Week 10 Assignment - Critical Threats To The Global Environm

Week 10 Assignment - Critical Threats to the Global Environment Overview

The United Nations has continued to retain you as a consultant for a project that deals with climate and the environment. Most developed countries see the dangers of releasing too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and are committed to climate policies that attain a carbon-free future in the next 30 years. They already see the damaging effects that this gas alone is having on the living conditions of crops, wildlife, and humans. As a result, many member states are dissatisfied with the progress of the eight Millennium Development Goals for international development that they established in 2000. The member states see a substantial disconnect between several issues that developed and developing countries believe are priorities.

For example, Burundi wants one of the goals to focus on food security, while Austria is adamant that a major global issue should be the negotiation of ceasefires in countries in the midst of civil wars. The UN wants you to work from the list below and prioritize two of the global community’s threats that it deems the most serious to environmental stability.

Instructions

Step 1 Select two threats. Listed below are eight issues that the UN feels pose the most significant threats to global security. Some of these apply to the Earth’s 7.7 billion people, while others are limited primarily to developing countries. Regardless of where these threats are concentrated, your job as a consultant is to identify two of them that you consider the most critical to the globe’s population.

Issue Options

• The use of fossil fuels as an energy source.
• Globalization.
• Insufficient educational opportunities in developing countries.
• A lack of access to technology.
• Civil war (NOT the U.S. Civil War).
• The rise in oceans’ levels.
• Covid-19 and the global pandemic.
• The dangers of poor countries remaining poor.

Step 2

Write a minimum of an 8-page persuasive paper about your two threats. Write an introduction paragraph of at least one-half page in length identifying the two threats you have selected and the purpose of the paper. Then, for the two threats you chose: Identify the factors that make it such a serious risk to the global environment that you would choose to present it to the UN. Analyze the role that humans have played in aggravating this threat to the Earth’s environment. Suggest initiatives that the global community can take to mitigate the worst effects of this environmental threat.

Write a conclusion paragraph of at least one-half page in length that summarizes your impressions of these risks for global stability. Guidelines specify the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). In order to earn full credit, the answers to each of the three questions must be at least two full pages long, totaling around six to eight pages. You must cite at least seven credible sources appropriate for the subjects discussed. Include one graph, table, or chart using quantifiable data to support your argument, with an explanation of its significance.

Paper For Above instruction

The critical threats facing the global environment today are multifaceted, with issues such as climate change driven by the use of fossil fuels and the rising sea levels from global warming posing existential threats to humanity and biodiversity. This paper will critically analyze these two threats, elucidate their severity, human contributions to their exacerbation, and propose international initiatives aimed at mitigation. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental issues and human activities, the discussion underscores the urgency for coordinated global action to safeguard Earth's future.

Introduction

Environmental stability is under siege from numerous interconnected threats, notably the excessive reliance on fossil fuels and the escalating rise in sea levels due to accelerated global warming. Fossil fuel consumption remains the primary energy source worldwide, fueling economic growth but significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Concurrently, the melting of polar ice and thermal expansion of oceans have caused sea levels to rise at an alarming rate, threatening coastal communities and ecological systems. This paper aims to explore the factors that make these threats particularly critical, analyze human influences aggravating these issues, and recommend global initiatives for mitigation. Understanding these threats is vital for fostering international cooperation toward sustainable environmental stewardship.

Factors Making Fossil Fuel Use a Serious Global Threat

The continued reliance on fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—remains the most substantial driver of climate change. The combustion of these resources releases vast quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat within the Earth's atmosphere. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2014), fossil fuel combustion accounts for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the dominant contributor to anthropogenic climate change. This warming leads to severe weather events, droughts, and disruptions in food and water supplies. The concentration of greenhouse gases has reached levels unprecedented in human history, exacerbating global temperature rise with far-reaching environmental consequences.

Factors Making Rising Sea Levels a Serious Global Threat

The increase in ocean levels presents immediate and long-term risks, especially for low-lying island nations and densely populated coastal areas. Thermal expansion—the increase in water volume as oceans warm—and the melting of land-based ice (glaciers and ice sheets) are primary causes of sea level rise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, 2020) reports that global mean sea level has risen by about 8 inches since 1880, with an acceleration in recent decades. This trend jeopardizes freshwater supplies through saltwater intrusion, increases flooding incidents, and displaces millions of residents, leading to environmental degradation and socioeconomic upheaval (Nicholls et al., 2014). The persistent rise threatens biodiversity, infrastructure stability, and global economic stability, making it one of the most urgent environmental challenges today.

Human Role in Aggravating These Threats

Humans have substantially contributed to the intensification of both threats through industrialization, deforestation, and inadequate policy responses. The combustion of fossil fuels not only provides energy but also involves the burning of large quantities of coal, oil, and natural gas, which releases CO2 at a pace that outstrips natural absorption capacities (IPCC, 2014). Deforestation, driven by agriculture and urban expansion, reduces the Earth's capacity to sequester carbon, amplifying greenhouse effects (Houghton, 2003). Similarly, human activities such as land reclamation, coastal development, and fossil fuel emissions have accelerated sea level rise. Unregulated industrial emissions, inadequate waste management, and technological stagnation have all played roles in exacerbating these environmental issues.

International Initiatives for Mitigation

Addressing these threats demands comprehensive global initiatives. Transitioning to renewable energy sources—solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal—is vital to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Implementing policies like carbon pricing and cap-and-trade systems can incentivize emission reductions (World Bank, 2020). International cooperation, exemplified by agreements such as the Paris Accord, aims to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5°C, directly impacting sea level projections. Supporting developing countries through technology transfer and financial aid can aid in cleaner energy adoption and climate resilience (UNEP, 2019). Coastal defense infrastructure, sustainable urban planning, and emergency preparedness are practical measures to safeguard populations from rising seas. Furthermore, reforestation and afforestation initiatives can enhance natural carbon sinks, mitigating both threats concurrently (FAO, 2018).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the threats posed by reliance on fossil fuels and rising sea levels are among the most critical challenges confronting global stability and environmental integrity. Human activities have played a central role in aggravating these issues, necessitating urgent and coordinated international responses. The implementation of sustainable policies, technological innovation, and global cooperation are imperative measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changing sea levels. Addressing these threats not only preserves ecological balance but also ensures socio-economic resilience for future generations. The interconnected nature of these risks underscores the importance of integrated global strategies to promote environmental sustainability and stability.

References

• Houghton, J. (2003). The earth’s climate: The evolution of climate studies. Cambridge University Press.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2014). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2020). Sea Level Rise. NOAA Climate.gov.
• Nicholls, R. J., et al. (2014). Sea-level rise and its impacts. Oceanography, 27(2), 122-133.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2019). Emissions Gap Report 2019. UNEP.
• World Bank. (2020). State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2020. World Bank Resources.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2018). The State of the World’s Forests 2018. FAO.