Global warming has become one of the major problems in the continent today. The scientist has been researching for many decades about global warming and possible solutions which has been difficult for the world to implement because, human beings are the source of the problem. There are two major causes of global warming which includes, natural causes and anthropogenic. According to anthropogenic theory, the use of fossil fuel by a human being has resulted to generation and release of “a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (Cazenave 1255)”. Too much CO2 is the major cause of greenhouse effect because it creates a layer that prevents heat from escaping into space which helps to cool the earth.The natural theory in the other hands, perceive globalwarming as being caused by changes and peaks that the earth goes through.Therefore, they refer this period to a peak of warm temperatures which it willend one day even though it does not explain when the peak will end. The naturaltheory attempt to answer “to what extent is the warming? Has this phenomenonhappened before? Could the excess in greenhouse gases be a symptom of climatechange?” (Lau 34). For instance, since the revolution of industries, thequantity of “carbon dioxide” being released to the atmosphere has gone up by 30%.There are millions of industries coming up every year which contributes toincreasing carbon dioxide in the air. The global warming is causing the polarice to shrink and the amount of rainfall that is expected every year isdecreasing. A study that was conducted by Sam Dewdney indicated there has beenan increase of greenhouse gases since the time of industrial revolution. Global warming is a detrimental issue that our environment has been faced with. Some people feel as if humans cause global warming, some feel it is a naturally occurring phenomenon and in fact, some do not believe in the concept of warming and ignore the fact that it exists. Regardless of one’s opinion whether or not global warming exists, facts show that global warming does exist due to the changes that are taking place in our environment. Global warming’s causes and effects are a direct contributor to today’s controversies. Most people have heard the term “global warming,” but lack education on what it is. “Global warming” can be defined as, “the increase of Earth’s average surface temperature due to the effect of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth (Huber 32)”. One can compare global warming’s activities to those of a greenhouse. Greenhouses capture heat for plants during the cold winter months. This effect is commonly regarded as the “greenhouse effect.” As a result of this, our environment is constantly changing at a rapid pace, and it is only getting worse.Global warming is the most important issue because it willaffect everyone’s lives, those currently living and those not yet born andtherefore have to change their way of life to change the condition. This changecould be as simple as finding alternate energy supplies that won’t harm theenvironment, or in a worse case, it could be as extreme as people having tomove to a new planet or anything in between. In the worst-case scenario, peoplehave nowhere to go, and the earth becomes uninhabitable, which could cause thehuman race to become extinct. Global warming is currently starting to changepeople’s lives. This can be seen in the first chapter (“Meltdown”), written byBill Mckibben, of the book What Matters by David Cohen. In his chapter,Mckibben lists about five or six the natural disasters that have happened justin America recently as a result of the changing climate (Melillo 841). Some ofthe examples he uses are hurricane Katrina and the massive flooding of theMississippi River.According to many scientists and researchers, global warmingis a real threat to humanity and if we all do not begin to fix the problem overtime, humanity will probably no longer exist. Many people believe “globalwarming” need to be looked into, but some don’t see the need to waste resourceson global warming since they believe it’s just another weather pattern. Thenthere are others that know global warming is a real threat but due to thefinances that fossil fuel brings they are not interested in any change thatwill cause them to lose their financial advantage if we eliminate fossil fuelsand move to cleaner forms of energy. Human activity has impacted global warming in many ways. Oneof the main ways we impact global warming is by burning fossil fuels. Consuminglarge amounts of fossil fuel means we are generating more carbon dioxide andother gasses that affect the earth. A few examples of activity we perform usingfossil fuel is driving cars, boats, planes and anything else that needs fuel.Other things that burn fossil fuel is commercial buildings, power plants,schools, and our homes. Another human activity that plays a part into globalwarming is the destruction of forests around the world, an action which this isreferred to as deforestation; all the trees are chopped down to create moreland to build on, planting crops, fuel, and household items. As stated by“National Geographic, Trees also play a critical role in absorbing thegreenhouse gases that fuel global warming. Fewer forests means larger amountsof greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere—and increased speed and severity ofglobal warming”. One environmental problem “related to global warming thatexperts expect to occur in coming decades are” rising