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Global Warming: Undeniable Dilemma
Andrew Bryant
Academic affiliation: Oklahoma State University
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Nature consists of a set of regulations that all things in the universe must obey. One of these rules is the second law of thermodynamics, which states: all things are running down and will eventually die. Furthermore, the more harm that is done to an object, the faster the second law of thermodynamics takes effect. This law holds not just to the motion of objects, but to the evolution of the environment as well. Like all things in the universe, the earth will eventually grow old, decay, and die. Eventually, the matter will reform over eons and create a new atmosphere. Thus, in this way the earth is eternal. Humans however, do not have the privilege of perpetuity. Once the human race is gone there is no chance of revivification. The odds against the same evolutionary processes are just too great. Furthermore, all the culture, technology, and accomplishments of the past will fall into oblivion. What could destroy could destroy such a mighty species? What great threat looms in the distance, waiting to devastate humanity? The answer is global warming, a damnation that humankind has brought upon itself. It is a demon that has been unleashed and ignored by humans. Moreover, it has been allowed to grow and fester without competition or opposition. Global warming threatens to destroy all that has been achieved in the millennia that people have walked the earth. Unprecedented, and unimaginable as it may be, it is the sign of modern times.

In order to better understand global warming, one must first be presented with incontrovertible evidence that it exists. Otherwise, a person could disregard the problem as simple rumor or propaganda. The greatest threat to the world at the moment would have to be the melting of the polar ice caps. In the article "The Melting Continent," proof is offered that the Antarctic continent's ice shelves are dissolving into the ocean:

A large floating ice shelf in one of the warmest regions of Antarctica collapsed in mid-March. The 650-foot-thick shelf, named Larsen B, had a surface area of 1,250 square miles (about the size of Rhode Island) before it disintegrated into thousands of smaller icebergs and fragments, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said. (The Melting Continent)

One could argue that the melting of the ice poles are not caused by the actions of humans. However, the article goes on to say that although it is too early to establish global warming as a cause, it is becoming more and more difficult to find another reason for the melting (The Melting Continent). Among other things, this paper will focus on three things: educational facts pertaining to global warming; possible solutions for global warming; and the argument over whether or not warming is the fault of humans.

Global warming can be felt on the local level as well. In the state of Oklahoma precipitation has increased by 20% in some parts of the state (State Impacts-Oklahoma 1). The higher temperatures have had a crippling effect on the ecosystem and the health of the Oklahoma population. "Increased runoff from heavy rainfall could increase water-born diseases such as giardia, cryptosporidia, and viral and bacterial gastroenteritides" (State Impacts - Oklahoma 2). The Oklahoman ecosystem is also suffering greatly as a result of warming. It is creating a lower yield in agriculture, draining several of Oklahoma's key water reservoirs, and altering forest growth (State Impacts - Oklahoma 4). Global warming poses a specific threat to Oklahoma as well as the entire Midwest farming and agricultural community:

Just as there are many problems posed by global warming, there are many solutions as well. United States vehicles are largely responsible for the carbon dioxide emissions that cause warming. Because of this, various American environmental organizations have been working on a solution to the vehicle problem. This is the greatest single step America has taken on the attempt to resolve global warming. Cars and light trucks guzzle 40% of U.S. oil and emit 20% of the nation's carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution. Each gallon of gasoline burned pumps 28 pounds of CO2 in the atmosphere-19 from the tailpipe and nine pounds from upstream refining, transporting and refueling. The average car emits about 70 tons of CO2 over its lifetime-the average SUV around 100 tons. (CAFÉ 1)

With a new gasoline-electric hybrid engine the average car will begin to average 45 mpg. (CAFÉ 1). This nearly doubles the fuel efficiency of cars as well as cuts down on carbon dioxide emissions. There are more things that can be done other than buying a new car. For example, on an individual basis people can do a variety of things to help out: travel more infrequently and smartly; make homes more energy efficient; and cut back on red meats (Jennings 1). Communities can do their part by promoting walking, biking, and public transportation (Jennings 2). There are several ways business can help, such as installing environmentally friendly lights and insulation and moving to solar power (Jennings 2). Suggestions like these help to personalize environmental responsibilities, allowing people to take part on an individual, as well as a communal level. People may feel as if they cannot contribute in a meaningful way. This gives them a set of directives that can be examined and followed in order to prevent further warming.

