Climate change
The earth is either warming up or cooling down. Some scientists are saying that the change is happening because humans are polluting the planet. Others are saying we think too much of ourselves if we even consider this to be our own doing. Who do you agree with?
Humans have an impact
Side Score: 15
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Humans do not have an impact
Side Score: 13
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Humans are the most destructive species on the planet due to the fact that we construct over nature to make society work, the highways, cities and homes we build have a direct impact on the deterioration of the planet, to the detriment of the environment surrounding us. Humans feel the need to build constantly to cater for the need of people, and build over nature, which impacts greatly on the whole ecosystem as what humans build are not natural. We shift the ecosystem to cater to our needs, which over time greatly impacts on the climate, rendering it colder and warmer than it should have otherwise been. Side: Humans have an impact
Well, according to the UK express research on "100 reasons for global warming", man-made carbon dioxide emissions throughout human history constitute less than 0.00022% of the total naturally emitted from the mantle of the earth during geological history. Side: Humans do not have an impact
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"Humans are the most dangerous animals on this planet". The burning of fossil fuels and the release of carbon monoxide by vehicles are human activities that emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases and aerosols affect climate by altering incoming solar radiation and out radiation that are part of Earth’s energy balance. Deforestation also releases carbon dioxide and reduces its uptake by plants. Humans uses these spaces to build parketing lots and malls not taking note of the effect on our environment. Side: Humans have an impact
Human activities such as deforestation, respiration, land use changes and burning of fossil fuels are changing the greenhouse effect of the climate. The greenhouse effect is a warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. Certain gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping. Long-lived gases that remain semi-permanently in the atmosphere and do not respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are described as "forcing" climate change. Gases, such as water vapor, which respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are seen as "feedbacks." Methan is a hydrocarbon gas produced through human activities such as the decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture, and especially rice cultivation, as well as ruminant digestion and manure management associated with domestic livestock. All these human activities are changing the natural greenhouse and the consequence of this is climate change and global warming. Side: Humans have an impact
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Humans are using the Earth's natural resources faster than the Earth can reproduce and replace them, such as coal, oxygen emitting plants, oil, etc. More and more products are produced on a massive scale and as a result of such, harmful waste is also produced on a massive scale and many are harmful to the environment. These include toxic gases (carbon monoxide), non-biodegradable materials (plastics) and the like. In order to try and fight the lack of resources now available for human use, synthetic enhancers or materials are used in place of natural resources. However, such synthetics can be harmful to humans as well (such as chemical toxins in foods or fibres). Therefore, humans are not only negatively impacting the environment, but also hurting themselves. This applies to climate change in the sense that the Earth has to try and readapt to what humans have made it become. Therefore, 'the globe is warming' is due to damage in the ozone layer letting in more UV rays from the sun; and floods are a result of the melting ice caps. Even though natural disasters can be used to argue against human impact on climate change, the smaller climate changes can be attributed to human impact. Side: Humans have an impact
Noted, however, the Earth’s climate can be affected by natural factors that are external to the climate system, such as changes in volcanic activity, solar output, and the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Humans have no control over these activities, so they are not working alone towards destroying the environment. The earth plays its own role as well. Side: Humans do not have an impact
I think humans do have an impact on climate change because most of us dont take looking after our environment seriously. I am not sure if the reason for this is because people dont know much about pollution or its just humans being ignorant.Many may disagree with this but the fact still remains that humans have a huge influence in climate change. When humans burn gasoline, coal, natural gas, and other common fuels to make electricity or drive cars, they release a substantial amount of carbon dioxide which causes the change in the atmosphere. Side: Humans have an impact
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Since the advent of industrialisation, the earth has been severely damaged as a result of these human exploits. Through burning of fossils, deforestation, and farming, humans have brought nothing but bring damage to the climate. By cutting down trees, great amounts of carbon dioxide are released. And since plants and trees use it to grow, the act of deforestation means we don’t have as many trees to absorb the extra carbon dioxide as required. Several industrial practices, like cement production, liquid natural gas production and coal mining, produce or emit a variety of greenhouse gases. Industrial practices also release huge amount of carbon dioxide which traps the light energy in, but doesn't let all of the heat energy out, hence a change in climate. Side: Humans have an impact
With the various activities humans partake in, and with the world evolving with new technology, humans have a huge impact when it comes to contributing to climate change. Humans burn fossil fuels in order to drive their cars, and generate electricity. This then releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and traps heat- resulting in an increase in carbon dioxide, and over time impacts the change in the climate. There is a lot more activity taking place in this century than ever before. Although there may have been higher tempreture levels in previous years, there is a higher result of change that has taken place, that surely has a negative effect in the climate. Side: Humans have an impact
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The prevailing attitude is that human beings induced global warming is a fact of life and it is up to doubters to prove otherwise. Carbon-di-oxide is a natural constituent of the atmosphere and so there would be carbon-di-oxide emissions regradless. Climate change is generally a regional phenomenon and not a global one. Life on Earth will adapt as it always has. It has been shown to thrive still when planetary temperatures are warmer as opposed to being colder. We do not have the necessary understanding of the climate system well or have the data to demonstrate that humanity is having a substantial impact on climate change. Side: Humans do not have an impact
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Human activities contribute to climate change by causing changes in Earth's atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse gas- es, aerosols (small particles), and cloudiness. The largest known contribution comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere. Side: Humans have an impact
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Natural forest fires especially large scale ones which happen over a long period of time have an impact on the global temperature. When the vegetation burns, there is a release of stored carbon and increase in green house gasses such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The solar energy is then trapped by these greenhouse gasses which then leads to the warming of the atmosphere. These harmful gases cause air pollution as well. This shows that its not only humans responsible for climate change. Side: Humans do not have an impact
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Since the start of the industrial era (about 1750), the overall effect of human activities on climate has been a warming influence. The human impact on climate during this era greatly exceeds that due to known changes in natural processes, such as solar changes and volcanic eruptions. Side: Humans have an impact
Climate changes are caused by changes in the amount of energy that is kept within the earth's atmosphere. This change in energy is then spread out around the globe mainly by ocean currents as well as the wind and weather patterns. natural processes such as volcanic eruptions are the causes of climate change. The climate change MP Tim Yeo argued that the earths temperature is rising thus leading to climate change and he also said that, the causes are not absolutely clear, so we can't put all the blame on human beings. Side: Humans do not have an impact
More than 10000 scientists have signed a petition by the Oregon institute of Science and Medicine saying in part, there is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide methane or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will cause catastrophic heating of the earth's atmosphere and disruption of the planets climate and surveys of climatologists shows similar scepticism Side: Humans do not have an impact
Professor Zbigniew Jaworowski, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection in Warsaw, Poland says the earth’s temperature has more to do with cloud cover and water vapor than CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Side: Humans do not have an impact
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