temperatures that havethe potential to be dangerous to people, animals, and the earth (Jackson andJenkins 67). The solution need to be found by combined efforts by the wholecontinents. For example, there has been increased pressure fromenvironmentalist on the reduction of toxic gases, especially from fuel-poweredcars, to reduce greenhouse effect since it causes global warming, use ofelectric car can be one of the best solution of reducing amount of carbondioxide emitted by fuel-driven cars. This pressure will definitely force people to choose electric cars sincethey do not harm the environment much. The governments in the world shouldencourage use of electric vehicles as a measure to reduce the extent of gasemission and air pollution. Fora long time, climate change has posed great problems to the global societies.The increased risk of famine taking place, destruction of infrastructures andhouses and increased cases of social violence due to gradual changes in theecosystem and extreme weather events (Heffron pg. 1). To curb these challengesfrom extending further or taking place in the future, global bodies andinternational governments have joined hands to fight against cases connected toglobal warming. As climatic change is a transnational event, the states of theUnited States are relying on the Intergovernmental Organizations to worktogether to address climate security challenges. These organizations include “NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization), European Union (EU) and the UnitedNations Environment Program (UNEP)” (UNFCCC pg. 1-3). Similarly, the generalbody of the United Nations organization has taken the issue of climatic changewith a lot of seriousness and each country which is part of the organization isplaying its part in protecting its environment from destruction and pollutionwhich are some of the factors that encourage or rather bring about globalwarming.             Theglobal climate has always experienced changes, but unfortunately, the changesare negative and are making the earth an unbearable place for humans to livein. Some of these climate changes are influenced by natural factors whileothers are facilitated by human activities such as deforestation, andatmospheric emissions which originate from industries and transport sectorsthat release untreated gases to the atmosphere which has resulted to higherconcentration of gases and aerosols accumulating in the atmospheric air,trapping heat, an action which results to raised temperatures near the earth.These gases are regarded as greenhouse gases (GHGs). In the years around the1990s, the effects of global warming increased and resulted to internationalbodies responding to counter these changes brought about global warming effect.In the year 2001, “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)” on itsthird assessment reflected on the issues of climate changes in the period from1990 to 2001, and also reflected on the expected future outcomes (UNFCCC pg.17). According to the report, the 1990s was the warmest decade ever witnessedover the past 50 years, and increased human activities facilitated this.Forecasting the future, the report explained that industrial activities wereexpected to increase in the next 10 to 20 years from 2001 and this will inreturn increase the amount of emitted gases into the atmosphere (UNFCCC pg.17). This has been evidenced by the increased temperatures on the earth surfacewhich have resulted to increased draught cases like in Northern part of Kenyaand the Sahara region in the northern part of Africa.  In the same period of the 1990s, the UNFCCrealized that provisions were needed to control the number of emissions. “Inthe year 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was agreed on which introduced legallybinding emission reduction targets for developed countries.” (UNFCCC pg. 16)The 2nd commitment of the “protocol” began in the year 2013and is expected toend in 2020. 38 developed countries and the EU are part of the group committedto reducing emission by 18% below 1990s level (UNFCCC pg. 16-17). However,countries like the United States refused to sign up for the protocol, Canada,Russia, Japan and New Zealand are not taking part in the agreement. These aresome of the countries that have a higher number of populations, and they harbora lot of industries which emit gases into the atmosphere.  TheEuropean Union from 30th November to 12th December 2015, held a climateconference in France where on the 12th of December, the parties agreed onworking together to limit global warming well below 2°C (United Nations para9-11). “The final decision was to be implemented when 55 countries whichtogether represents 55% of the global greenhouse effect. In the year 2016, 174countries signed the agreement and began adopting it in their legal systems.”(United Nations para 9-11). Similarly, the United Nations report: “TheEmissions Gap Report 2017” reported that in the year 2017, the global emissionswere 30% higher than the 2030 target but the sign that the world will move awayfrom the fossil fuels is giving hope of restoring the green environment that weonce had.  