Climate change and poverty (Essay Sample)

Climate change and poverty
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Climate change and poverty
Introduction
The global and local weather patterns have undergone tremendous transformation. Climate change refers to a long-term change in the patterns of weather over a long period of time. The time period ranges from ten to millions of years. Climate change can result from the average change in weather conditions or a change in the statistical distribution of weather. Climate change has lead to global warming which has become a major problem in the world. It has affected food production, storage and distribution in most parts of the world leading to increased poverty. Several studies have been conducted on the issues of climate change, global warming and poverty (Swaminathan, Monkombu & Sambasivan, 2010). These studies suggest that human activities have contributed significantly to the changing weather patterns in the world.
Global Warming is an issue poses a great threat to the environment. It is believed that global warming is caused by both human and natural causes. Global warming and climate change have a great impact on the environment and all the living organisms. Global warming is defined as the release of heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide when humans power their modern lives. These gases are referred to as green house gases. They have been trapped in the atmosphere causing an increase in the surface temperature. The green house gases exert their influence by forming a film-like barrier in the atmosphere thereby interfering with the radiation of sun light. The resultant effect of global warming include rising of the sea levels due to melting ice berg. Tropical rain forest and wild life have been highly affected by global warming, and also the people living in underdeveloped countries (Maslin, 2004).
Research question
What is the impact of climate change on the environment that contributes to poverty in the world?
Hypothesis
Climate change has significantly contributed to high poverty rate in most parts of the world.
Methodology
Facts on the topic of climate change and poverty will be established by conducting systematic literature review and analysis of the data obtained on the topic. Causes and impacts of global warming will be established from journal and articles touching on the topic. In most of the research on climate change the dependent variables are factors that influences change in climate that ultimately create an impact on the environment which is the dependent variable. Survey on the impacts of climate change from different parts of the world brings into focus the devastating effect of the subject, and indeed several studies have conducted and documented on the subject. Five scholarly articles on the subject of climate change and poverty were reviewed and analyzed from the online portal of James C. Jernigan Library.
Before China emerged as one of the top World economy, it suffered great economic loss due to torrential rain and flooding between 2001 and 2008. This contributed to poverty in the affected parts of China. Descriptive analysis of the research in China reveals that the country lost 23. 8 billion Yuan due to climate change (Shaw, Pulhin & Pereira, 2010).
Causes of climate change
According to Malik (2008), humans are directly and indirectly accountable for global warming due to their activities like driving vehicles which leads to the release of pollutants in the air. The release of various chemicals and fossil fuel also result in global warming. These chemicals and fossil fuels are produced by manufacturing companies, power plants and oil refineries into the atmosphere. All these activities such as transportation and manufacturing of products are needed by man to sustain life. Gas is required to power vehicles to transport not only people but crops, livestock and other necessities for daily living. Human have the responsibility of finding a solution to this problem by using fuels that are friendly to the environment. Humans have already taken a step by manufacturing vehicles that use less fuel however; the manufacturing companies still release various chemicals in the atmosphere during the production process (Malik, 2008).
There are several factors that have contributed to climate change. These are industrialization, deforestation, urbanization, and burning of fossil fuels. Industrialization has led to emissions of green house gases and chemicals into the atmosphere and cutting down of trees to provide energy need to drive industries. Urbanization has led into elimination of forests and woods which play a vital role in the climate chain. Forests have been replaced by modern infrastructures and buildings. Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas release greenhouse gases. Deforestation refers to the cutting down of forests faster than they can be replaced. It is a major contributor to climate change. It causes 5.9 billion tones of CO2 per year to be released into the air. This accounts for 20 per cent of the world's carbon emissions – more than the entire global transport sector produces (Malik, 2008...