Critical Threat to Global Environment

Environmental issues, particularly the most damaging to natural resources and human health, are a significant concern for global species. These risks are best observed as a threat multiplier that exacerbates existing trends, tensions, and instability (Valanidis, 1). Climate change, which no one is immune to, constitutes a catastrophe risk. Worse, regions that suffer most from poor health and economic exclusion are rendered the most vulnerable to these climate change factors. Some of the most challenging environmental problems include fossil fuel as an energy source and the rise in oceans level. These issues apply to the entire globe regardless of where the origin of the issues. The paper aims to identify fossil fuel use as energy and rising ocean levels risk to the global environment, analyze humans’ role in these environmental threats, and suggest initiatives that the international community can undertake to mitigate these threats.

1. The Risks

The severity risk of Fossil Fuel Use to the Global Environment

Fossil fuel use is the primary cause of global warming (Lelieveld et al., 2). Fossil fuel by-products are an immediate threat to global species and contribute to inequality and environmental justice. The significant effects of fossil fuels are human health and global warming. The emission from fossil fuels encompasses CO2 and other air pollutants. The fossil fuel-related pollutant in developed nations accounts for approximately 85% of airborne respiratory particulate pollution (Lelieveld et al ., 2).

Fossil fuel combustion contributes massively to the excess mortality for cardiovascular, respiratory, and other conditions. To children, the synergy between air pollution and global warming can impair cognitive, respiratory illnesses, behavior, and other chronic diseases. These effects have long-lasting dire consequences that harm learning and contribution to society in a meaningful manner. Additionally, particularly in the past few decades, fossil fuel use as combustion in densely populated areas has led to significant deaths. Air pollution affects all countries on the globe, implying the necessity of collaborative efforts. For instance, only 10% of individuals live in a city that observes WHO guidelines. 2.9 billion individuals worldwide, particularly those in developing nations, are affected by air pollution. According to research collaboration between Harvard University and the University of Birmingham, more than 8 million died in 2018, accounting for 18% of total global deaths (Valanidis, 1). It is estimated that by 2040, fossil fuel will still provide 60% of energy 2040 compared to the current 85% (Perera, 3). The significance of reducing air pollution needs to occupy the central role in policy debates, which are fundamental for climate change. Considering the current trend, more than 30 million may die by 2030 from air pollution-related health complications arising from fossil fuel combustion.

The effect of rising sea levels

In recent times, the seal level has massively risen induced by global warming and its influence on the coastal zones becoming a concerning issue. In the last century, the international sea level rose by approximately 15 cm, with the rise expected to continue because of human-induced global warming (Hoozemans, 4). Global warming effects include an increase in global temperature and ocean heat. The constant rise of sea levels poses an ominous threat since 10% of the global population lives in coastal regions that are low-lying with 10 meters of sea-level elevation (Hoozemans, 4). While sea level risk might only impact the coastal zone directly, the changes raise significant concern given these regions’ high concentration of natural and social-economic value.

When the sea level rises, the immediate consequence is submergence and rise in flooding in the coastal region and salt intrusion in surface water. The long-term effects of these occurrences are wetland losses, increased salinity, and beach erosion. These natural system consequences have significant, direct, and overwhelming socioeconomic impacts on various sectors (Asuncion, 5). Sea level rises will destroy coastal infrastructure, ports, and industries, and in worst cases, lead to substantial deaths (Asuncion, 5). In addition to direct consequences, rising sea levels have indirect levels such as deterioration of human health from the released toxin from eroded land and waste sites (Asuncion, 5). Additionally, higher sea level coincides with more dangerous hurricanes and typhoons that increase the rainfall contributing to more powerful storm surges. The future impact consequences of rain sea levels will depend on coastal physiography, ocean-level rise, and the manner of adaptation (Hoozemans, 4). Based on the current synthesis, low-lying areas like Southeast Asia and Africa are likely to face the most threat. In addition, regions such as London, Netherlands, and Hamburg might face the most critical effect due to their large population.

