Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example

Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example

Global climate change is a reality. Over the years, world climates have changed drastically for the worse, both for human populations and the environment. Governments and organizations play significant roles in implementing and streamlining climate policies and ensuring environmentally cautious practices are advocated. The Paris Climate Agreement, adopted in 2015, was and remained an ambitious global action plan to combat global climate change. Therefore, the definition of global climate change is an essential component in understanding current and future issues related to human health and environmental implications. As much as the climate is construed as an ever-changing component of global climate change, we should acknowledge the role of the Paris Climate Agreement in addressing climate change as well as its weaknesses. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Global Climate Change

Weather variability and climate change are different terms that often confuse when defining climate. Weather variability refers to changes in average weather conditions over short periods, while climate change refers to significant weather variations over a more extended period, say several decades or more (Denchak, 2021). Climate change manifested in raging storms, record floods, and deadly heat conditions in the earth’s atmosphere and caused by natural and anthropogenic elements. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example) The natural causes include volcanic eruptions, the intensity of the sun, and variability in greenhouse gas concentrations; anthropogenic causes include the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, fertilizer use, industrial processes, and livestock production. These activities define climate change and its characteristics in local, national, and global contexts. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Global climate change conditions present adverse effects on the environment. Different administrations have employed varying approaches towards environment protection and conservation in the US: President Obama and Biden adopted the Paris Climate Agreement while President Trump withdrew from the convention. In the past 1,300 years, records show that the period between 2000 and 2009 was the hottest decade, 2016 was the hottest year record indicating that the 21st century exhibits adverse environmental health issues (Kemp, 2016) (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example). Some of these issues include extreme weather conditions, dirty air, extensive health risks, rising sea levels, warmer and more acidic oceans, and imperilled ecosystems. In the next 5-10 years, the most pressing environmental health issues from global climate change will be endangered ecosystems and extreme weather conditions. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Health Impacts

Climate change causes myriad health issues due to extreme weather conditions and imperilled ecosystems. Over the years, increasingly high temperatures have been recorded and cause illnesses and deaths: numerous diseases arise from cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems, heatstroke, and heat stress (Denchak, 2021)(Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example). Air pollution also affects respiratory health, especially among people vulnerable to hay fevers and allergies. In addition, extreme weather conditions are evident during prolonged dry spells and abnormally cold seasons, most of which result in water contamination, storm damages, injuries, and community displacements. As much as these issues present nearly the same health risks, community displacements can be more severe because of high transmission rates of infectious diseases, trauma, unavailability of clean water, crowding, and unrests. Similarly, cold environments promote the spread of insect-borne diseases such as Lyme disease. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Environmental Impacts

Climate change presents far much more impacts on the environment than on human populations. Imperilled ecosystems are caused by significant changes in normal conditions and patterns. For example, wildlife is compelled to adapt to changing habitats to maintain their survival and enhance their chances of accessing food and habitats (Denchak, 2021). (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example) Because of traditional migration patterns, seasonal behaviors and patterns get transformed. In addition, transformed ecosystems result in increased extinction for endangered species and other “at-risk” populations. Records show that organisms are disappearing faster, and these changes are interconnected with global climate change and pollution. Although some microorganisms disappear due to the effects of global climate change, some adapt and thrive. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

The Paris Agreement Summary and Weaknesses

The Paris Agreement was established in 2015 and adopted by nearly all countries worldwide to address global climate change and its adverse effects. The commitment to the agreement aimed to realize global greenhouse gas emissions of 1.5 degrees Celsius through continuous monitoring and reporting of climate goals (Denchak, 2017). Furthermore, the Paris Agreement objectively encouraged developed nations to support developing countries to achieve climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Thus, its primary aims were to limit global temperature rise by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; provide a framework for transparency, accountability, achieve more ambitious targets; and mobilize support for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing nations.(Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Although the Paris Agreement may exhibit its shortcomings, it demonstrates that world countries need to take climate action. However, it does not protect all countries from the adverse effects of climate change, and neither does it achieve every country’s voluntary pledges of below 2.7-3.0 degrees Celsius. Moreover, there is a lack of standardization in tracking, measuring, and monitoring greenhouse gases. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

The Paris Agreement has become a world changer with regards to its global support and influence. Therefore, it would be recommendable for the US to stay in the agreement because of the benefits to Americans, the environment, and the world. Furthermore, staying in the agreement will enhance and advance US strategic interests, support US business interests; suitable for American jobs, and enable the US to advance climate issues. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

References

Denchak, M. (2017). Global Climate Change: What You Need to Know. NRDC. Retrieved 18 June 2021, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-climate-change-what-you-need-know. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Denchak, M. (2021). Paris Climate Agreement: Everything You Need to Know. NRDC. Retrieved 18 June 2021, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/paris-climate-agreement-everything-you-need-know. (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

Kemp, L. (2016). US-proofing the Paris Climate Agreement. Climate Policy, 17(1), 86-101. doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2016.1176007 (Global Climate Change and the Paris Agreement Comprehensive Nursing Essay Example)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/