Why Climate-related Disasters Are Becoming More Frequent

In the article, Fountain (2019) posits that the effects of climate change such as flooding, random fires, persistent droughts, heat waves, and melting of ice in different regions are a damning reality and a call to action by the government and concerned authorities. The premise is that things are getting worse since the noted effects are becoming incessant. Fighting climate change mainly encompasses reducing greenhouse gases, which in turn entails drastic measures. Some of the effects of global warming include warming and the subsequent rising of water bodies such as the seas that currently pose severe threats to cities. The rapid and unprecedented melting of the glaciers presents existential threats to humanity and other forms of life on earth. In an attempt to highlight the grave danger that people face today, Fountain (2019) estimates that the Arctic sea may witness ice-free summers by 2030. Fountain (2019) further notes that the world could be in grave danger since the ground is warming faster, which means that carbon and the carbon compounds stirred therein will escape on to the surface and cause further warming and climate change. The acceleration of ice loss, coupled with the effects of climate change, has brought the world to the brink of irreversible changes and tipping points. The collapse of part of the West Antarctic ice sheet, which is sufficient to cause a significant rise of the sea, and the loss of the Amazon rainforest are some of the evidence that proves that humanity and other life forms on earth are at a tipping point. Climate change is currently responsible for rampant climate-related disasters. Disasters are more frequent, compounded, and destructive compared to the past. The disasters come at a human and financial cost. The phenomenon is responsible for extreme weather events that make it difficult to differentiate between the ones caused by natural phenomena and the ones that stem from global warming. Global warming can make wildfires worse by making the vegetation drier. The effects of climate change have been detected and are currently measurable. Sea level readings currently reveal that are currently more precise due to the use of satellite sensors that reveal an extensive increase in water levels across the globe. The increase in the sea level is the highest in almost a quarter-century. Fountain (2019) used various images to depict the extent of global warming and climate change. The images mainly show the various effects of global warming. The first image shows the dry lands that are affected by bushfires that are mainly caused or fuelled by global warming. The main purpose of the images is to reinforce the message of Fountain (2019). The message is that global warming and climate change are slowly eating up the world, and the policy and the opinion-makers should wake up and save the world from destruction. Some of the images show adverse effects of global warming, such as landslides, diminished ice deposits, rising sea levels, drought, and increased incidents of bushfires. The author, Henry fountain, is a professor at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. He is an expert on matters of global warming ad climate change. His focus is on the effects of global warming and uses various pieces of research work to highlight the extent and the effects of such phenomena with the aim of jerking the world to action. The main objective of his research works is to highlight the cause, course, and effects of climate change.  

Fountain (2019) quotes the listed documents, journals, experts, and organizations as the main sources:

Global climate report from the World Metrological Organization; 

Journal Nature;

Other experts include the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio, Guterres;

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;   

Woods Hole Research Center;  

United Nations Report on Climate Change. 

Fountain (2019) mainly uses photographs and does not use tables or graphs. The main purpose of the photographs is to invoke emotions and support the thesis statement. The premise presented by Fountain (2019) is that climate change is on the rise, and the world is at risk unless action is taken. Towards this end, the photographs chose to show the devastating effects of climate change which include the rise in sea level, the images of bushfires, drought, and the diminishing levels of ice in the North and the South Poles. The images show the pitiful state that the world is in and tries to appeal to people’s emotions. For instance, there is an image that shows people who have no access to water, meaning that climate change is making it difficult for people to survive. The alternative is that people should take measures to curb climate change to ensure survival. The attitude of Fountain (2019) toward climate change is that of abhorrence and hatred. Fountain (2019) hates the fact that people are currently engaged in activities that fuel climate change, which is responsible for various deaths. Towards this end, he highlights some of the effects of climate change that include but are not limited to rising sea levels, landslides, drought, and the melting of the glaciers. The mentioned effects of climate change negatively affect humans and other living things around the world. Fountain (2019) was objective. It is worth noting that Fountain (2019) does not show bias because most of his opinions are indeed facts that are supported by credible and verifiable sources. Many people may argue that he is biased since he only talks about the negative impacts of climate change, but climate change has no positive effects, at least ones that merit mentioning.  

References 

Fountain, H. ( Dec. 4, 2019 ). Climate Change is Accelerating, Bringing World Dangerously Close to Irreversible Change. The New York Times . Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/climate/climate-change-acceleration.html 

Flooding in Mogadishu, Somalia, in October. Credit... Feisal Omar/Reuters