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Elizabeth Ruvalcaba
Professor Ludwig
ENG 101H
17 Oct 2016
The Effects of Climate Change
It is often said that as human beings, it is our responsibility to take care of this
earth that has nurtured and provided for us. Not only has the Earth supplied our food and water
but also our oxygen and every element we need to survive. The production of carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases has a heating effect on the atmosphere, causing hot temperatures to rise,
and this could be very dangerous for humans and all other life. Al Gore is a Nobel Prize winning
environmental activist who spends most of his time as chairman of The Climate Reality Project,
devoted to solving the global climate crisis. In his speech at the Kyoto Climate Change
Conference, Al Gore uses persuasive techniques of ethical, emotional, and logical appeal in order
to convince his audience of manmade climate change and the disasters that can occur.
Gore utilizes various appeals to convince the readers of a problem, which is the
result of human behavior. His argument is relevant because in fact, greenhouse gases are caused
by societys reckless behavior to the atmosphere. Gore expresses his concern for the impact that
global warming poses such as disastrous weather and agricultural events (droughts, fires, floods,
and famine). The speaker emphasizes that the only key needed to stabilize the levels of carbon
dioxide in the air is to come together. Gore addresses that poverty may be the top priority for
developing countries, but if we want to pass on healthy lineages to future generations, emission
trading and joint implementation is a start.

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Gores reputation as an authority on the state of the environment persuades people
to think about ones contribution of greenhouse gases. At the beginning of the text he delivers a
phrase from his book, Earth in the Balance we must make the rescue of the environment the
central organizing principle for human civilization(Gore 855). The speakers book on climate
change basically is showing the audience that he is is enlightened and well informed on global
warming, thus, adding to his credibility and persuading the audience to trust what he is saying
about the topic.
Throughout the text, Al Gore wishes to spread awareness on climate change
through out the globe. Furthermore, he appeals to his audience through emotion, specifically
through loaded language such as, the poisoning of too many places where people- especially
poor people- live, and the deaths of too many children- especially poor children- from polluted
water and dirty air(Gore836). This phrase gets his audience to think about how one is
contributing to greenhouse gases that could be fatally affecting other people around the world. Al
Gore also states the influence that ones carbon footprint has on earths ecosystems. For
example, the rapid destruction of critical habitats-rain forests, temperate forests, boreal forests,
wetlands, coral reefs, and other previous wellsprings of genetic variety upon which the future of
humankind depends(856). That particular quote brings a frightening feeling to the audience and
thoughts of urgency to change. If natural resources run out due to global warming there would be
more competition over energy resources, famines, broken economies, and societal upheaval.
Through Al Gores use of evidence his audience should be persuaded to be in
favor of his argument at the end of reading this speech in order to take initiative and help with a
solution to stabilize greenhouse gases. According to Gore, the rise of temperature is due to too
much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which begins acting as a blanket, which traps heat and

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warms the planet. According to the author, last week we learned from scientists that this year,
1997will be the hottest years records have been kept. Indeed, nine of the 10 hottest years since
the measurements began have come in the last 10 years(Gore 856). Basically, Al Gore is
suggesting that these consequences were brought about by human behavior. Climate change is
affecting the rise in temperature and Earths ecosystem. Change needs to be made before we face
more disastrous events such as, More floods and droughts. Diseases and pests spreading to new
areas. Crop failures and famines. Melting glaciers and stronger storms and rising seas(837). As
the results of global warming, these issues in this phrase are dangerous for human life because
they affect the quality of Earths health
Earths carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced due to the
consumption of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is caused by human activities such as the exhaust of
automobiles, energy industries, deforestation, food waste, and the burning of fossil fuels (which
results in desertification); all contribute to greenhouse gases. The article by Ruth Ochanya Adio
Moses and Aladejana J. A, department heads of Health Education and Geology from the
University of Ibadan, Assessment of knowledge and awareness of global warming among
inhabitants of industrial areas, reports the amount of greenhouse gases in earths atmosphere.
Such as, human activity has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 40
percent, and other gases, such as methane (natural gas) by a factor of 2 to 3 or more(Moses J.A
101). These gases absorb heat being radiated from the surface of the earth, and by absorbing this
heat the atmosphere slowly warms up. Heat-trapping gases, sometimes called greenhouse
gases, are the cause of most climate changes. In the same article, the authors voice a relevant
message to society because they project the rise in temperature. For instance, The Physician for
social responsibility (2015) warned that unless greenhouse emissions are reduced temperatures