2. The Role of Humans in Worsening the Global Environment

The role that humans have played in aggravating the use of Fossil Fuels to the Earth’s Environment

Scientist attributes the global warming trend that has been observed in the last two centuries to the ‘Greenhouse effect.’ The effect rises when the atmosphere traps radiating heat from the earth towards space (Valanidis, 1). Human influence on greenhouse concentration is evident with increased greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, and observed warming arising from human activities. The significant proximate human causes of global change have enough impact that alters the global environment. Fossil fuel being the primary concern CO2 emission causative has led to the warmest decade recorded on 2011-2020, with the temperature reaching 1.1⁰C above the pre-industrial level in 2019 (Perera, 3). Fossil fuels encompass coal, oil, and gas to generate electricity. Industrialized economies such as the US have economies operating by burning fuels to offer electricity, transportation, and expand industries.

The atmospheric concentration of CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide started to increase around 200 years ago. CO2incre has risen from 280 parts per million in the pre-industrial era to approximately 410 parts per million today (Johnsson et al., 6). Remarkably most of the carbon dioxide in the last 70 years would have occurred in 5000-20000 years in earth distance-time without human involvement (Johnsson et al., 6). Since the early 19^th century witnessed the rise of industrialization with significant manufacturing, CO2 production was faster than the land biosphere and the ocean could take. In the last half-century, 25% of the carbon dioxide from fossil fuel has been absorbed by oceans, increasing seas’ acidity level and 30 by land. The remaining 45% emission accumulated in the atmosphere. The 48% increase from the pre-industrial period is the highest than t has ever been since the dawn of humankind.

The role that humans have played in aggravating the Rise in Sea Levels

Evidence suggests that human activities, mainly greenhouse emissions from fossil fuel combustion, are primarily responsible for rising sea levels (Schuerch, 7). Data observed from the industrial era indicate that human-induced activities account for the observed global warming that is increasing the sea level, and there are no credible alternatives explanation supported by observational evidence. Sea level has been measured since the 19^th century using coastal tide gauges. The last century has observed sea-level rise by over 6 inches. Currently, the sea level is rising more than twice as fast in recent decades as it did in the 20^th century. From 1990-2010, the sea level rose by 65-90% above the 20^th-century average (Schuerch, 7).

Human activities such as burning coal increase ocean water temperatures and raise sea levels. Additionally, the rising sea level melts glaciers and ice sheets, adding more water to the ocean. Absent radical changes of human-induced temperature rise, global warming will exceed 2C by 2100. More than 80% of the coastal region could experience a 6-feet surge in sea levels (Schuerch, 7). The changes in the recent period affect the earth in its entirety, unlike pre-industrial changes that were regional.  Aggressive reduction of heat-trapping gases emissions will only increase the sea level by 1-2 feet by the end of the century (Schuerch, 7).  Communities must way the cost and risks of accommodating the rising seas, retreating from them, or taking precautions to try and defend the coastal regions, properties, and infrastructure. 

Graph 1 (Dangendorf, 7).

The graph shows how the sea levels have transformed over time in the industrial period. The diagram illustrates the ocean-level rises from 1880-2020 in inches. The graph data is based on two measurement models of long-term-tide and recent satellite measurement. The cumulative level changes depicted in the Y-axis refer to the changes in the height of the ocean surface due to global warming. The middle orange line indicates the sea level as measured by tide gauges. The surrounding shaded region illustrates the upper and the lower 95% confidence level interval. The blue line demonstrates the ocean levels calculated by satellites for comparison. The graph indicates an 8-9 inches sea level rise from 1880 to 2020. From 20005-2016, the surge accelerated annually by 0.4 inches (Dangendorf, 7).

3. Initiatives to Mitigate the Environment Challenges

Initiatives that the Global Community can take to mitigate the worst effect of fossil fuel use.

