Download Global Warming: Causes, Effects, and Debates and more Study notes Political Science in PDF only on Docsity! Politics of Global Warming A. Recent Technology Boom A.a.Causes a need from massive amounts of fossil fuel (coal, petroleum, and natural gas) A.b.Burning fossil fuels gives off carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere A.c.Since 1950 CO2 emissions have more than tripled to to about 26 billion tons B. Global Warming A.d.As this CO2 accumulates in the upper atmosphere, it traps heat and prevents the nightly cooling of the Earth. A.e.It was estimated that the Earth’s average temperature has risen about 1.1 degree Fahrenheit A.f.Many worry that rainfall, wind currents, and other climatic patters are and could be dramatically and dangerously altered. A.g.Polar icecaps will melt more quickly, raising sea levels, displacing perhaps over 100 million people on the continents’ coats. C. Believers in Global Warming A.h.Bush administration’s NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) said “the annual average U.S. temperature in 2006 was 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit about the 20th century average and the ninth consecutive year of above-normal U.S. temperature” A.i. “Scientists Report Severe Retreat of Artic Ice” –The Cap of floating sea ice on the Arctic Ocean shrank more than one million square miles below the average minimum area reached in recent decades. A.j.“China blames Climate Change for Extreme Weather” D. Effects of Global Warming A.k.If sea levels rise 1 ½ to 2 feet more than 80% of the wetlands will have too much water to survive. A.l.Can cause combinations of fires, drought, low humidity, high temperatures, and terrible winds. A.m. Rising CO2 levels may be contributing to converting grasslands into woody shrubs A.n.There is a likely spread of deserts to fertile lands E. Global Warming Skepticism A.o.Some scientists do not believe that future temperature increases will be significant, either because they do not believe the will occur or the believe offsetting factors like increased cloudiness will ease the effect A.p.Some believe whatever temperature changes are occurring are due to natural trends in Earth’s warming and cooling process. A.q.They counter the argument of a temperature change due to CO2 by pointing out there was a climate change during the Medieval Warm Period (800AD – 1400AD) and the Little Ice Age (1600 – 1850 AD) A.r.The scientific case for global warming is growing weaker but the U.N. and media’s hysteria are growing. Political proponents are increasing taxes to solve a nonexistent or overstated threat which can create huge economic harm.
