Bridey Heing - Environmental Catastrophe

Environmental Catastrophe

Other Books in the Current Controversies Series

Americas Mental Health Crisis

Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Technology

The Dark Web

Fair Trade

Freedom of the Press

Historical Revisionism

The Industrial Food Complex

Medical Use of Illicit Drugs

Soft Power and Diplomacy

Tariffs and the Future of Trade

Whistleblowers

Published in 2020 by Greenhaven Publishing, LLC

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Copyright 2020 by Greenhaven Publishing, LLC

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Articles in Greenhaven Publishing anthologies are often edited for length to meet page requirements. In addition, original titles of these works are changed to clearly present the main thesis and to explicitly indicate the authors opinion. Every effort is made to ensure that Greenhaven Publishing accurately reflects the original intent of the authors. Every effort has been made to trace the owners of the copyrighted material.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Heing, Bridey, editor.

Title: Environmental catastrophe / Bridey Heing, book editor.

Description: First edition. | New York: Greenhaven Publishing, 2020. | Series: Current controversies | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Grades 912.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019022821 | ISBN 9781534506176 (library binding) | ISBN 9781534506169 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Environmental disastersJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC GE146 .E57 2020 | DDC 363.738/74dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019022821

Manufactured in the United States of America

Website: http://greenhavenpublishing.com

Contents

Matthew Mason

Scientists have been tracking climate change for over a century, culminating in our understanding of the impact climate change is having on the environment today.

Yes: States Are Working to Mitigate Environmental Catastrophes

NPR News Staff

Although often falling short, countries have established goals that would have a serious impact on climate change if successfully met.

Planete Energies

International agreements addressing climate change have been signed over the course of the past twenty-five years, showing a willingness to engage and cooperate on this important issue.

Bill Ritter Jr.

Along with national policies, the private sector has been taking initiative on climate-related innovation.

No: The International Community Is Failing to Address Climate Change

Fiona Harvey

Studies have shown that in order to mitigate climate change, it is essential that countries do more.

Glenn Althor, James E. M. Watson, and Richard A. Fuller

Countries with smaller economies are the ones most threatened by climate change, and larger states must do more to address the climate change they are primarily responsible for causing.

BC Campus

The international nature of environmental concerns means no one state can act alone to address it successfully.

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Climate change manifests in varied ways depending on the country, which will cause some to be disproportionately impacted.

Yes: The Impact of Environmental Catastrophe Will Be Significant and Damaging

A. J. McMichael, S. Friel, A. Nyong, and C. Corvalan

Environmental catastrophe will have a large impact on public health in many countries.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Severe weather events will worsen and increase in frequency, exacerbating the issues presented by climate change.

Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations

Environmental catastrophe will have an impact on food security, leading to shortages and possible starvation in some areas.

No: Steps Are Being Taken to Mitigate the Impacts of Environmental Catastrophe

Lyndsey Gilpin

Innovation in technology is pointing to ways climate change can be addressed, while allowing quality of life to be maintained or improved.

Christopher Cadham

NYCs public-private partnership is an example of how local governments can partner with private stakeholders to mitigate the impact of climate change.

National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility

Adapting to climate change will be a challenge, but it will reshape our way of life in order to address the impact of environmental catastrophe and climate change in a variety of ways.

Union of Concerned Scientists

In an ecologically diverse nation like the United States, climate change and environmental catastrophe will have a wide range of effects and manifest in various ways.

Yes: There Is Time and Opportunity to Avoid the Worst-Case Climate Scenarios

Saleemul Huq

While it is a considerable challenge, adapting to climate change and addressing the key concerns surrounding environmental catastrophe provides opportunities for growth and innovation.

European Environment Agency

Climate change adaptation can be a catalyst for economic growth rather than a threat to global economic security.

No: We Are Past the Point of Being Able to Reverse the Effects of Climate Change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Although there are actions that could be taken to address climate change, they are on a scale that makes them significantly unlikely for most states.

Howard J. Herzog

Leaning too heavily on innovation focused on negative emissions without pairing it with actions that limit emissions is not enough to combat climate change.

Catherine Jex

With the help of psychologists, it may be possible to motivate people to act on climate change even if they do not believe the science behind it.

Yes: Individuals Can Make Choices in Their Daily Lives That Have an Impact on Climate Change

David Suzuki Foundation

Choices ranging from what we buy to the vehicles we drive can play a part in our carbon footprint.

Andy Murdock

Food waste has a significant impact on the environment, and making choices that help address that issue is one way to tackle climate change on a personal level.

Damian Carrington

Family size is a decision that is both deeply personal and has an impact on the environment, making it something to consider when thinking about the future of the planet.

No: Addressing Climate Change Requires More than Changes in Personal Behavior

Oliver Milman

The potential impact of climate change is too great for individual choices to make a significant difference.

Eliza Barclay and Umair Irfan

Industries and large companies are responsible for a significant part of climate change, and therefore actions targeted at climate change should focus on these sectors.

Foreword

C ontroversy is a word that has an undeniably unpleasant connotation. It carries a definite negative charge. Controversy can spoil family gatherings, spread a chill around classroom and campus discussion, inflame public discourse, open raw civic wounds, and lead to the ouster of public officials. We often feel that controversy is almost akin to bad manners, a rude and shocking eruption of that which must not be spoken or thought of in polite, tightly guarded society. To avoid controversy, to quell controversy, is often seen as a public good, a victory for etiquette, perhaps even a moral or ethical imperative.