Research Prospectus and Bibliography

Global Warming has been a major issue that I have been hearing about for the last ten years or so of my life. Some people say that the human activities of the emission of greenhouse gases are causing the earth to warm. On the other hand, people are saying that global warming is a hoax and is not being caused by humans and actually an increase in carbon dioxide has increased plant growth. After hearing people around me talking about global warming so much I decided to look more to the facts and find out what really are the issues of global warming, if any.

I truly come into the debate undecided because environmental issues are not one of my top priorities to learn more about. This statement does have me coming of as selfish, but this topic has been coming up more recently, which in turn, I am finding myself looking for answers about the specific topic of global warming. Global warming has actually been changed to global climate change in the recent years because scientists have found that the world is changing but not necessarily warming.

One of the main issues with climate change is the potential killing off of animals, humans, or just the environment in general. There is an article that states, “Rising carbon emissions might kill off the oceans coral reefs by 2050, warns an international coalition of scientists (Scientists).” One of the main reasons the death of the coral reef is so important is because according to studies, coral reef fisheries in Asia feed an estimate of one billion people (Scientists). This is definitely a serious issue if this is the case, because not only are humans losing a source of food but the coral reef is home to many different types of fish which would most likely go extinct.

One the other side of the issue, an argument is, “Atmospheric CO2 fertilizes plants. Higher CO2 enables plants to grow faster and larger and to live in drier climates (Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric CO2).” The main reason this is a good argument is because plants provide food for animals, which in so doing is also enhanced. The amount and range of plant and animal life have both amplified during the past half-century.

With this debate going on and the points from both sides being given, you can see that this is a tough topic to side on. With many different reasons for climate change being caused by humans and bad for the environment a person could easily jump on that side of the debate. But listening to the other side of the argument and why climate change is not caused by humans and CO2 increases helps the environment people could easily find themselves on this side of the debate.


Bibliography

Robinson , Arthur B., Noah E. Robinson, and Willie Soon. Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. Cave Junction, Oregon: Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, 2007.

Rowlands , Ian H. . "Ozone Layer Depletion and Global Warming ". Peace and Change July 1991: 260-281.

Scannell, Leila , and Grouzet Fredrick. The Metacongnition of Climate Change . British Columbia; Canada: Elsevier Ltd., 2009.

Scientists: Global warming could kill off reefs by 2050." USA Today [No Volume/Issue] (2007) [No Pagination].