Climate change is a contentious issue in scientific and political spheres the world over. Climate is controlled by a myriad of factors but the ultimate the driving force behind the heat and the climate of the planet is the sun.
Climate change and the fluctuation of global temperatures is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has been happening since the formation of the earth. These are partly caused by changes in the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (Which form part of the atmosphere), and partly by fluctuations in solar activity. It is the combination of these two and other factors, which cause global temperature and climate to fluctuate.
Simply put greenhouse gases help retain heat in the atmosphere by capturing solar radiation which hits the earth and is maintained in the lower atmosphere while most of it radiates back out into space (US Dept. Of Energy, 2007). An increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would lead to the amplification of an increase in temperature caused by solar radiation because more radiation is trapped and kept in. It can therefore be argued that while the earth’s main source of heat energy, the sun, is the dominant force affecting the climate of our planet. An increase in greenhouse gases such as CO2 will lead to more of this solar energy being trapped in the atmosphere and therefore an increase in global temperatures (Zevenhoven; 2008). As being reported by the ScienceDaily (2009), there has been a 29 percent increase of global CO2 emissions between 2000 and 2008. The majority of CO2 emissions come from corporations through its use of fossil fuels which accounts for most of these increase CO2 emissions. Another factor is the increase in automobiles in the world, with the ever demanding consumption of petroleum and releasing of carbon dioxide. Through increase in greenhouse gases, the world and the countries that govern should put more of an effort to stop increasing CO2 emissions like they are doing now. It is the combination of these two factors, increasing solar radiation and a rise in CO2 in the atmosphere that is driving climate change.
Thus to conclude this chapter, mankind should look after its planet by trying to reduce its carbon footprint, whether personally or corporately. Greenhouse gases do have an effect on temperature, even if slightly so, and thus humans should try to protect and cherish this planet by being smart pigs.
