Introduction
Sharp population increase and high overreliance on fossil fuels are factors that are associated with the problems affecting contemporary society. Global warming is among the environmental issues that pose a great environmental challenge to many countries. Changes in climatic patterns are a big threat to some cities since they cause degradation of the environment and lead to serious health impacts. While various factors are cited as the major causes of global warming, some pose serious risks to the existence of human beings. This report discusses the risks and chances of occurrence of global warming.
The report will first highlight the impact and chances of occurrence of global warming in key areas such as social, environmental, technological and economic areas. In addition, it will establish scenarios for the individual areas and analyze the risks posed by each. A response plan that addresses the risks with high priorities will also be included in the report. The report will eventually come up with a summary of the priorities to be acted on and monitoring procedures that should follow.
Environmental Area
Global warming impacts the environment in several ways. First, it is associated with temperature increase. According to Peng et al (2004), the minimum average temperature increase between1979-2003 was 0.350 C annually. This had a direct effect on the sea level. The level of sea level in the subsequent years went up by approximately 12-22 cm around the world owing to a rise in oceanic and atmospheric temperatures (Sea Level Changes, 2009). Moreover, global warming contaminates clean and pure water with salt, a situation that occurs during floods. The situation is aggravated by the increase in sea levels and the amount of precipitation.
Wildlife is adversely affected by climatic changes. According to Derocher et al (2004), research conducted indicated that polar bears have been decreasing as a result of the meltdown of the icecaps. Global warming is also associated with an increase in bushfires which affects the preservation of the rainforest. In this field, the level at which the sea level rises will be analysed since it is estimated that a rise of about 0.75 m by 2040 take place. The risks and chances related to this scenario are presented in the table below.
Table 1:- identification and analysis of the risks and opportunities for the scenario: “level of the sea rises about 0.75 meters in 2040”
Flooding is one of the risk factors that are given high priority. The work of the response lane is to reduce the impact by developing tidal barrios which lie on the main coastal inlets. This makes the construction of coastal inlet barrios a high priority in this scenario. The response plane is a type of work that requires individuals with advanced skills.
Economic Area
Just as it affects other sectors, climate change also impacts the economy in several ways. Weather changes are known to reduce tourism activities in many cities. This leads to serious economic effects especially for cities that rely on tourism or depend on their benign weather as bait for attracting tourists. In addition, global warming affects agricultural activities due to increased temperatures. A critical aspect of plant science is that various plants have their specific climatic conditions which provide appropriate conditions for the plants to grow. Sanghi and Mendelson (2008), indicate that studies carried out in Brazil have shown that 12 % of the net income earned from agricultural activities is at risk of disappearing due to a 2.0 0 C increase in temperatures and a precipitation growth of 8%.
The condition directly impacts countries whose key economic activity is agriculture and subsequently leads to food shortages. However, global warming leads to an increase in the number of air conditioners demanded by countries. As a result, the air conditioning industry gets a good chance to improve its business. Since air conditioners are powered by electricity, the increased demand for the commodity increases the demand for electricity and raises the price hence benefiting players in the power industry. According to Baxter and Calandri (1992), increased demand for electricity used to power air conditioners leads to an increase in energy prices. Nevertheless, countries that experience shortages of electricity production resources find it difficult to meet their energy requirements due to high electricity prices. In the economic area, the scenario under analysis is the increase of 30 % in electricity demand in Australia by the year 2050. The risks and chances that relate to the scenarios are represented in the table below.
Table 2:- identification and analysis of the risks and opportunities for the scenario: “the demand for electricity will increase by 30% by 2050 in Australia”
From the above table, it is evident that a rise in fossil fuels consumption like oil and coal is a risky area, hence its priority increases. The response plane used to reduce the possibility is the introduction of alternative sources of energy like nuclear power, solar and wind power. However, the construction of new electricity plants in this scenario is an area of high priority. The response plan involves the construction of new plants that eliminate pollution hence attracting new investors.
Technological area
Global warming is used as an indicator of the correlation between climate change and adverse air pollution. Being aware of the correlation between the two makes it possible for mechanisms or technologies that mitigate potential global warming or its effects to be taken. Alternative energy sources are some of the technologies used to reduce global warming.
Golay (1995) demonstrates how nuclear power technology is used to eliminate global warming. In addition, the use of uncontaminated energy in production and industries assists in reducing global warming. The other technology that is used to counter the impact of increased water levels due to global warming is the erection of tidal barrios on the main inlets found along with the coastal areas. The use of technologies that produce genetically modified foods (GM) also neutralizes the concerns regarding how agricultural activities are affected by climate change (Miragli et al. 2009).
Moreover, desalination activities reduce the capacity of global warming to make freshwater salty. In the technological area, the scenario under analysis is the increase in the use of nuclear energy technology by approximately 40% of the world’s population by 2050. The risks and chances related to the scenario are represented in the table below (Miragli et al. 2009).
Table 4:- identification and analysis of the risks and opportunities for the scenario: “the employment of nuclear energy technology will be increased by approximately 40% by 2050”
From the diagram above, one can observe the high priority risk presented by radioactive discharge in the scenario. The response plane is applied to reduce the possibility by enhancing the safety controls that serve nuclear plants, employee training and utilizing accidents that are recorded to shun them. However, a high priority opportunity is portrayed by investment in nuclear technology in the scenario. The response plane for the scenario is to have competition between technologies and experience as well as the potential of workers who have undergone training.
Summary of priorities to be acted on
Environmental area
Priority Outcome
Reduction in occurrence of floods
Priority actions
- Construction of coastal inlet barrios
- Locating safer places for urban areas
Monitoring action
- Site monitoring to ensure that the construction of barrios eliminates the risk of floods
- Developing and operationalizing water level measuring programs
- Monitoring the process of identifying the right safety area.
Economic Area
Priority Outcome
Reduction in the use of fossil fuels
Priority actions
- Coming up with new power plants
- Alternative energy utilization
Monitoring action
- Present recommendations that hasten the process of erecting new power plants
- Develop and operationalize alternative energy use programs
- Monitor power plants to find out the effectiveness of reduction in the use of fossil fuels
Technological Area
Priority Outcome
- Prevention of radioactive discharge
Priority actions
- Boost nuclear plants’ safety controls
- High-level employee training
Monitoring action
- Develop and operationalize programs to initiate appropriate safety controls
- nuclear plant monitoring to establish radioactive discharge level
- Employee monitoring to determine how effective their training is
Conclusion
Megatrends lead to destructive results on earth. Climatic changes impact the economic, environmental, technological and social lives of individuals. Global warming causes a rise in sea levels, salinity levels and affects wildlife. It also impacts the agriculture and tourism sectors which leads to shortages in food although it results in some benefits through air conditioning. Global warming causes social problems which include crime, unemployment, increase in prices of energy and poor health for the public. Some of the technical advantages associated with the phenomenon include desalination, production of GM foods and increased alternative energy use.
The occurrence of floods is reduced through the erection of barrios, measuring the water level and moving people. Consumption of fossil fuels is reduced through the use of alternative energy sources and the construction of new plants. Child mortality is reduced through the supply of food items and conducting educational programs accompanied by proper monitoring. Safety controls and training are introduced to control radioactive rays. Climate change is a critical issue that should be addressed by initiating key priorities and implementing them through close monitoring.
Reference List
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