According to Environmental ethics (2007), “Carbon dioxide levels have risen 200 times faster over the past 50 years than at any other time during this period” (p.370). This is a result most likely attributable in burning of fossil fuels when industrialization started back in the early 1850s.Having the global climate changing gradually could result in both the seawater and temperature to raise over time. This change could cause the increasing temperature to change our tropical climate and the coastal land to be submerged in the water.
Researchers have recorded that “Antarctica is shrinking: gravity survey shows overall loss in ice, Antarctica alone contains 90% of earth’s ice, and there is evidence that west Antarctica is melting. The loss of ice amounts to roughly 36 cubic miles per year.” (Jacqueline, 2006, as cited in Environmental ethics, 2006, p.370). And According to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, “By 2100, global temperatures are projected to rise by 1.4 to 5.8 °C compared to 1990 levels”. Warmer temperatures might not only affect our regional tropical climate to change but also disrupt cycle of rainfall. An article from Channel Newsasia (2006) tells us how much the rainfall has changed since 75 years ago as the amount of rainfall hit 366mm flooding many areas in the city. Not only this, our mangrove forest, home to many fish and shellfish and also helps to protect against coastal erosion, is now beginning to disappear as the heat wave and irregular rainfall caused by global warming contributes to the loss of mangrove vegetations (Environment News Service, 2008).
The increases in global temperature, fuelled by greenhouse gases, have already led to significant melting levels of both Greenland and Antarctic polar icecaps (environmental Ethics, 2007). According to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, “Sea levels are projected to rise by 9 to 88cm by 2100.” This could mean that our tiny island will soon be sunk into the ocean as the water level is rising caused by melting of ice and snow from mountainous area. Indirectly, it could also cause a lot of flooding issues when rainfall or storm surges occur in low lying areas such as Tanjong Katong and Chinatown areas (Channel Newsasia, 2006). Not only that, a rise in seawater could cause our coastal reservoir’s water supply to become contaminated by seawater, thus, depriving Singapore of a source of fresh water.
If the climate change is left unchecked, such warming could lead to sharply rising sea levels, disruptions of ocean currents, droughts, floods, famines, all ranging from serious to cataclysmic disasters.
Reference
Bhatti, J.S., Lal, R., Apps, M.J., & Price, M.A. (2006). Climate Change and Managed Ecosystems. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Channel newasia (2006, december 20) Tuesday's heavy rainfall third highest in 75 years .Retrieved feburary 10,2008, from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/248220/1/.html
Climate change and the rights of future generations: Social justice beyond mutual advantage. (2007). Environmental ethics, 29, 368-385.
Jacqueline, R. (2006, March 2).Antarctica is shrinking. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060227/full/news060227-10.html
Environment News Service (2008, February 3) Mangrove forests vanishing at an "Alarming" rate. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2008/2008-02-03-01.asp
Ministry of the Environmental and Water Resource. ( n.d.) Retrieved feburary 10,2008, from http://www.mewr.gov.sg/nccs/va.htm
1 comment:
I feel that your conclusion is short compared to your introduction. It is much better if you can add some more ideas.
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