Instructions:

Develop a response to this question. Ensure you have answered all parts of the question completely. Complete this assignment described below using complete sentences in a paragraph format, and be sure to check your spelling when complete. 

Please read the Discussion Board Directions located on the course menu on the left side of the screen before you begin to post or reply.

Topic:

Humans have benefited from an overall warmer climate over the past millennia. However, among the majority of scientists there is deep concern over the changes in climate as a result of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Many scientists and non-scientists advocate a rapid shift to energy sources that contribute less carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere. (Note: Methane is also a greenhouse gas, its effects on atmospheric warming are greater per molecule, but the warming effects do not last as long). Conversely, there are many politicians and a few scientists who do not think that carbon dioxide emission is a threat to the planet. Some of these people refute the claim of human activity being responsible for change in climate and point to how climate has always fluctuated throughout the life of planet Earth.

1. Locate a recent (last 2 years) news article related to climate change. Please pick a substantial article, not a short note/news flash, or you will not have enough material to work with to successfully answer the questions. Post the title and source immediately on discussion board so that others do not choose the same article.

2. Summarize the article. In your summary, be sure to address whether the article is consistent with the view of most scientists, maintains a point of view that climate change either is not occurring or is not important, or makes some effort to “balance” these. 

3. Why do some scientists refute the claim that human activity is responsible for climate change?

4. What are the major human activities that contribute to carbon dioxide increase in the atmosphere?

5. Which of the many potential negative effects of rapid climate change do you believe will have the greatest economic costs in the U.S.? Which things will have the greatest economic costs in less developed regions of the world?

Respond to Others: Read the postings of your classmates and comment on at least one other student’s response. Justify any comments you make with factual information.

Discussion Board Grading Rubric:

1. Original posting: (7 points)

• Posting is at least 100 words and has proper grammar and punctuation (2 points).
• Posting fully addresses the discussion board questions. (2 points)
• Discussion is original and at a critical level, not just recitation of facts. (2 points)
• Proper citation of references. (1 point)

2. Reply to peer discussion posts: (3 points)

• Discuss one point you like/agree with, and one point you dislike/disagree with and explain why. (2 points)
• Length of positing consists of approximately 100 words minimum. (1 point)

RESPOND TO THIS STUDENT:

 Aaron Dunn 

The article I choose to write about is called “Foreign Nationals Perspectives about Climate Change,” and I found this in the CTC library database. The main reason I prefer to use this article is that it surveyed 175 different people and not just a scientist. Overall, the report asked these ordinary people four different questions about climate change. I will only cover three of them in this discussion. The first question was what would cause climate change to worsen in the future, and 131 out of the 175 said it would be because of human impacts on the Ozone layer. The second question was how to reduce the exhaust gases in traffic. The most significant answer was to reduce the number of cars that operated day today and to have more people ride bikes instead. This is something that most of the world is already doing or trying to do. The third question was how to best-educated people about the changing climate. Overall, the answer was to bring more awareness to the public about the issues we are facing and self-educate. Why do you think this is important? It is because it will have to take the ordinary people to make a change to save this planet. The scientist can show you data and explain why it is happening, but it will take the people to change to make it happen. I believe that most scientists believe that something needs to be changed, but not all think it is because of human impacts. The primary human activities that contribute to carbon dioxide increase is with the burning of fossil fuels. The highest cost will be making the switch to an entirely renewable energy source, especially when you talk about the vehicles that take us everywhere. Less developed regions of the world will have to make the hard choice between food and renewable resources. Most of the less developed countries survive by any means necessary, so to them to spend money on something other than immediate needs will be a significant change.