The issue of climate change and global warming has been at the forefront of public debate, owing to the growing evidence of its effects and the increasingly apparent need to take action. This article aims to explore and examine the primary evidence which suggest that global warming is a real phenomenon, as well as its implications and significance.
Recent scientific data unequivocally shows that global warming is caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. A key example of this phenomenon is the so-called enhanced greenhouse effect, whereby the atmosphere traps more solar radiation due to increased CO2 concentrations, further escalating global temperatures. These results were first documented in the seminal work of Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius and have been further established in the multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports over the past two decades.
At a more local level, data from satellite temperature records and ground-based thermometers reliably confirms the warmest 15 of the last 16 years. Moreover, after conducting an in-depth analysis of population statistics, climatologists assert that extreme weather such as extreme heat, fierce hurricanes and prolonged droughts are all exacerbated by global warming and are becoming more frequent.
It is also becoming increasingly clear that climate change is not limited to raising temperatures, but can also alter seasonal cycles, causing shifts in the length of growing periods and migratory behaviour of birds and animals. Furthermore, warmer temperatures are melting polar glaciers and permafrost, increasing ocean levels and threatening habitats, as well as affecting the resilience of ecosystems.
In terms of its political implications, global warming has proven to be an extremely contentious issue. Different countries are divided on the tactics to mitigate the effects of carbon and other greenhouse emissions and many governments have introduced various taxation and emissions reduction schemes, with varying results, making it a difficult issue to resolve. In addition, many developing countries struggle to afford the costs of emissions reductions, such as renewable energy sources, so international cooperation is essential.
Ultimately, the evidence unquestionably shows that global warming is a real phenomenon and that it must be addressed. There are practical and political approaches which must be carefully weighed up, however it is indisputable that urgent and effective action must be taken to reduce emissions and to safeguard our environment and future generations.
