Climate Change Crisis

The world is the home of humanity, considering there are all factors that support human survival; unfortunately, human influence is making the world unfavourable. Human influence has warmed the atmosphere, land, and ocean. Anthropogenic climate disruption is an issue not only affecting the U.S but in other countries globally. It is a global issue that needs to get addressed; otherwise, the world will be unable to support human life. Shifts in temperatures and weather patterns may be natural, but climate modelling states that the current shifts emanate from human activities. Climate change results from the burning of fossil fuels generating heat-trapping gases. Global warming is a worldwide issue; all countries need to participate in regulating anthropogenic climate disruption. Essentially, the United States is one of the most powerful countries worldwide and should contribute and do more to try to slow down or stop anthropogenic climate disruption.

Like any other problem, anthropogenic climate disruption is among the issues contributed to by human influence. Research shows that life exists on earth because of the warming effect caused by carbon dioxide (Letcher). As a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide absorbs and radiates heat, and when compared to other gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, it is the most important greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide absorbs heat from the earth’s surface, re-releasing it in various directions and back to its surface. The lack of carbon dioxide would make the average global surface temperature above freezing. The problem results when individuals supercharge the natural greenhouse effect by increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere results in the greenhouse effect that rapidly warms the earth’s atmosphere, resulting in global climate change. Statistics show that not all countries experience the same degree of responsibility concerning the climate crisis. Some major polluters need to take action and minimize their carbon release. They would also need to offer maximum support to environmental projects worldwide.

According to recent statistics from the Journal of Cleaner Production, the U.S ranks number three in the list of the countries with the highest emissions of carbon dioxide (Wu, Qianwen, and Bangzhu). The country ranked first is China, the U.S is second, and India is third. Interestingly, the three countries are the most industrialized countries globally. The statistics are not so different from the ones recorded in the past years. According to the report released by World Meteorological Organization in 2020, the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere had broken a new record despite the decrease in fossil fuel emissions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research shows that in 2022, the emission concentration got spread by 413 parts per million. It was a 149% increase from the pre-industrial levels before 1750. The Journal of Cleaner production statistics show that pollution causing climate change comes from a few countries, the U.S being one of them. For example, in 2019, the U.S was responsible for 14% of the global emissions. This is evidence that the U.S should do more to regulate anthropogenic climate disruption.

Interestingly, the U.S is aware of the climate crisis and making an effort to slow down and stop anthropogenic climate disruption. Through the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the country is trying to solve the climate change issue. Climate change is real and happening all around the United States. EPA works toward improving society’s comprehension of the climate crisis and its effects on the environment and human health (Owen and Alison). Data, resources, and tools developed by EPA are also made available by other agencies, organizations, and states to help solve the climate crisis. EPA has some responsibilities, such as measuring greenhouse gas emissions. EAP targets industries to minimize greenhouse gas emissions through partnership programs and regulatory initiatives. It is encouraging to Americans and the whole world that the U.S, one of the great carbon polluters, is setting strategies through EPA to regulate its greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency.

Despite the efforts made by the U.S to slow down and stop anthropogenic climate disruption, it is failing in one way or the other, increasing the chances of not meeting its goals. Scientists in the early years concluded that 2°C is the level of warming safe for humans worldwide (Scott). Most humans have waited for a long time to start cutting emissions, and two degrees seems impossible. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the possible way to remain less than the 2°C limit is by making the greenhouse-gas emissions fall between 1.3 percent and 3.1 annually (Lamb et al.). It is a target that must be accomplished before 2050 to eliminate anthropogenic climate disruption. The U.S is an aggressive emitter which means it needs to be sharper in enhancing the below 2°C limits.

Conversely, things are getting worse in the U.S, and the fewer possibilities of sharply cutting emissions this year. The main causes of greenhouse gases in the U.S are transportation, electricity production, and industrial activity. The country makes little effort to curb the causes. Curbing dangerous climate change entails deep emissions cuts accompanied by using alternatives to fossil fuels. Below is a graphical representation of the sources of greenhouse gases in the United States.

Unfortunately, every year, Americans wait for the country to reduce and end anthropogenic climate disruption; the adjustment gets more violent and impossible. The country has failed, but Americans have also contributed to the failure. The U.S is one of the richest countries globally, and most American live carbon-intensive lifestyles. It is a lifestyle involving driving in big vehicles, flying on big planes, and living in big homes. Most American are also adventure lovers going to a lot of places and using a lot of fuel. Americans must also change their lifestyle and contribute to regulating global warming. If the country unites with its citizens, it will be possible to control anthropogenic climate disruption and marinate the 2°C limits.

