“We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words” (Anna Sewell). There is without a doubt evidence that animals are being affected by climate change. Many effects are hard to measure but there are different ways animals are being affected. Because of this they’re many species that stand on the line of extinction. With the loss of predator and prey species it affects the life cycles in the food chain. Global warming has to do with the earths climate change and climate change causes habitats that involve snow, ice, or forest areas to change drastically. Global warming is used to refer to the increase in the earth’s surface temperature. It is caused by the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane that come together from the atmosphere. They’re are many things we can do to help save this situation and it takes the bare minimum to do.
Climate change that comes from global warming is an issue that demands help and awareness. Help such as recycling, driving hybrid cars, or using less plastic which will all reduce the greenhouse gases. Things like this will help stop Global warming. Limiting the use of fossil fuels such as oil, carbon and natural gas and replacing them with renewable and cleaner ounces of energy, all while increasing entry efficiency. “We need to cut CO2 emissions almost in half (45%) by the end of the next decade,” says Kimberly Nicholas, associate professor of sustainability science at the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), in Sweden. Elizabeth Kolbert is one of the most prominent writers in this field of research and is known for her unique writing style. She holds a prevalent place for writing on issues arising from conscience such as the brutal attacks upon the ecosphere. “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History.” is a powerful book of Kolbert in which she discusses how artificial climate alterations have contributed in sixth mass extinction, the present contraction animal and plant loss that is threatening the existence of almost 20-50 percent species on the planet (Gore, 1).
“If climate change drove the megafauna extinct, then this presents yet another reason to worry about what we are doing to global temperatures. If, on the other hand, people were to blame—and it seems increasingly likely that they were—then the import is almost more disturbing. It would mean that the current extinction event began all the way back in the middle of the last ice age. It would mean that man was a killer—to use the term of art an “over killer”—pretty much right from the start.” According to Kolbert, we need to worry about the rising global temperature and variations in climatic conditions, as this can lead to the extinction of species. Humans are blamed for these variations which makes the situation much more threatening and this accusation against them seems to be accurate. This also means that the process of extinction was instigated during the ice age and hence the phrase “overkiller” suits humans from the very first day.
According to scientists, our planet is in the middle of the sixth extinction of species which is the worst die-off since the extinction of dinosaurs. Human activities are the major reason behind this extinction as their activities are escalating global warming, damaging habitat and leading to the birth of different species within developed ecosystems. They estimate this extinction to snowball over the coming centuries as the rate of change within biosphere and extinction of one species is leading to the extinction of other, developing an intricate environmental web. Scientists believe that humans can reverse these climatic changes by employing renewable energy resources as a substitute of fossil fuels, shifting to organic agricultural methods, developing new procedures for reducing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and hiding away carbon in soil instead of releasing it in the air (Jeff 14). Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air because of your own energy needs. Personal choices on transportation, electricity, food, clothing, and other goods can make a difference. Little things such as turning off lights, TVs, and computers when they’re not being used turns out to be a ‘big thing’.
Global warming is leading to different life-threatening consequences to species such as topographical and altitudinal shifts within the ecosystem, variations or disturbances in seasons, alterations within the composition of species, escalating numbers of hostile species, changes within species interaction and distribution like changes in phenology, competition within wild species and humans for resources, climatic changes like droughts, wildlife fires, and deforestation and diseases within livestock and humans (FAO Forestry 4). The climatic conditions are changing at a rapid scale and the scientists warn that if these emissions are not controlled than the temperature of Earth’s surface can increase to 6 degrees C. by the end of 20th century (NRDC, 1). This information demonstrates the overarching issue of global warming and the many effects they have on both the environment and the species within it. The underlying effects of global warming can lead to issues with agriculture, as described by the disturbances in seasons, which may not be able to be controlled if conservation efforts are not set forth accordingly.
Global warming is an undeniable fact which proves that our planet is in trouble. Global warming is a major factor in the declining number of species around the world. Just because our animals cannot verbally tell us that they’re not ok, so much has been said that proves that they’re so many different things we can do to try and help them and in another way help ourselves. Protecting species can pay off in many ways. Rich biodiversity guarantees fertile soil, and clean water and air, researchers point out. If we don’t do anything about our future, we’re just waiting for a problem to happen just right around the corner.