Since coal industries in Chinaand United States reduced their activities, the world has experienced lowcarbon dioxide emission, and the global climate is expected to change in thepositive direction. The “United Nations Climate Change Conference” which tookplace in Bonn advanced the agreements of the Paris Conference. The report fromthe conference reported that since 1880 to 2012, the global temperaturesincreased by an average of 0.85 degrees Celsius; oceans have warmed, and thequantities of ice and snow have decreased hugely resulting to the rising of thesea level (United Nations para 9-11). “Given the current condition, theon-going greenhouse gases emission is expected to raise the temperature by anaverage of 1.5 degrees Celsius as compared to the 1990s temperatures” (UnitedNations para 9-11). The sea level is also expected to rise by more than 26cm by2065 (United Nations para 9-11). The forecastingdone on climate changes reflects greater and higher risks which will in anegative way affect the lives of humans. Some countries contribute more to global warming than others.The unfortunate thing is that countries that are responsible for raisinggreenhouse effects are reluctant to take effective measures to curb thisproblem. The fewer contributor countries are the one who are facing the mosteffects of air pollution caused by industrialized countries. The mostindustrialized countries such as U.S, China, Japan, India, and Russiacontribute more than 15% of the world’s emission of carbon dioxide (Jackson andJenkins 67). United State is leading in the emission of carbon from its highuse of fossil fuels, but it has been showing no interest to deal with thiscrisis. Currently, it withdrew itself from Paris agreement that entailed toreduce the amount of carbon dioxide released by industries and fossil fuels,yet its leading contributor to global warming. China has been reported to be second from U. S in release ofcarbon dioxide in the air. Some of the countries that have shown great interestto deal with global warming in recent past includes Sweden, Morocco, and UK.Sweden has managed to lessen significantly the amount of carbon dioxidereleased into the atmosphere. This country is trying to embrace the use ofrenewable energy as an alternatives source of energy. Sweden has been held asthe role model country in efforts toward reducing the effect of the greenhouseeffect in the world. Similarly, Morocco has managed to initiate one of thebiggest solar-energy project in the world with an aim of reducing the use offossil fuel which contribute greatly to global warming. Morocco is one of thefewer contributors to global warming in the world, but it’s taking necessarymeasures to reduce its use of fossil fuel. Britain has also done a lot inreducing emissions by moving from coal power to low-carbon energy sources. Mostof the contributors of global warming in the world are lacking political willto priorities on reduction of emissions. In regard to research done byNetherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the leading emitters of carbon dioxideincludes; “China: 9697 million tons (MT) or 28.6%, US: 5420 MT or 16.0%, India:1967 MT or 5.8% and Russia: 1829 MT or 5.4%” (Weart 45). The most of thesecountries rely on burning “fossil fuels” such as: “coal, oil, and gas”, whichall are extremely injurious to our environment. The burning of the fossil fuelscreates pollution within our environment, resulting in the aforementionedgreenhouse effect. Pollution is also caused by overpopulation and the rapidrate of industrial pollution within those countries, such as China. Thesecountries also have many cars which release fossil fuels when running. Inaddition, many people in industrialized countries relies on personaltransportation to get to and from work, recreational activities, sports,concerts and more. With the increased rate in which people are driving theircars, pollution is happening faster “as a result of the burning fossil fuels.”Along with personal means of transportation, factories in these countries arepouring their pollution into the atmosphere. Pollution is occurring as such arapid pace with more than one contributing factors.  In the recent past, the global has witnessedwars which are not necessarily military but war of words, especially on issuesconnected to climate change and the rules and regulations that countries aresupposed to adhere to so as to reduce emissions. The realism theory providesexplanation on international relations, putting more emphasis on the behaviorsof various countries and why they go to war (Goodin pg. 133). On the issue ofclimate changes, the issue doesn’t discriminate against state boundaries as itis a global issue that affects every state and every individual. This statementcan be supported by various climatic changes experiences witnessed in variousparts of the globe. Starting with floods experienced in Bangladesh and Brazil,the melting of huge amounts of ice in the Arctic and Antarctic and ending withthe agricultural crisis in Italy, the climate change effects are undeniable. Ahuge number of scientists have reported that the earth’s climates are changingdue to various human activities (Stern pg. 3). Burning of fossil fuel andextensive deforestation are some of the factors that in a big way, result toglobal warming. The realism theory explains that countries exist in an anarchy,and every individual country has its main concerns, being security andsurvival. Unfortunately, on the issue of climate changes, there exist nocountry which is not affected. But according to an evaluation done, thecountries most affected by climate changes are based in Africa and the Asiancontinent, but they are not as much involved in emissions as countries inEurope and North America. In this relation, realist view that within theanarchy, some superior countries want to gain more power