Climate change is an agenda which have taken a central part in major debates across the world. However, regardless of efforts which different countries have made to control it, it still has strong negative impacts on the environment. In this case, I tend to agree with the Andreas Malm's, The Anthoposene Myth which states that human activities and capitalism are what to be blamed for the climate change. It is through human activities which people undertake while in pursuit of wealth is what has contributed to the degradation of the ozone layer hence global warming. Indeed, humankind is a new geological force which transforms the planet beyond recognition through burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas in large quantities (Andreas Malm, 1). These human activities contribute to climate change by causing alternation in the earth's atmosphere in the amounts of aerosols, greenhouse gases and cloudiness. In the situation where the greenhouse gases and aerosols are emitted to the atmosphere, they cause alteration to the incoming solar radiation which form part of the energy balance of the earth. These thus cause warming or cooling of the climatic system hence its change.
It is the concept of combustion which has subjected us into the whole problem of overexploitation of the natural resources as we burn them in pursuit for money. Besides, due to industrialization, the global warming is in the incline as the emissions increases. It is not right to put the blame on China as the main pollutant. All countries including the under-developed nations are responsible in one way or another. However, all industrialized countries such as Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Thailand, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Canada and United States plays major role in contributing to the global pollution (Freer-Smith, 230). The blame should not only be put on China but a regulation should be put which ensure that every country should pay for the amount of damages and other externalities that they cause to the atmosphere due to emissions. These will prevent the blame game and finger pointing spree which has been evident between countries in the recent past.
Due to greed which is baptized as capitalism, I tend to agree that man will do anything or activity possible so long as it can generate income. These have been manifest in the capitalist states as they increase their infrastructure which deepen and widen the burning of fossil fuels. For instance, countries continue to construct roads, airports, and establishing a new coal plants. It is thus true that people will continue to pollute and there is no willingness to stop. Instead of laying down strategies which can save and conserve the environment, leaders are always thinking on how they can a mass wealth and attainment of capital (Benoit, 150-160). They take no time to consult the public about the actions which they want to take and the project which they launch, a situation which makes the citizens incur the social costs which they ought to have incurred when proper consultation would have done.
There are various biological and environmental friendly sources of energy which people should tap so as to save our environment. However, due to the fact that capitalism has override morality, people will do anything so as to generate money. Indeed, it's in line with the description given by Klien that the climate crisis is a confrontation between capitalist and the planet. It is due to the expanding human demands which have put a lot of pressure on the manner in which the resources are exploited and utilized. Therefore, it is upon all human races to change tact and devise the best strategies which can be used to enhance ecological balance, prevent overexploitation of natural resources as well as burning of the fossil fuels to produce energy. We should realize that the invention of fire is not bad, but the way we use fire to destroy our environment is what should be forbidden.
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"How do human activities contribute to climate change and how do they compare with natural influences?" www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/faq/how-do-human-activities-contribute-to-climate-change-and-how-do-they-compare-with-natural-influences
Andreas Malm, "The Anthropocene Myth: Blaming all humanity for climate change lets capitalism off the hook," Jacobin Magazine, 30 March 2015. https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/03/anthropocene-capitalism-climate-change/
Benoit, P. Climate change. Children's Press, 2011.
Freer-Smith, P. H., et al. Forestry and climate change. CAB International, 2007.
National Research Council (U.S.). Abrupt climate change: Inevitable surprises. National Academy Press, 2002.
