Human responsibilities and ethical decision-making for global warming mitigation

¶ … theoretical way using five scholarly sources the practical/social obligations, the need for appropriate actions, and the optimal ethical decision-making processes existing in environmental issues. The environment affects all aspects of life in one way or another irrespective of level within the society and global warming will remain the great concern (West, n.d). As the paper demonstrates, global warming is considerably contributed by human activities and everyone has a practical and social responsibility/obligation in the amounts of greenhouse gasses they emit and that indicates the need for appropriate measures that should positively impact decision-making to create viable solutions to global warming. The sacrifice to conserve the environment can seem costly in the initial stages but has long-term benefit (Houghton, 2004). Thus, individual values should be combined with environmental priorities to establish safer coexistence in ways that remain environmentally friendly (Brown, and Kurdys, 2009). Environmental issues are of great importance considering the consequences of adverse situations and should be understood well to apply necessary mitigation measures to make the world a safer place to live, not only today but tomorrow.

Environmental Issues: Global Warming

Introduction

The environment dictates the quality of life that human beings live and thus environmental issues come with various insights affecting both health and activities. It is understood from research that if the environmental risks are reduced over the world, then approximately 13 million lives could be saved annually as per the statistics of the World Health Organization (West, n.d.). The poverty stricken/developing countries are the most affected, paying the price for the pollution caused by developed countries who continue polluting the environment with the release of greenhouse gasses that results to increasing temperatures over the world with China leading United States of America. Irrespective of this disparity, environmental risks does not render any country, either developed or not immune to its effects as far as human health is concerned. However, as countries such as Spain and Italy, which are considered more environmentally healthy, a significant proportion (1/6) of the environmentally related health cases and risks can be stopped, all ranging from disease to non-health matters such as traffic accidents. For instance, in the United States of America (U.S.), research indicates the approximately 398,000 deaths that happen in the country annually, can typically be mitigated if only there is a reduction of environmental risks where else approximately 1.8 million could be saved in 53 nations over Europe annually (West, n.d.). From the above statistics, it comes apparent that environmental issues are a priority and thus are important aspects that give an insight of the importance of the matter, creating a foundation for the initial stages that help decision-makers attached to health and environmental matters to have high priorities to initiate prevention measures. With regard to this, reducing environmental hazards in the quest to better health and save lives calls for appropriate measures at both grassroots and national levels where sensitization should help people understand the importance of mitigating risks and even completely stopping environmental hazards. Environmental issues are of great importance considering the consequences of adverse situations and should be understood well to apply necessary mitigation measures to make the world a safer place to live, not only today but tomorrow.

Risks of environmental issues

The effects of environmental issues cut across all sorts of life activities in human, animal and plant lives. If environmental risks are not managed, then significantly the global population becomes affected by the quality of air, health aspects, food supply chains, water for drinking as well as wildlife and their habitats due to the effect of global warming. At this point, it becomes necessary to first understand global warming as a key factor in environmental issues. From the controversies that exist on global warming, it has attracted a lot of concern due to the effects that accompany global warming; climate change. Global warming is the warming brought about by the increasing temperatures on the earth's atmosphere as a result of increasing greenhouse gasses (such as Carbon) that trap the escaping heat from the earth's surface and prevent it from escaping to the outer space/atmosphere. Despite the fact that greenhouse gases are necessary to support life, their excessive amounts in atmosphere are dangerous. The increase of these greenhouse gases results from human activities. For instance, considering the past 150 years, there has been increasing rate of industrialization and this has raised carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations by 31%. In addition, methane concentration has increased to as much as 151% due to increased agricultural activities (cattle raring, rice cultivation) (Andrejc, 2007). Moreover, despite the increased agricultural activities, there has been a considerate decrease of forest covers globally due to deforestation and this reduction has reduced the amount of CO2 absorbed by trees. The long-term effects of human activities ends up modifying the atmospheric conditions hence bringing about climate change, some that can be too adverse to sustain life (excessive flooding, severe droughts, severe storms) (West, n.d.).