in expense of others.This is evidenced where major countries like Japan, the United States, Canadaand New Zealand are not part of the group executing the regulations under theKyoto Protocol. From this perspective of the realists on the climate change,one of the individuals reflected in the United States President Donald Trumpwho has refused to go by the regulations introduced by Kyoto Protocol. As perthe argument of Machiavelli on realism, if any country behaved morally with thewellbeing of other states in mind, then there will be no success. This goeshand in hand with how the current states behave in relation to climate change.Superior countries are introducing policies and regulations which favors themand can move out of them anytime they want to.Oppositefrom the argument developed by realism, the liberalism theory argues thatstates can exist in coordination to fight challenges together. On the issue ofglobal warming, states have coordinated through organizations like the UnitedNations, European Union, and African Union. Regulations and policies on how touse the various resources in our environment and regulating our activities thatincrease the emission rate have been discussed. Based on liberal perspective,small or rather inferior countries have been in the forefront to acceptregulations and policies introduced to reduce emissions. As per my thinking,considering global warming is a global matter whose degree and effects are notdistinct based on borderlines, all nations should come together and join handsto fight against environmental pollution. No country should be more superior toanother in this case and the policies introduced should apply to all countries.  But as long as countries are worried abouttheir wellbeing and global superiority, countries like Canada, Japan, Russiaand the United States will always want to play against the introducedregulations and policiesGlobal warming is likely to cause serious problem in futureif effective measures will not be taken. With increased reluctant by majorcontributors to global warming to take the initiative to reduce the amount ofcarbon dioxide they release, there are high chances the world will experiencehigher greenhouse effects. The damage cost of global warming is likely toincrease in future in almost all countries because there are no solid solutionsthat have been agreed on by international communities. There is still a lot ofdifferent viewpoints among the countries on how to deal with challenges posedby global warming. The extent of “climate change” will depend on how the worldwill behave in the next decades to come. If the countries will not put effortto reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they emit, there is high chance thateffect of global warming will be felt more in future than today. There will beincreased heat trapped in atmosphere which will translates to rising of sealevel. Some parts of the world will become totally dry while others willexperience floods and hurricanes. There will be increased food insecurity andhealth will deteriorate due to increased temperatures. However, if good choicesare made today, the global warming can be reduced in future. For this tohappen, it calls the efforts of entire world community to put their effortstogether to curb this issue. If every country makes efforts to reduce theamount of carbon gases they emit, the levels of heat trapped in atmosphere willreduce noticeably, thus, reducing the warming. In future, more solid measuresand regulations should be enacted to save the world from extreme effectsconnected to global warming.Work CitedUNFCCC. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Handbook. Bonn, Germany , 2006.Cazenave, A. “How fast are the ice sheets melting?” Science, 314, (2006): 1251-1252.Goodin, Robert E. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations . Oxford : Oxford University Press , 2010.Heffron, Daniel. “What do realists think about climate change?” Centre for Geopolitics & Security in Realism Studies (November 13, 2015): pg 1- 21.Huber, M., and R. Knutti,. “Anthropogenic and natural warming inferred from changes in Earth’s energy balance.” Nature Geoscience, 5, , doi:10.1038/ngeo1327. [Available online at http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v5/n1/pdf/ngeo1327.pdf] (2012): 31-36.Jackson, R. and A. Jenkins. “Vital signs of the planet: global climate change and global warming: uncertainties.” Earth Science Communications Team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory / California Institute of Technology. (17 November 2012): 67.Lau, K. M., and Wu, H. T. ” Detecting trends in tropical rainfall characteristics, 1979-2003. .” International Journal of Climatology, 27, (2007): 34.Melillo, Jerry M., Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and Gary W. Yohe, Eds.,. “Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment. U.S.” Global Change Research Program,. doi:10.7930/J0Z31WJ2. Online at: nca2014.globalchange (2014): 841.Stern, N. The Economics of Climatic Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge : Cmbridge University Press , 2006.United Nations . “Sustainable Development Goals to Transform our World .” (2018 ).Weart, Spencer R. “The Discovery of Global Warming; The Public and Climate Change: The Summer of 1988.” American Institute of Physics (February 2014): 45.Get Help With Your AssignmentIf you need assistance with writing your assignment, our professional assignment writing service is here to help!Find out more