My topic proposal for a global issue presentation is “Climate Change” I have chosen this subject because regardless of the controversies, it is one of the most serious global issues facing the world at this time. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the world’s climate is changing. Temperatures are escalating, and there is a change in rainfall and snow patterns. Furthermore, at the present time there is an increase in extreme climate events including record high temperatures and heavy rainstorms. Many scientists are convinced that a large number of these discovered changes can be connected to the escalating levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases generated by human activity, and detectable in the atmosphere (United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.). “Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.5°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 0.5 to 8.6°F over the next hundred years” (United States Environmental Protection Agency1, n.d.). One serious problem is that CO2 can remain in the earth’s atmosphere for close to a hundred years, therefore, the planet will carry on warming up in future decades. The warmer the planet becomes, more dangerous alterations to the earth’s system and climate are likely (United States Environmental Protection Agency1, n.d.). Positive action against climate change can be made by everyone working out what their carbon footprint is, and searching for solutions to lower their emissions. Examples of this include: biking or walking instead of using a car or bus.
In my presentation I will be using the academic sources listed below in the works cited section to take an in depth look at climate change by exploring “Climate Change Indicators in the United States,” the atmosphere and the surface of the earth, as well as ocean warming; why it’s a wake up call for global leaders. I will also be looking at “Ten scalable solutions for carbon neutrality and climate stability,” as devised by the University of California.
Works Cited
- Hartmann, D. L.; Klein Tank, A. M. G.; Rusticucci, M. (2013). “Observations: Atmosphere and Surface.”. PDF Retrieved from: http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/report/WG1AR5_Chapter02_FINAL.pdf
- Muller, Benito (2010). Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. “Failure or final wake-up call for our leaders?” Retrieved from: http://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/EV49-Copenhagen2009Failureorfinalwake-upcallforourleaders-
- Ramanathan, Veerabhadran et al. (2015). University of California. “Bending the Curve: Ten scalable solutions for carbon neutrality and climate stability.” PDF Retrieved from: http://uc-carbonneutralitysummit2015.ucsd.edu/_files/Bending-the-Curve.pdf
- Rhein, Monika; Rintoul, Stephen R. (2013). “Observations: Ocean.” PDF Retrieved from: http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/report/WG1AR5_Chapter03_FINAL.pdf
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). “Climate Change Indicators in the United States” Retrieved from: http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/
- United States Environmental Protection Agency1 (n.d.). “Climate Change Basic Information. Retrieved http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/