Global Warming: Natural Causes and Mitigation Strategies

Introduction

There is a growing consensus among the scientific community that global warming is a reality that threatens the Earth's climate in ways that will be devastating to mankind. Many analysts believe that action must be taken to mitigate the effects of global warming before it is too late to stop the process. This paper provides a discussion of natural and manmade sources of climate change, a personal opinion concerning whether global warming is real, and an assessment of two mitigation strategies that have been proposed. Finally, it offers a speculation on what policy changes would help stabilize the global climate and which business sectors or nations should be held to stricter standards, followed by a summary of key findings in the conclusion.

Natural and Manmade Sources of Climate Change

Greenhouse gas emissions are widely recognized as causes of global warming (Clark & Lee, 2004). Many members of the scientific community believe that greenhouse gas levels must be significantly reduced below existing levels, as mandated for developed nations by the Kyoto Protocol (Clark & Lee, 2004). Although manmade carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion is frequently cited as the main source of greenhouse gases (Allen, Seaman & DeLascio, 2009), natural water vapor is actually the most abundant greenhouse gas, and naturally occurring methane is also a major contributor (A Blanket Around the Earth, 2013). Although most authorities agree that increased manmade activities are the primary source of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, not all authorities agree that global warming is anthropogenic in origin. Indeed, according to Easterbrook, "The human role in carbon dioxide discharges is modest compared to nature's. Naturally occurring carbon emissions outnumber human-caused emissions roughly 29 to one" (1995, p. 312).

Irrespective of its origins, however, there is mounting evidence that the Earth is growing warmer, sea levels are rising, the polar ice caps are melting, and that anthropogenic activity is the primary contributing cause (Allen et al., 2009). Researchers at NASA conclude that there is "a more than 90% probability that human activities over the past 250 years have warmed our planet" (A Blanket Around the Earth, 2013, para. 3).

Two Approaches to Mitigation

Two potential approaches to global warming mitigation have been advanced. The first approach involves the government promulgating new regulations that would require substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (Clark & Lee, 2004). This alternative would require direct government action and oversight (Clark & Lee, 2004). The other approach that has been offered as a solution to global warming is to allow the most efficient response to any actual changes in the climate as they occur, rather than taking preventive action in advance (Clark & Lee, 2004). This "invisible hand" approach provides a framework in which mitigation efforts can proceed most efficiently without government interference (Clark & Lee, 2004). While the first alternative would likely be more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the short term, the latter approach would provide the best long-term solution by reducing overall reliance on fossil fuels (Clark & Lee, 2004).

Conclusion

The contribution of anthropogenic greenhouse gases to climate change remains a matter of debate, with some researchers arguing that natural sources of greenhouse gas far outweigh mankind's contribution even at its worst, while others maintain that increased fossil fuel combustion since the Industrial Revolution has been the primary cause. It is hard to argue with the facts, however: the Earth has become warmer, the polar ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising. These indisputable trends suggest that while nature contributes its fair share of greenhouse gases, manmade sources have exacerbated any climate change that was already taking place. In the final analysis, given the inexorability of these trends, providing timely responses to the effects of climate change may be the optimal solution.