Need for appropriate actions on environmental issues

From the adverse climatic conditions currently being experienced over the world, there is definitely great need for necessary action to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As climatic models have indicated on the potential effects of increased global temperatures, where a smaller change can bring severe effects on life, policy makers have seen the need for accurate forecasting to better understand global warming for better actions (Farrar, 2007, p. 28). This is to avoid potential surprises as some positive correspondences from predictions are difficult to understand since the atmospheric activities are beyond human control (Houghton, 2004, p. 229).

Optimal ethical decision-making processes existing in environmental issues

Many of us would very much hesitate to fight for the environment considering the other engagements that takes much of our times. Nevertheless, the effects that come with environmental issues (global warming) are too serious to be ignored. On the same perspective, one is compelled to question how different stakeholders can combine eco-friendly reasoning and habits in their lives/activities and decision-making. Despite there being a wide variety of obligatory steps/considerations, it can end up being confusing, and doubting.

When it comes to ethical decision making, it goes down to prioritizing values in the social settings where some have more weight than others. For instance, families are more valued than a glacier melting at Antarctica. Many people would suggest that they would use all survival techniques on the available opportunities and thus environment comes last. The conflict of our values and environmental issues ends up being difficult with dilemmas on potential solutions. Looking at the challenges that much human race face are in one way or another related to global warming and thus cannot be ignored. Thus connecting the two, family matters and environmental issues can help in making viable decision-making with considerations on the importance of the eventual effects as well as details at all levels; from individual to global levels (Houghton, 2004, p. 229).

Though imposing changes in our lifestyles can prove difficult, gradual progress to connect family matters and environment is crucial. The practical costs of recycling have more benefits in the long-term considerations compared to short-term costs. In addition, the choice to use public transport can be a costly sacrifice despite being a vital decision to saving the environment. Therefore, it is our obligation to remain realistic and considerate to our own selves and gradually bring eco-friendly reasoning in our lifestyles. In addition, extreme environmental actions like violent demonstration can't last for long irrespective of their sacrifice and worst of all, compels majority to rather make inappropriate decisions (Andrejc, 2007).

Suggestion to improve current decision-making processes

Despite the efforts made to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases at the large-scale level such as burning of fossil fuels, there are other small scale considerations that should be emphasized to contribute in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and it all lies in the wise use of environmentally friendly energy. First, it is the principal of reduce, reuse and recycle. It is an obligation for everyone to reduce waste by using reusable products rather than disposable ones. If there is no recycling project at one's location, then he/she should think of initiating one. Secondly, there is need to utilize less heat and air conditioning. This can be done with having additional insulation to conserve heat needed to cool or heat one's home as it can reduce energy costs with over 25%. In addition, considering using energy saving bulbs and efficient appliances saves a lot of energy. Thirdly, driving less and smart means there are fewer emissions as there is less fuel burning. Forth, one should take an obligation at whatever level in the society to plant a tree. Trees are natural carbon sinks hence their increase means reducing CO2 concentration in atmosphere and finally other people should be encouraged to conserve the environment. People should be encouraged to share information on recycling and other methods of conserving energy and this will end up contributing significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (West, n.d). These are the underestimated measures that should be considered in decision making to develop viable policies on environmental issues.

Conclusion

With regard to the above research, environmental issues are of great importance considering the consequences of adverse situations and should be understood well to apply necessary mitigation measures to make the world a safer place to live, not only today but tomorrow. It then comes as an obligation for everyone at whatever level over the world to consider their morally accepted obligations in reducing emission of greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. For this to succeed, appropriate measures like combing family values and environmental issues to harmonized status can have a significant effect on making viable decision making that help in reducing greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere. Since man can not defeat nature, simple and appropriate strategies can help manage it to sustainable levels.