Combating Climate Change: Work with Nature
I think no one can deny that global warming is taking place just around us now, and scientists have predicted many bad results global warming brings to us, such as rise of sea level. Since the truth is incontrovertible, we need to find ways to solve this big issue and save the earth. Reducing the emission of carbon dioxide may seem very effective; however, it’s very hard to put into force for the industry because of the huge economic loss. The article, “A force to fight global warming”, Turner, Oppenheimer, & Wilcove (2009), comes up with a brand a new way to view this issue: we should stop seeing climate change as a problem for human beings and another problem for nature; instead, we are in the same boat with nature. We need to work with nature rather than against it. The authors have two good reasons why we need to focus on the “integrated approach”.
The first reason is that protecting natural system is effective to combat global warming. In the first place, natural ecosystems control biochemical cycles, so it restores huge amount of carbon, in such manner it help to reduce emission of carbon because a great amount of carbon goes to the ocean, forests and other natural ecosystem instead of the atmosphere. What’s more, natural ecosystem does many climate-related jobs. It can save lives when climate change happens. Biodiversity also helps to slow down climate change. For example, a marine crustacean can produce enzymes that could be a new kind of biofuel. The enzymes help reduce emissions of greenhouse-gas. Therefore, a virtuous cycle is formed if the natural ecosystem is protected. All evidence shows that protecting the natural system is a very effective way to fight against climate change.
The second reason is that working with the nature is practical. It does not require advanced technology and it’s affordable and safe. Protecting the natural system is relatively easy, because the natural system has got self-maintenance function. Therefore, maybe we just need to leave the nature peaceful and not disrupted, and then the natural system will be recovered by itself. Providing benefits or rewards to those who protect the natural ecosystem is not so costly. For example, residents of Quito pay collectively to protect upstream habitats which provide them fresh water. Although it may cause a short-term economic loss, it can bring us a sustainable economy in a long round.
With such good reasons, why don’t we put this “integrated approach” into reality? We human beings cannot succeed in this battle with the climate change alone. If we just fight for ourselves and compromise the nature, the loss of natural system will surely accelerate climate change. The good news is that the “integrated approach” is effective and practical. So, the best choice is that we protect natural ecosystem first, then the natural ecosystem will save us in return.
Reference
Tuner, W.R., Oppenheimer, M.,&Wilcove, D.S.(2009). A force to fight global warming. Nature, 462.
I think no one can deny that global warming is taking place just around us now, and scientists have predicted many bad results global warming brings to us, such as rise of sea level. Since the truth is incontrovertible, we need to find ways to solve this big issue and save the earth. Reducing the emission of carbon dioxide may seem very effective; however, it’s very hard to put into force for the industry because of the huge economic loss. The article, “A force to fight global warming”, Turner, Oppenheimer, & Wilcove (2009), comes up with a brand a new way to view this issue: we should stop seeing climate change as a problem for human beings and another problem for nature; instead, we are in the same boat with nature. We need to work with nature rather than against it. The authors have two good reasons why we need to focus on the “integrated approach”.
The first reason is that protecting natural system is effective to combat global warming. In the first place, natural ecosystems control biochemical cycles, so it restores huge amount of carbon, in such manner it help to reduce emission of carbon because a great amount of carbon goes to the ocean, forests and other natural ecosystem instead of the atmosphere. What’s more, natural ecosystem does many climate-related jobs. It can save lives when climate change happens. Biodiversity also helps to slow down climate change. For example, a marine crustacean can produce enzymes that could be a new kind of biofuel. The enzymes help reduce emissions of greenhouse-gas. Therefore, a virtuous cycle is formed if the natural ecosystem is protected. All evidence shows that protecting the natural system is a very effective way to fight against climate change.
The second reason is that working with the nature is practical. It does not require advanced technology and it’s affordable and safe. Protecting the natural system is relatively easy, because the natural system has got self-maintenance function. Therefore, maybe we just need to leave the nature peaceful and not disrupted, and then the natural system will be recovered by itself. Providing benefits or rewards to those who protect the natural ecosystem is not so costly. For example, residents of Quito pay collectively to protect upstream habitats which provide them fresh water. Although it may cause a short-term economic loss, it can bring us a sustainable economy in a long round.
With such good reasons, why don’t we put this “integrated approach” into reality? We human beings cannot succeed in this battle with the climate change alone. If we just fight for ourselves and compromise the nature, the loss of natural system will surely accelerate climate change. The good news is that the “integrated approach” is effective and practical. So, the best choice is that we protect natural ecosystem first, then the natural ecosystem will save us in return.
Reference
Tuner, W.R., Oppenheimer, M.,&Wilcove, D.S.(2009). A force to fight global warming. Nature, 462.
