Climate has been a consistent and controvertial subject of discussion, with the main question being whether global warming is natural or manmade. To this day, there is still much disagreement on the issue, and the impact of humankind versus Earth’s inherent inclination, or both, continues to remain ambiguous. To gain an informed understanding of the topic, it is important to analyze the nature of the debate, evaluate the evidence, and consider the implications that come with it.
The distinction between natural and manmade climate change dates back several decades, when it first emerged as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution. In its simplest terms, natural climate change refers to a shift in the Earth’s climate due to internal factors such as plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and solar radiation, while manmade climate change indicates an alteration brought about by human influences such as fossil fuel burning, industrialization, and deforestation. Controversy over the matter stems from the fact that the effects of both forms of climate change are largely indistinguishable in nature — that is, the effects of natural and human-induced changes have been found to have comparable consequences on the global environment, making it difficult to definitively identify the chief cause.
In terms of evidence, advocates of natural climate change point to the prima facie change in global temperature patterns over the past several decades, arguing that the nearly uniform increases in temperature we’ve seen over recent years are not necessarily indicative of manmade influence, but instead may simply be a part of a natural cycle. More to the point, research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that reconstructed data from the past eight centuries shows evidence for natural warming due to solar energy and volcanic eruptions, a phenomenon that predates human-induced carbon dioxide emissions.
At the same time, proponents of human-induced climate change point to the role of greenhouse gases as the primary factor behind changes in global climate. Studies conducted by the IPCC suggest that increasing amounts of carbon dioxide have exerted a positive effect on the Earth’s atmosphere, thus leading to higher temperatures and the corresponding side effects. As evidence, the IPCC cites numerous analyses showing the correlation between global increases in carbon dioxide emissions since the onset of the Industrial Revolution and rising atmospheric temperature patterns.
The debate over human- and natural-induced climate change finds itself at a difficult juncture. On one hand, the evidence shows that natural climate change is a real phenomenon, with findings suggesting sunspots and volcanoes have played more prominent roles in global warming than previously known. On the other hand, the evidence also makes a strong case for human-induced climate change; however, the nature of the impact still remains uncertain. To this point, many experts suggest the two forms of climate change may be operating in tandem, with the effects of each intensifying the other, rather than one necessarily driving the other.
Ultimately, in addressing the dichotomy of natural versus manmade climate change, it is essential to consider the range of evidence presented and accept the fact that there may not be a single definitive answer. To this point, more research is needed to better understand the questions at hand, as well as how to mitigate and manage the current effects of climate change, regardless of its source. Ultimately, a better understanding of the government’s role in environmental management is necessary to bring about meaningful and lasting change.
