Recently, the issue of global warming has been hotly contested with some challenges emerging in a few of the scientific circles and the public arguing that global warming is not as serious as it has been made out to be. This point of contention has been met with both criticism and support, depending on the source. The purpose of this essay is to explore the validity of the idea that global warming has been debunked and to discuss the implications of this view.
Global warming has been described as a gradual, long term rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s climate and atmosphere. While it has been argued that this extends far back, many agree that the start of modern-day global warming and related climate change began in the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. Since then, the effects of humanity’s activities have had an impact on the environment, with an increase in the emission of greenhouse gases contributing to global warming.
Proponents of the argument that global warming is a farce have cited that average global temperatures have not been as high as once thought. For example, satellite data has suggested that the increase in global average temperature since 1998 was smaller than previously reported. Additionally, some have gone as far as to cite that global temperatures have actually declined since 1998 and attribute this to what is known as the natural climate change cycle.
Some have also attributed the alleviation of these changes to recent government-imposed legislation and initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol. Yet, the criticism of these policies has been that such regulations do little to actually reduce emissions or minimize the effects of global warming and climate change.
On the other hand, those who dispute the above beliefs and counters the debunked status of global warming, point to an overwhelming body of scientific evidence and research. Carbon dioxide levels, a principal factor thought to contribute to climate change, have steadily increased since the Industrial Revolution, with the atmospheric concentration of this gas reaching the highest level ever recorded in 2018.
Furthermore, some sources have seen a noticeable change in global climate patterns and cited rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and an increase in annual average temperatures in many parts of the world. Sea levels have risen by an estimated 8.9 inches since 1993, leading to more damaging temporal flooding events such as Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Climate experts also predict that global average temperatures could rise by up to 4.6°C by 2100.
In addition, many organizations, including the Environmental Protection Agency, have urged that the global temperature rise be restricted to 2°C, as stipulated in The Paris Agreement. While some may debate the effectiveness of these policies, the majority agree that global warming has the potential to cause serious damage to both the planet and its population.
It is clear from the evidence that global warming cannot be ‘debunked’ and that climate change is already very real. Governments, businesses and individuals must come together to put measures in place to reduce emissions and work towards an environmentally friendly future. This is an urgent issue and action must be taken now to limit the damage that global warming will have on our planet and its inhabitants.