Preventing further greenhouse emissions is perhaps the greatest contribution people can make in solving the global warming crisis. However, prevention of further problems does not help to repair the problems that have already occurred. This is where science must help to correct the problems that it created in the first place. An article in the Journal of Environmental Health speaks about researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory that are currently working on a way to repair the damage that has already been done to the environment. This new method would allow people to continue to make the most of natural resources without facing global warming. "Researchers would harvest carbon dioxide from the air, reducing buildup of the so-called "greenhouse gas" in the atmosphere and allowing it to be converted into fuel" (Imagine 1). This method does more than simply preventing global warming, like the suggestions in the previous article. It repairs the damage that has already been done, and provides a new and cheap source of fuel:

The cost of the entire process is equivalent to about twenty cents per gallon of gasoline. A typical extraction facility that could extract all current carbon dioxide emissions would require an area of 1 square yard per person in the developed world. (Imagine 2)

Although the pace may be slow, progress is being made for a solution to the global warming crisis. Scientific breakthroughs like those above are tremendously helpful, but should not be seen as messianic to the global community. All humans are still bound by responsibility to take part in the mending of the planet. Until conclusive evidence is found in any study, whether it be carbon dioxide emissions or a related idea, people must protect the environment on an individual and on a collective level. There are some scientists that claim that the problem is irreversible and cannot be fixed. In a pessimistic, yet scientific study, David and Alistair Ulph claim that the warming problem has gone on to far to be corrected:

However, we then go on to derive, for the particular structure of decision making problem represented by our simple model of global warming, an alternative sufficient condition for the irreversibility effect to hold. Our sufficient condition has a simple interpretation. Note that irreversibility means that a decision variable at a future date (the future stock of greenhouse gasses) is constrained by the choice of a decision variable at the current date. (Ulph 637)

Calling the problem "irreversible" brings a certain amount of hopelessness to the global situation. If this study were true, it would mean that the fate of the human race has already been sealed. A slow damnation would already be sentenced to the whole of the world. Although there are many contrary studies, the Ulph article holds significant value and merit.

Another great controversy is the argument of whether or not the problem is man made or has occurred naturally. Several researchers are supporting the stance that global warming is human made, thus humans are responsible for it. These researchers include Peter M. Vitousek and the Ulph's, which were presented above. Many reasons can be given for the cause of global warming. However, they must have scientific evidence to support their position:

Some of these are largely ecological changes, and all have important ecological consequences. Three well-documented global changes are: increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; alterations in the biogeochemistry of the global nitrogen cycle; and ongoing land use/land cover change. (Vitousek 1861)

This article can be related to "The Melting Continent" in the way that they do not offer proof that humans are the cause of global warming. Instead, they imply that few other reasons, other than human intervention, can be found as the source of warming. The other side of the argument takes the stance that global warming is not the fault, nor the responsibility, of the human race. A less extremist view argues that at the very least, it is impossible to know if people are responsible for global warming. A group of scientists at MIT used the following metaphor to support their argument:

Suppose you step onto your bathroom scale some morning and look down to find the number is one pound higher than you expected. You then call out, "Honey, I'm gaining weight. I've been eating to much." What does it take to reach such a conclusion with any degree of confidence? (Forest 1)

Such an example makes one think about the burden of proof that has been placed upon the scientific community. There are four factors one must take into account for the weight gain: proper measuring device; knowledge of weight variability; understanding of anatomical mechanisms; and a record of change (Forest 2). The argument is that these same factors apply to the global warming crisis. The proof of burden that global warming exists has been satisfied. However, these scientists claim that the environmental community has been jumping to conclusions. This is a logical argument, even if most environmentalist communities disagree with it. Nevertheless, it is hard to believe that humans are not at least somewhat responsible for the existence of the global warming crisis. This being, the scales of logic must tip over to the human responsibility side of the argument. The above case helps to balance the scale somewhat, but it cannot change what is assumed in good faith to be true.

Global warming is the only hazard, other than war, that threatens the world on a global scale. Because of this, solutions and problems must be held in reverence and seriousness. This being, even if human kind is not responsible for warming, they should take steps to rectify an already dire situation. The three focuses of this paper: education; solutions; and the argument; have been presented and discussed with care and concern. People must make their own decision of whether or not they are part of the environmental solution, or part of the ignorant masses.

Works Cited "CAFE Saves More Oil Than We Import From the Persian Gulf." Online posting. Sierra Club-CAFÉ. 19 Feb. 2003.

Forest, Chris E., Peter H. Stone, and Henry D. Jacoby. "Human Influence on Climate." Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 16.4 (2002): 47-51.

"Imagine no restrictions on fossil-fuel usage and no global warming!" Journal of Environmental Health 65.4 (2002): 32-33.

Jennings, Lane. "Climate Change: What we can do." The Futurist 36.1 (2002).

"State Impacts - Oklahoma." Online Posting. 8 Oct. 2002. EPA: Global Warming: Impacts. 18 Feb. 2003 http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ ImpactsStateImpactsOK.html

"The Melting Continent." Environment 44.4 (2002).

Ulph, Alistair, and David Ulph. "Global Warming, Irreversibility and Learning." The Economic Journal 107.442 (1997): 636-50.

Vitousek, Peter. "Beyond Global Warming: Ecology and Global Change." Ecology 75.7 (Oct.1994): 1861-76.

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