pages: 10
...trends that can affect the entire Earth, se long-term (typically 30-year) weather trends are called "climate." It is therefore important understand the difference, as well as the relation, between "weather" and "climate." An example of the relationship between weather and climate is El Nino, which is weather with local, short-term consequences as well as with global, long-term importance. In the ort-term. El Nino can bring a dry summer for some regions and a wet winter for others; however, over the course of many years, the number of times El Nino conditions occur may decade changes in the global climate. Variations in the behaviour of the weather over long time periods, such as from one century another, are referred to as climate change. Climate itself adjusts from the times of 'ice ages,' hen huge ice sheets covered large areas that are currently ice-free, to periods similar to today hen ice sheets are largely confined to Antarctica, Greenland, and the floating Arctic sea ice. Paleo-climate records indicate that much of the climate changes over the last two million years occured in a rather cyclical manner; with glacial periods lasting roughly 100,000 years with warmer interglacial periods of 10,000 years occurring in between. The sun, of course, is the ultimate source of heat energy reaching the Earth, fueling our weather systems, and establishing our major climate zones. There is, however, good evidence that larger variations in the sun's activity do occur. For example...
Words: 1233 - Pages: 5
...ideological reasons to undermine trust in the science base for regulation. Three of these “experts” happened to be all physicists: Bill Nierenberg, Fred Sietz and Fred Singer. Nierenberg and Seitz worked on the atomic bombs. They were also involved on topics like acid rain, tobacco smoking, global warming and pesticides. The book claims that these scientists challenged and diluted the scientific consensus in various fields including: dangers of smoking, the ozone layer, effects of acid rain and climate change. The evidence is there. Smoking does kill. Acid rain is caused by pollution. The glaciers are melting and the seas are rising due to the effects of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. I am not shocked that many scientists and tobacco companies have lied to us over the years about their products and their effects. I can remember less than 5 years ago, reading a magazine with that had a Newport cigarette ad. The ad had a...
Words: 603 - Pages: 3
...Why do organization bring in outside consultant to manage the organizational change process ? Change management is essential for organizational development in dynamic environment. Any change is likely to be resisted by the employees, if their confidence in the organizational system evaporate. The role of external change agent is to establish the faith and confidence of the employees on the organizational management system, as a first step. Effective change management depends on absorptive capacity of the organization and adaptive skill of the employees. The same may be assessed and suitable measures may be suggested by the external change agent. Further organizational architecture and agility are important factors in quick decision making and adaptation to change. The external change management agent may study and suggest the suitable measures for improvement. Introduction to change management Change is only permanent feature of our life. Life of individuals and organizations are evolving ever since their creation. Modern companies are in a state of cultural change. From working more or less alone to solving specific tasks, we are now required to work in an interdependent way. Teamwork is vital. These changes require that we change what we expect from the co workers. We have to change the values we highly believe. Values like awareness, teamwork, tolerance, responsibility and information are paramount - just as flexibility and change readiness. Team work make in imperative...
Words: 4458 - Pages: 18
...these gases reduce the escape of the earth's infrared radiation into space and this function to maintain the earth's relatively warm temperature. This is called the greenhouse effect. Although there is broad agreement that human activity, such as burning fossil fuels has reached a scale that is beginning to influence climate, there is much uncertainty and debate over how much and how fast the climate will warm. Elevated global temperatures could result in coastal flooding and the shifting of major climatic zones and may have serious implications for agricultural productivity. Since 1850 there has been a mean rise in global temperature of approximately 1.8 Fahrenheit and a 28 percent rise in carbon dioxide levels. While most scientists think this temperature rise to the increase in carbon dioxide levels, other scientists argue that this temperature rise could just be part of a natural fluctuation; such fluctuations have been recorded for tens of thousands years and operate in short-term as well as long-term cycles. Because of the difficulty of distinguishing between emissions caused by humans and those caused by natural sources, and a number of other uncertainties. In 1995 the United Nations convened a panel of leading scientists to evaluate the causes and probable effects of global warming. This panel attributed the warming to human influence and predicted that if greenhouse-gas emissions are not reduced, the average global temperature will rise by 1.8 to 6.3 Fahrenheit, with...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...Heated debate The costs of climate change can be mitigated if economic activity moves in response Dec 8th 2012 | from the print edition • • Tweet [pic] WHEN Superstorm Sandy roared ashore in late October and the lights of lower Manhattan went out, New Yorkers were given a stark vision of a possible future. Climate-change science is still a realm of great uncertainty but there is consensus that the planet is warming dangerously and that people are to blame. A recent report commissioned by the World Bank warned that the world is on track to have a global mean temperature that is 4°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. If so, sea levels could rise by between half a metre and a metre by the end of the century, threatening hundreds of millions of people in coastal cities. Other regions would face the threats of droughts, bigger storms and changing rainfall patterns. That entails not just human costs but economic ones, too. The question that preoccupies Klaus Desmet of the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg of Princeton University in a new NBER working paper* is whether there are ways to manage the impact of changing weather patterns by moving the location of economic activity. They note that roughly 90% of global production uses just 10% of available land. If that 10% is threatened, activity may at least theoretically shift to bits of the 90% made more hospitable by climate change. In this section • Monti’s medicine • Just a...
Words: 1088 - Pages: 5