There is obviously a reason why climate change is taking the spot light, there must be a reason why people are trying so hard to encourage practicing sustainable living and eco-friendly habits, and there must be a reason why this “go green” attitude is catching on and becoming popular. Things like this do not simply happen. In my opinion there must be some reason that is more substantial as to why climate change is the main concern now and not simply because it’s in vogue. Maybe science has shifted their concerns from habitat loss to climate change because it does not only affect species diversification, but the human population and the world in general. So why do people still feel that habitat loss is still more vital?
Habitat loss is straightforward. You can physically see the effects of the Boreal forest clear-cut for lumber or a rainforest in South America burnt to the ground to make way for palm farms. The shock of seeing these pictures can definitely have more of an impact than viewing some questionable chart presented by Al Gore. It’s hard for us to wrap our mind around something that will affect us in the future and is so intangible. We can’t physically observe the water rising in the ocean or the change in temperature. Because of this, it is easy for people to question the obsession with climate change and why the issue of habitat loss is overshadowed by it. I can see how people can switch it around claiming that habitat loss is more important to the divergence of species and that it is an immediate problem that should be tended to now. The truth is, it is an urgent problem that we should work on to solve as soon as possible; however climate change is such a widespread problem that can drastically impact so many different aspects of our world. Climate change in and of itself will cause habitat loss and ultimately great amounts of extinctions by changing the landscapes that species are native to. This affects those species so they can no longer survive in the changed habitat because of their inability to withstand and adapt to the new climate, the different are no resources, or the change in other species that share the habitat. In my opinion climate change deserves more attention than habitat loss. Do I think it’s appropriate that we destroy acres of habitat in hopes of resolving the issue of climate change? Obviously not, but it doesn’t have to be a catch -22, technology is evolving rapidly and hopefully we will no longer need to rely on bio-fuels rather solar panels, wind turbines, ect…
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I feel that climate change can be an overall umbrella that concerns all environmental issues. There are many things effecting climate change, the biggest thing talked about is greenhouse gasses, something that we are negatively contributing. However, depleting forests and polluting the ocean is decreasing the amount plants can counteract the amount of CO2 being produced. We are increasing CO2 and decreasing the things on this planet that eat up the CO2. So, the way I see it is that forest depletion is a part of climate change. I guess habitat loss is a deferent beast, but is involved.
ReplyDeleteClimate change is probably the most important aspect of our destructive ways humanity has to look at. Our planet is under constant threat from excessive solar radiation due to solar winds and the fact of the matter is human technology has causes two giant holes in our protective barrier from this radiation. Scientist have concern for this as the sun entered an new cycle of sunspot development which is going to peak sometime in late 2011 to mid 2012. This time period is going to show humanity was its technology has truly done to our planet. Hopefully our species can start to change before the planet no longer has the ability to hold human life.
ReplyDeleteClimate change is definitely becoming more and more of a challenge for us. If we don't find away to slow or stop the process then other practices that we have done for ages might also be in jeopardy. As the climate continues to change we now have to worry about the plants and animals that we produce for consumption. Say that the temperature continue to had big swings over a short amount of time one day we could look out and not even recognize the land that we have always knew how to work. As for the introduction of more natural sources of energy I think that the best way to invest in our future would be to look at what we produce for consumption and using technologies make the per acre yield higher resulting in land that can now be used otherwise with the same if not more product for consumption.
ReplyDeleteI think that habitat loss and global warming are a both a part of a destructive cycle that feed off of one another. As we destroy the natural habitats, not only to we replace these areas with domestic, industrial areas, we're also messing up the natural respiration cycles that earth goes through. As the earth has trouble breathing (for example, absorbing CO2) many greenhouse gasses have the chance to grow and react with one another, furthering the process of global warming. While the earth is heating up, many species lose their ability to survive. This not only produces endangered/extinct species, but it kills some of the homes many organisms live in.
ReplyDeleteAs for which deserves more attention, I believe we need to start with global warming. Stopping the emissions we put out, and trying to clean up our air before the ozone hole grows to the size of our whole planet, is most important for the survival of not only mankind, but everyone who coexists with us.
I feel that in western society today many people complain about climate change without actually realizing its affects and what problems it really poses in the future. This is why there are still many people who don’t really care, it is part of our arrogant culture that put us in this position, we tend to believe that this planet was put here for us…..when humans have only been here for a fraction the time the planet has existed. I’m not trying to knock anybody’s beliefs but in western culture today there is a common attitude that this world was created for us.
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