Photo AI
Explore one argument in support of and one argument against the idea that major global climate change is currently underway. - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 23 - 2008
Question 23
Explore one argument in support of and one argument against the idea that major global climate change is currently underway.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explore one argument in support of and one argument against the idea that major global climate change is currently underway. - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 23 - 2008
Step 1
Argument in Support of Climate Change
Answer
One argument in support of the notion that major global climate change is currently underway is the significant increase in global temperatures over the past century.
According to data from various meteorological organizations, the average global temperature has risen approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century. This rise can be attributed to increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels for energy and deforestation. Such a temperature increase correlates with widespread effects, including melting ice caps, which contribute to rising sea levels, and intensified weather phenomena such as hurricanes and droughts.
Scientific consensus, as evidenced by reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), underscores that this warming trend poses serious threats to ecosystems and human society.
Step 2
Argument Against Climate Change
Answer
One argument against the idea that major global climate change is currently underway is often based on the contention that climate variations are part of natural cycles.
Skeptics argue that the Earth's climate has undergone significant changes long before industrial activities began, citing historical periods such as the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age as examples of natural climate changes. They contend that climate models may overestimate the impacts of anthropogenic factors by not sufficiently accounting for natural variability. This perspective suggests that climate change discussions should focus more on adaptation to natural changes rather than attempting to mitigate human influence, which they believe may be overstated.