The U.S already a contributor to anthropogenic climate disruption, and one question most individuals may be asking themselves is whether it is too late to prevent global warming. The answer is that if individuals stopped emitting greenhouse gases in their daily lives, there would be a possibility of global temperatures flattening. The temperatures plateau, and the world would become a better place to live. Unfortunately, humans’ lifestyle contributes less towards avoiding temperature increases making the earth’s climate seem irreversible. It is not too late to limit or prevent anthropogenic climate disruption. Despite being a top-ranked polluter, the U.S can change the trend and respond to the climate change crisis. It would be possible through a two-tier approach, mitigation, and adaption (Fritzsche, Silke, and Grischa). Mitigation would entail minimizing the outflow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, while adaptation would involve normalizing to adapt to the current climate change. Individuals must be cautious about the future rate of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

Most individuals think anthropogenic climate disruption is a future effect; interestingly, the United States and the world’s ecosystems and communities are impacted today. It means that the U.S needs to do more to regulate anthropogenic climate disruption. There are various interrelated impacts of climate change on varying sectors of society. For example, drought harms human well-being because it impacts human health and food production. Flooding is also harmful because it spreads diseases and destroys the infrastructure and the ecosystem. According to the research conducted by the WHO, human health issues cause an increase in mortality, reduce worker productivity and impact food availability (Sillmann et al.). The U.S might be rich enough to mitigate global warming after causing it, but the neighbouring nations may suffer its impact more. Anthropogenic climate disruption in the U.S may cause long-lasting socioeconomic disparities in underserved groups prone to exposure to hazards. Such individuals may also lack enough resources to respond due to the high vulnerability rate.

It would be possible for the U.S to slow and reduce anthropogenic climate disruption through various actions. Most problems and solutions are familiar among humans, and ongoing research continues to generate new ideas. Most scientists still hope and believe there is still time to solve the global warming issue and reduce emissions to zero. To solve anthropogenic climate disruption, the U.S would need to invest more in advanced technology and infrastructure. The country would also benefit indirectly from reducing emissions. There would be a decrease in the number of diseases emanating from anthropogenic climate disruption, and the country would save countless lives and billions of dollars spent annually on climate change health-related expenses. The U.S also needs to ensure that its schools need to educate about climate change. It might be a daunting challenge, but it would be more beneficial if children learned about global warming and its effects on various parts of society. Teaching children about climate change would enable them to participate in climate action in their communities or globally.

To sum up, anthropogenic climate disruption is a climate crisis not only in the U.S but also globally. However, the U.S is a top-ranked polluter, and the country needs to put more effort into solving the issue. Over the past years, the U.S has been a top polluter, and some of the activities that contribute to high emissions are industrialization, electricity production, and transportation. Human activities contribute excessive production of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It means that the same humans are capable of ending the problem. It might take a long time to end global warming, but with reduced emissions, the world can be free from climate change, making it a better place. Following the climate crisis, the U.S has an agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, whose aim as helping reduce global warming in the country. EPA also collaborates with other organizations sharing the goal of solving the climate change crisis. The world would be favourable to humanity without anthropogenic climate disruption, and every individual needs to act toward that. It is the reason the U.S also needs to educate children early enough to help maintain the 2°C limits. Anthropogenic climate disruption is an issue in today’s world, but the solution is amongst humans.

Works Cited

Fritzsche, Kerstin, Silke Niehoff, and Grischa Beier. “Industry 4.0 and climate change—Exploring the science-policy gap.” Sustainability 10.12 (2018): 4511.

Lamb, William F., et al. “Countries with sustained greenhouse gas emissions reductions: an analysis of trends and progress by sector.” Climate Policy 22.1 (2022): 1-17.

Letcher, Trevor M. “Why do we have global warming?.” Managing global warming. Academic Press, 2019. 3-15.

Owen, Roger P., and Alison J. Parker. “Citizen science in environmental protection agencies.” UCL Press, 2018. 284-300.

Scott, Daniel. “Sustainable tourism and the grand challenge of climate change.” Sustainability 13.4 (2021): 1966.

Sillmann, Jana, et al. “Combined impacts of climate and air pollution on human health and agricultural productivity.” Environmental Research Letters 16.9 (2021): 093004.

Wu, Ya, Qianwen Zhu, and Bangzhu Zhu. “Decoupling analysis of world economic growth and CO2 emissions: A study comparing developed and developing countries.” Journal of Cleaner Production 190 (2018): 94-103.