Climate Change

I feel that the most pressing global environmental problem is climate change because the vast challenges that it presents to the world. Climate change is a problem that would be felt and has been felt by everyone country around the world. Some environmental problems have quick fixes and over time can eventually recover. A good example would be putting a species on the endangered species list so to protect the species from extinction. Over time, this species will hopefully recover enough to be taken off the list as its populations have increased to a safe number. Climate Change on the other hand has no quick fixes and if nothing is done about there will be extreme consequences.

Climate Change is a broad environmental problem because since it so serious it overlaps with many other pressing environmental problems. Adrienne's point of population is a good example of this because unsustainable population growth which we have experienced in the past century which has lead the human population to increase dramatically in a very short time. In order to counteract this problem there needs to be greater family planning around the world and also education is a factor in controlling population growth. As our population has grown it has lead to more greater demand of products and services which then has contributed to greater carbon emissions. The large increase in carbon emissions have lead to the problem that we face now, what to do to fight climate change. This past year has been one where there have been numerous wildfires, huge floods, and other climate related catastrophes located globally which demonstrate that this is a real problem.

How do we then go to a system that stops climate change, do we all stop using fossil fuels tomorrow and how would that play out in the global economy. Probably not well but as a global community we must establish a way that we can have positive economic growth worldwide without the carbon emissions that threaten to destroy our world. In framing the climate change debate there must be a common goal of looking out for everyone not just your own interests.

Fish even though he did not seem happy being environmentally friendly and had disdain for how the environmental movement had progressed is evidence that it is possible to make a change to being more environmentally conscious. His lifestyle was one where he and his wife as consumers took environmental considerations when choosing a product to buy. If this became more common it would reduce carbon emissions significantly in the world especially here in the United States. The only problem with this is that he and his wife have the means to be environmentally friendly while people have less income can not make those types of considerations because they are not within the means of their budgets.