As global citizens, we share the planet with billions of other
people. The choices we make about the ways we live our
lives affect the world at large. As Canadians living in the world’s
second largest country we are also deeply affected by what happens
elsewhere on the global stage. The issues surrounding the management of
Earth’s physical and human resources are incredibly varied and complex.
Examples include over fishing, energy use, water supply, poverty. In
this speech, however, I’m going to discuss an issue that fits into this
dimension- Global Warming. Scientists have raised concerns that the
atmospheric temperatures of the world are increasing faster than
predicted. Normally, atmospheric gases keep heat from escaping the
earth’s atmosphere. Global Warming, occurs when the temperature rise
above the natural level, and is thought to be caused by the release of
large amounts of carbon and methane into the atmosphere through
industrialization, transportation, and burning of forests. Currently,
over 6000 studies indicate that average annual temperatures around the
world will rise between 1.7C and 5.5C before the year 2100. The
consequence would include water shortages, loss of cropland, massive
spreading of deserts, and gradual melting of the icecaps. Widespread
migration would follow, as people search for better living conditions.The
impact of atmospheric warming will completely change the ecology of the
biosphere. Biomes will be transformed as the surface conditions
influencing their formation change. Climate change will affect soil
types and natural vegetation cover. This in turn will affect the
survival of the species living within that area. Because of ice sheets
melting in Antarctica and Greenland, vast areas of lowland will be
flooded, and many coastal cities will be affected. Global warming
will have immeasurable financial consequences. For example, in areas
where the economy is agriculturally based, farmers could lose their
source of revenue if land became flooded or environmentally degraded.
On the other hand, we must consider that it would take huge financial
resources switching to using cleaner forms of energy. I
believe present and future generations can contribute to workable
solutions by making informed decision about the effective management of
the planet’s physical and human resources as well trying to conserve
and protect the environment by all means.