Major Global Environmental Concern (Other (Not Listed) Sample)

Climate change is a major global environmental concern with multiple effects such as global warming. Noteworthy, scientists contend that the world during this decade the world is experiencing the warmest temperatures since 1880. This has been evidenced by increased cases or wildfires and melting of ice caps which has increased ocean levels. Multiple claims and counterclaims exist on the causes and effects of climate change. Although opinion is split on the extent to which humans have abated this crisis, there is general consensus that climate change is majorly anthropogenic. A thorough scrutiny of available scientific data and research reveals that 97% of climate experts concur that humans are the key causal agents of climate change.
A background of facts and figures on climate change is vital in understanding the causes and effects of climate change. Climate change refers to changes in aspects of the climate system such as atmospheric and oceanic temperatures, vegetation distribution and type and size of ice sheets [1]. The beginning of the 19th century was recorded as one of coldest periods of the past millennium [2]. Although comprehensive empirical paleoclimate data is unavailable studies reveal that external forcing processes significantly contributed to climate change. However, internal forcing processes are the primary causal agents of this phenomenon over the past few decades [3]. These internal forcing factors include volcanic eruptions, continental drift, atmospheric processes and man-made processes.
Climate change has multiple environmental, health and economic effects. A major environmental effect of climate change is global warming. This refers to a general increase in atmospheric temperatures [4]. As such, parts of the earth are experiencing severe heat waves [5]. In addition storm prone areas are experiencing more destructive storms as a result of changes in rainfall patterns. These changes in rainfall patterns are also increasing the rate of occurrence and intensity of flooding in some regions. Besides, more regions are also experiencing water scarcity due to increased drought. Changes in climatic conditions have also contributed to the overall deterioration of the health of individuals across the globe [6]. Noteworthy, climate change may have negligible economic effects in the 21st century [7].
Scientists argue that these effects are irreversible and future generations will experience severer effects such as longer periods of drought in Africa and Asia, severer heat waves in North America and recurrent flash floods and storms in Europe [8]. The future economic effects will be more devastating as yields from rain-fed agriculture could reduce by 50% in parts of Africa [8].
THE 97% CONSENSUS
The claim of 97% consensus on anthropogenic climate change argues that 97% climate scientists who have done research on the subject agree it is a human caused crisis. This claim of a general consensus first rose to prominence in 2004 in an article written by Naomi Orekses in 2004 [9]. According to Orekses, the absence of substantial disagreement among scientists on anthropogenic climate change implicitly suggested a general consensus [10]. Notably, the author did not quantify the level of consensus. The debate intensified when Cook et al. published a journal article that specifically mentioned the figure.
The claim is reliable as it is backed up by empirical evidence. A collaborative study to quantify the consensus on anthropogenic global warming by Cook et al. observed that among abstracts expressing views on the subject, 97.1% asserted the claim that global warming is a result of human activities [11]. Notably, the researchers analyzed the development of scientific consensus on human caused climate change and examined 11,944 abstracts from articles published between 1991 and 2011. A subsequent study by Cook et al. further proved the existence of this consensus with a numerical range of 90%-100% [12]. The variance in percentages was caused by differences in the sampling methodology, timing of studies, and definition of consensus[12].