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are projected to increase by an additional 2 to 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100(99). This means
that continents around the world will experience more intense storms and heat waves in coming
years, causing certain groups of people to be affected, such as the poor people, socially isolated,
and those with chronic diseases who are at risk of experiencing heat strokes, and heat cramps.
Another element being affected by greenhouse gases is air quality. Air pollution is contributing to
health issues with rise of new illnesses, emergence of new diseases (30 previously unknown
diseases since 1976), resurgence and/ or redistribution of older diseases such as malaria, cholera,
vectors, and the disease causing pathogens they transmit are impacted by higher
temperatures(99). The appearance of new and old diseases can open the eyes of the audience to
realize how hot temperatures contribute to illnesses.
Due to warming of Earths average temperature, more oceans warm up, and due to their
sensitivity to temperature, glaciers have become an important indicator of climate change. A
glacier is a large mass of snow and ice that has accumulated over many years and is present yearround. In the United States, glaciers can be found in the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada,
the Cascades, and throughout Alaska. A glacier flows naturally like a river, only much more
slowly. Warming of the oceans is the reason ice sheets melt. According to the article Sea Level
Rise by the website National Geographic, if ice sheets melt, they raise the level of the sea. For
example, persistently higher temperatures caused by global warming have led to greater-thanaverage summer melting as well as diminished snowfall due to later winters and earlier springs.
This imbalance results in a significant net gain in runoff versus evaporation for the ocean,
causing sea levels to rise(Society National Geographic). As this water reaches land, it can cause
destructive erosion, flooding of wetlands, contamination of aquifers and agricultural soils, and
lost habitat for fish, birds, and plants(Society National Geographic).

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Some people may rely on glaciers for many useful resources such as fresh water. In the
video Ted Talk 2009 on Climate Change by Al Gore, he represents demographics on the
shrinkage of ice caps saying, Artic ice cap for most of 3 million years has been the size of the
lower 48 states has shrunk by 40 percent(Arnold). That is a significant amount of mass loss!
Glaciers are responsible for producing fresh water. The melting of glaciers can also be dangerous
for the marine ecosystems. Many organisms can only survive in salt water and may not be able to
adjust to a more freshwater habitat. In Antarctica last month scientists reported that the entire
continent is now in negative ice balance and west Antarctica seas is particularly rapid in its
melting thats equals of 20ft sea level just as Greenland(Arnold). Not only is the melting of ice
sheets causing sea levels to rise, but they also have led to events that are affecting the whole
world. According to the ted talk, disasters have been increasing at an absolutely increasing rate
unprecedented rates four times as many in last 30 years as in the previous 75(Arnold). It is said
that events such as droughts and floods occurred more often with the rising of temperatures.
Indeed during the 21st century, climatic disasters occurred five times as frequently and killed or
affected seventy times as many people(Gore 99). These immense geological changes will
continue their destruction if steps to educate people on ways to mitigate global warming are not
taken.
Furthermore, another factor caused by global warming can affect the intensity and
frequency of precipitation. As average temperatures have risen because of climate change, more
evaporation occurs, which, in turn, increases overall precipitation. The Earths water cycle has
sped up through an increase in the rate of evaporation. An increase in evaporation makes more
water available in the air for precipitation, but contributes to drying over some land areas,
leaving less moisture in the soil. Thus, as the climate continues to change, many areas are likely

