Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MAY 3, 2019
Sba5449@psu.edu
AVERAGE GLOBAL TEMPERATURES ARE
RISING
Carbon emissions are burning holes into the ozone layer of the earth causing an
increased amount of UV-B radiation to enter our ecosystems, thus driving our
climates to change1. The change of our climates has happened throughout the
history of our planet, however, this time the cause is man-made greenhouse gases
instead of nature. One of the main results of climate change is an increase in global
temperatures putting us in a period of global warming. The effects of increasing the
global temperatures by two degrees Celsius, compared to preindustrial levels, on
our ecosystems can cause sea levels to rise exponentially, cooling of the southern
ocean, warming and subsequent mass loss of the ice shelves, and increasingly
powerful storms2. All these possible outcomes of a two degrees Celsius increase in
global temperatures would have detrimental effects on the surrounding ecosystems,
most likely causing mass extinction of almost every species. It is currently estimated
that we passed the one degree Celsius more than preindustrial temperatures mark
in 2015 and are closer to one and two-tenths degrees Celsius at this point3.
The problem, as stated above, is the impact our emissions are having on the ozone
layer has become exponentially more impactful with the greater amounts of carbon
present in the greenhouse gases. Naturally, solar radiation can re-radiate heat
back to space, however, when the atmosphere is full of pollutants, the heat that is
supposed to go through the atmosphere to space ends up being re-emitted back to
earth causing an increase in temperatures. The proof that this an issue in our society
can be seen by the infographic below that illustrates the increase in global
temperatures since preindustrial times.
• Article 4 (1)
• … Parties aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions
as soon as possible, recognizing that peaking will take longer for
developing country Parties… 7
• Article 4 (2)
• Each Party shall prepare, communicate and maintain successive
nationally determined contributions that it intends to achieve…8
These articles all hold their own significance to the accord. Article 2 (a) is the goal
of the entire agreement, to keep temperature increases below one and a half
degrees Celsius, but more realistically, two degrees Celsius. Article 4 (1) is the
individual goal for each country, to peak the amount of greenhouse gases as soon
as possible, in order to start the process of decreasing emissions every year from
the point forth. Article 4 (2) states that each country must submit their own plan to
Advocacy for the Climate | Antonucci 3
contribute to the collective goal, and mentions the country is responsible for
upholding this plan.
The key part of the Paris climate accords that must be understood is there is not a
punishment for countries who fail to hit their NDC, just the negative public reaction
they will face9. This is where the agreement falls short, due to its expectations of
each country to maintain the necessary level of emissions that coincide with their
plan. The other part of the accord that is troublesome is each countries plan is
based off of projections that may be inaccurate. Relying so heavily on every
country to accurately predict the impact their new policies and regulations will have
on emissions is ridiculous when considering there are over one hundred and eighty
countries who signed this agreement.
While the agreement may fall short in a couple of places it is a great start, if
nothing else besides the fact that it recognizes climate change is caused by man,
and it is of extreme importance to the global community.
The United States Role in the Paris Agreement
Looking specifically at our nations NDC, we see an overly optimistic goal of cutting
emissions levels by seventeen percent when comparing 2005 to the 2020 target
goal as seen in the graphic below10.
The key outlined actions that were supposed to be taken in order to achieve the
goals stated in the NDC were the following:
• Environmental Protection Agency is developing standards to address methane
emissions from landfills and the oil and gas sector11.
8. Ibid
9. Ibid