Reduction of fossil fuel will require collaboration on international, national, regional organizational, and individual levels. The CO2 emission natural and economic system and ignorance of the potential threat increase the chances of catastrophic effects in the future. In the recent past, the establishment of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference is designed to reduce global warming below 1.5 C by reducing fossil fuels (Arroyo et al., 9). While the intention is admirable, no radical change has occurred, signaling the need to work collaboratively to adopt low-emitting practices. Reducing fossil fuels must emphasize technological development, regulation, financial incentives, and information provision (Perera, 3). Some of the significant factors that will significantly reduce fossil fuel carbon emission include changing the carbon-pricing system, adopting green energy, and enacting industrial policies that foster low-carbon energy use.

Significant emitting sources can be taxed considerably higher, introduce a carbon pricing at the fuel level, set a strict level of emission per energy unit that discourages the use of fossil energy (Stern, 10). Additionally, fossil fuels stock can be removed from stock portfolios and increase funding for research and demonstration of projects. Other than enacting measures to discourage fossil fuel use, renewable technologies can be could alternative option of energy. Renewable energy use is increasingly becoming a feasible option for fossil fuel. Unlike fossil fuel, the energy obtained from renewable sources like power, wind, geothermal, and hydropower does not emit greenhouse gases (Arroyo et al., 9). The international focus on renewable energy use involves reducing the initial high cost and improving durability to enable vast energy commercialization. Renewable sources increase energy efficiency and lower costs in the long term. A robust dialogue on the nature, scope, and challenges related to energy must be initiated. Energy governance is highly context-dependent due to its reliance on coordination between public-private institutions, the state, society, and the economy (Stern, 10). Hence, any success on a global scale depends on cooperation, research, favorable trade, and security policies.

Initiatives that the Global Community can take to mitigate the rising Ocean Levels

Like fossil fuel for energy production, altering the rising sea-level trend will require collaborative action on an international, regional, and national scale. There are two responses to the rise in sea levels, including mitigation and adaptation, that operate on different scales. Mitigation slows the rise in sea levels and reduces its impact (Hunt, 11). Notably, mitigation has significant additional effects on stabling the rate of sea level instead of the sea itself. The fundamental goal of mitigation for coastal regions is to minimize the threat of irreversible thresholds of ice sheets breakdown and constrain sea level rise to a level adapted to reasonable economic and social costs. The essential measure is to reduce CO2 emission or remove CO2 in the atmosphere with biomass-based carbon capture and storage (Schuerch, 7). However, given the complexities of climate mitigation, new adaptation measures can be considered.

Adaptation acts to reduce the effect of rising sea levels and climate change. Here, the response is to both means and extreme rise. However, an autonomous adaptation of processes is inadequate in coping with the rising sea levels due to the large number and activities in the coastal region (Hunt, 11). Adaptation is a public mandate that requires all levels of government to collaborate. Adaptation allows regulating the risk in three ways. First, retreating allows natural system effects to occur and human impact minimized by migrating from the coast (Hunt, 11). Second, accommodation involves allowing all then natural system effects to occur and simultaneously minimizing human activities use of the coastal region through flood-resilience measures. Finally, protection consists controlling the natural system effect, which reduces the human impact in the zones that would be massively affected.  

Conclusion

The drastic change in environmental issues in the last century is massively attributed to human-induced activities. In sum, fossil fuels pose a significant risk threat to the global environment. Some of the primary environmental concern is the constant increase of fossil fuel use for energy and the rising ocean levels. Fossil fuel causes global warming, which leads to other negative consequences such as rising sea levels. The current data on the full impact of fossil fuel effects illustrate unless intense radical action is taken, the future generation might not survive or adapt when necessary. The global warming effects, mounting health, economic costs demonstrate the danger that species face. The 8 million deaths associated with fossil fuels represent the worst-case scenario of environmental degradation. Despite the recent increase in numbers of international treaties and regulations, CO2 emission is still rampant, destroying the environment, contaminating natural resources, causing diseases, and in the worst case, death. The protection of the environment is a long and daunting task that will require collaboration, continuous planning, and government policies, public and industrial participation.