Human Causes of Global Warming

Without major societal changes over the next decade, the planet will face a global environmental catastrophe that will cause or worsen war, poverty, water shortages and massive species die-offs, or so says a dire report issued in fall 2018.

While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report was shocking and disturbing, all hope is not lost. Because humans are negatively impacting the environment, it would stand to reason, then, that we could generate a positive impact by altering some of our behavior.

Travel & Transportation

The vast majority of vehicles on the road (and in the air and water) are powered by fossil fuels, such as gasoline. As they burn this fuel to power their engines, these vehicles release carbon and other pollutants, affecting both air and water quality. 

Greenhouse gases trap heat within the atmosphere, which causes global temperatures to rise. It’s this increase in global temperatures that, without intervention, will cause the worldwide catastrophe warned of in the IPCC report. It’s not hard to understand why transportation is such a huge contributor to global warming once you understand just how much we drive.

Share of all U.S. commuters by mode of transit

Industrialization

The transition of economies from primarily farming-based to primarily industrial is likely to have been the earliest cause of the rampant global warming we see today. Research suggests global warming was kicked off partly by the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. and other countries, which occurred in the mid-19th century.

While these changes took place in the United States and Europe nearly two centuries ago, other global economies are starting to emerge today, further contributing to industrialization and related pollution.

Deforestation

Millions of acres of forest are cleared every year, whether to harvest wood for making lumber or paper, to clear land for farming and ranching or to make way for residential and industrial areas.

Forests store enormous amounts of carbon, essentially removing it from the air and preventing it from being absorbed into the atmosphere, and this is especially true of rainforests, which are even more endangered than other areas. In addition to losing the natural air-scrubbing function of trees, deforestation decreases biodiversity, which can cause ripple effects throughout entire ecosystems, putting whole species at risk.

Biggest contributors to forest loss

Livestock Production

Ranching contributes to climate change in a few ways. In addition to clearing trees to make room for large areas adequate for the care and feeding of animals for food, these animals create a huge amount of waste, which produces methane, a very harmful greenhouse gas. Consumption of meat and meat products is expected to continue growing, even doubling by 2050, according to one projection.

Factory Farming

The industrialization of agriculture takes the potential negative effects of livestock production and amplifies them. While organic farming can have a positive impact on global warming by reducing carbon through the growth of crops, large-scale, industrialized farming negates the positive impact of organic food and animal production.

These large-scale animal-producing farms, known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have risen sharply in recent years.

CAFO production as a percentage of global production

Additionally, the use of antibiotics in animal production is increasing, which contributes to antibiotic resistance in humans that is expected to become deadlier and deadlier.

Consumerism

Our need to have the latest gadget and get it delivered right now, in addition to a culture where disposability is seen as a positive, is a major contributor to global warming. This bent toward consumerism has ripple effects around the world.

The products used by humans contribute to more than 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and as much as 80 percent of total land, water and material use. In addition to the energy it takes to produce all the stuff we buy, keeping it going and using it to its fullest requires even more energy.

Overfishing

Hundreds of millions of jobs around the world center on fishing, and about 3 billion people depend on fish as their main source of protein from food. But just as with most industries, humans have created too much of a good thing, and overfishing is putting the oceans at risk.

Human population growth and resulting overfishing are depleting natural marine stocks, which impacts the health and biodiversity of the entire ocean.

Global share of marine stock fished to within sustainable levels

Use of Aerosols

Though some forms of aerosols have been banned in many countries, other forms of them still are in wide use. These products are loaded with greenhouse gases, including CO2 and methane, as well as chlorofluorocarbons, which erode the ozone layer.

Production of aerosols has actually increased throughout the world, with most aerosols being produced in Europe.

Aerosol production by region or country (millions of units, 2017)

According to one poll, more than 60 percent of Americans say the government isn’t doing enough to combat global warming. In addition to urging action by political leaders and those running for office, what else can average people do?

• Fly sparingly, carpool and take public transit.

• Keep your current car as long as possible; if you must buy a new one, consider a hybrid.

• Recycle as much as you can, and buy recycled items.

• If possible, compost organic waste instead of putting it in the trash.

• Don’t use plastic water bottles.

• Buy fresh foods with little packaging.

• Cut meat intake (even one to two fewer servings per week adds up).

• Turn off lights and unplug devices when not in use.

• Shop and eat local; walk there if you can.

• Keep reusable grocery bags on hand, and if you can’t avoid plastic bags, be sure to recycle them.

Reference:

List of 10 human causes of global warming for 2020, Doublas Lober, January 5, 2019 (www.reusethisbag.com)