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to experience increased precipitation and increased risk of flooding while areas located far from
storm tracks are likely to experience less precipitation and increased risk of drought. According
to the article Dry Spell, by National Geographic, Changes in atmospheric circulation patterns
can cause storm tracks to be stalled for months or years, dramatically impacting the amount of
precipitation a region normally receives and resulting in droughts or floods. Changes in wind
patterns can also affect how much moisture a region can absorb(Society National Geographic).
This can cause conditions that can negatively affect agriculture, water supplies, energy
production, and many other aspects of society. The impacts vary depending on the type, location,
intensity, and duration of the drought. The impacts vary depending on the type, location,
intensity, and duration of the drought. For example, effects on agriculture can range from slowed
plant growth to severe crop losses, while water supply impacts can range from lowered reservoir
levels and dried-up streams to major water shortages. Prolonged droughts pose a particular threat
to indigenous populations because of their economic and cultural dependence on land and water
supplies. Warming and drought can threaten medicinal and culturally important plants and
animals and can reduce water quality and availability, making tribal populations particularly
vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. Lower stream flow and groundwater levels can also harm
plants and animals, and dried-out vegetation increases the risk of wildfires. All these factors
contribute to ways in which we are harming the future health of our earth.
Food waste is another huge issue faced in America that also contributes to global
warming. More than a third of all the food produced on our planet never reaches a table. Many
wealthier countries buy food and toss the excess. An article by Roff Smith a writer for Sydney
Morning Herald, called How reducing food waste could ease climate change, states that
delivering food adds more carbon to the atmosphere. The author states, The energy that goes

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into the production, harvesting, transporting, and packaging of that wasted food, meanwhile,
generates more than 3.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. If food waste were a country, it
would be the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind the U.S. and
China(Smith). Once this food gets to the landfills it generates methane, a greenhouse gas 23
times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat within our atmosphere. Even with all this
information available, people still are not aware that the food that one didnt eat yesterday is
probably adding to our carbon footprint.
I agree with Gores claims; his persuasion on this topic convinced me to act on problems
that can help reduce the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. This speech helped me realize that it
is society who needs to become more aware on the issues of what climate change can cause if we
do not take responsibility for taking care of our earth. However, I see cars everywhere and I
dont believe people are going to stop using them anytime soon. In fact, with the rise of
technology, cars are getting flashier and more extravagant, making people want them more. The
good thing is that there are solutions to reducing greenhouse gases in our atmosphere such as,
reducing emissions, cap trades, joint implementations, and reducing energy. In order to develop
new technologies for clean energy productions there must be funding available, therefore,
humans need to be aware of climate change. Another way of reducing greenhouse gases is
planting more trees. Trees absorb oxygen and can recycle the carbon dioxide in the environment.
Ive also heard on the news that recycling can help reduce methane in landfills and I see more
and more people doing it, which is a great thing. Additionally, my brother works with a company
that is installing solar energy in the Antelope Valley at the moment. My brother mentioned that
one megawatt is equal to 10 acres of land and that they have installed over 2,000 megawatts so
far. That is a big amount of greenhouse gas reductions. Thus, along with the many solutions, Al

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Gores speech is relevant on the matters we face today and human beings need to play a part in
reducing greenhouse gases.
Al Gores accurate representation of man-made climate change establishes that humans
are in fact adding carbon to the atmosphere, in the form of carbon dioxide, faster than natural
processes can remove it. One of the biggest problems being faced is the result of greenhouse
gases in our atmosphere and this can be very dangerous for human survival. The environment
and human society have many elements that are sensitive to climate change. Although global
warming is happening slowly, civilization needs to make changes in our lifestyles now because
we are killing our earth and poisoning ourselves with emissions. If we work to change the way
we live now, we can avoid drastic changes in the future.

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Works Cited
Adio-Moses, Ruth Ochanya, and Aladejana J. A. "Assessment Of Knowledge And Awareness Of
Global Warming Among Inhabitants Of Industrial Areas Of An Urban Community In
Nigeria." International Journal Of Business & Economic Development 4.1 (2016): 99106. Business Source Elite. 18 Oct. 2016.Web. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=bsh&AN=115615675&site=eds-live
Arnold, Albert. AlGore 2009 on Climate Change: from TED. YouTube, Ted Talk, 14 ,May
2009, https://youtu.be/68h9qtafdpa.
Gore, Arnold. Kyoto Climate Change Conference. American Earth: Environmental Writing
Since Thoreu, edited by Bill McKibben, The Library of America, 2008, pp.
How Reducing Food Waste Could Ease Climate Change. National Geographic, National
Geographic Society, Jan 22, 2015,
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150122-food-waste-climate-changehunger/.
Society, National Geographic. Drought. National Geographic Society, 12 Sept. 2013,
nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/drought/.
Society, National Geographic. Sea Level Rise -- National Geographic. National Geographic,
National Geographic Society, ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-sealevel-rise/.

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