Introduction
Global warming is the most prominent problem affecting the modern world. The challenge results from greenhouse gases emission into the atmosphere. There are different sources the global warming, all of which are caused by human activity. Burning of fossil fuel is the main cause. The effects of global warming are many and far-reaching. They are affecting individuals and the entire community. However, the factors responsible and solutions are a controversial topic in policy circles (Vance 563). Regardless of the debates, it is evident that an immediate answer should be devised to save the planet. According to climate scientists, the only solution is cutting down on carbon emissions. The responsibility is each person’s because the contribution is mostly at the individual level. The argument that the government should address the problem is a fallacy. The individual is the primary contributor to the problem, and should also take responsibility in addressing it.
The way a person perceives risk relates plays a role in responsibility attrition. Global warming is a problem that needs a solution, but it is not possible without establishing where to place the responsibility. Besel et al. suggest that the controversy regarding responsibility is easy to locate (62). The individual should understand the way their actions produce damage to the environment. Global warming is caused by the emissions that come from burning of fossil fuel. Transportation, industrial, and domestic uses of the fuel emit the emissions. The individual is the main element in causing global warming. Personal choice has a lot to do with global warming (Vance 563). Humans make decisions to use the means that cause carbon emissions, whether it is at the domestic or industrial level. Studies have revealed that the individual is responsible for a considerable amount of carbon impact. Just like the individual contributes to the emissions, they will play the role of reversing it.
Assuming the responsibility is the beginning place to understand the problem of global warming. Responsibility attribution is very important when dealing with a complex challenge such as climate change. Society will deal with the problem when there is conviction about the source. Reasonability attrition relates to risk perception and information processing (Rickard et al. 39). The risk of the action is already perceived in the effects of global warming. The problem is that the blame is not placed where it should, with the individual. The cars driven every day, for example, are the cause of carbon emissions. The individual should understand the responsibility and perform actions that will reduce the emissions. The same person responsible for a problem should assume the lead role in addressing it (Radaković et al. 39). It is important to ensure that the future generation understands the risk of personal choices to avoid acting in a way that makes the problem worse.
Various actions can be assumed to help solve the problem. Notably, the actions are at the individual level. Transport is the main cause of the problem. According to Herrmann et al., making responsible transportation choices will play an important role in reversing the problem (2). Reducing use of cars, such as by carpooling or cycling, is the beginning place in solving the problem. The people can also reduce the emissions by using energy efficient appliances at home and in businesses. Renewable energy has become common and readily available. Use of alternative sources of energy is proven to play the biggest part in cutting down the emissions (Herrmann et al., 3). The sources are cost effective and will help in solving the problem of global warming. The problem will be solved at the individual level as long as the person makes the rational choice to use renewable energy sources.
However, the question of whether the individual can actually solve the problem is another controversial issue. Some experts argue that is impossible for the individual to solve a global problem. There are various causes of global warming that goes beyond the individual. Industries and factories contribute to a huge proportion of the carbon footprint (Liu et al. 396). The largest amount of fossil fuel is consumed by heavy duty vehicles and machineries. The society, and not individual, is responsible for the problem. Therefore, it is not possible to address a systematic problem from a personal level. Systems should be put in place to deal with the problem. For example, the government should define effective policies to address global warming. Such policies should target the problem from a wider perspective. Targeting the individual alone will not solve the global problem because the focus will be misplaced.
The society is a system comprising of various parts. Individuals make up the whole, and it is not possible to understand the latter without understanding the role of the former. The social system is not responsible for global warming, but the people who form its parts (Besel et al. 2017). It is possible to have many cars in the society, but the owners are the individuals. People use the cars as they go to work, school, and other places. Also, besides working from the individual level to solve the problem, the members can influence policies (Liu et al. 397). Global efforts have been defined to address the problem of global warming, but the standards are enacted at the national level. However, many countries have not implemented the policies and standards. Nations in Asia and Africa are lagging behind in the implementation of the policies. Thus, it is possible for the members of society to pressurize the governments to make necessary changes. Individuals have caused the social problem and should also help in solving it.
Conclusion
The global warming challenge has completely transformed the world. The negative effects are being experienced throughout the world. The individual is responsible for the carbon emissions. Taking responsibility for the problem will allow the person to take actions that will reverse the problem. Considering the collective role will reduce responsibility attrition and risk perception. The person will look at the next person to address the problem, which will leave it unresolved. The beginning step is allocating the responsibility where it belongs. People make decisions that are affecting the environment. Their choice to reverse the situation by avoiding those actions is the answer. There are various opportunities that are available to the person to address the predicament. For example, there is alternative sources energy that can be used in the place of fossil fuel. However, the decision has to be made at the individual level to change trend. Beginning at this level will lead to a global answer.
Works Cited
Besel, Richard D., et al. “A Life History Approach to Perceptions of Global Climate Change Risk: Young Adults’ Experiences about Impacts, Causes, and Solutions.” Journal of Risk Research, vol. 20, no. 1, Jan. 2017, pp. 61-75.
Herrmann, Alina, et al. “Household Preferences for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Four European High-Income Countries: Does Health Information Matter? A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol.” BMC Public Health, vol. 18, 8/1/2017, pp. 1-12.
Liu, Xinsheng, et al. “Public Problem Characterization, Policy Solution Generation, and Intra-Agenda Connectivity.” Policy Studies Journal, vol. 44, no. 4, Nov. 2016, pp. 396-423.
Rickard, Laura N., et al. “The “I” in Climate: The Role of Individual Responsibility in Systematic Processing of Climate Change Information.” Global Environmental Change Part A: Human & Policy Dimensions, vol. 26, May 2014, pp. 39-52.
Vance, Chad. “Climate Change, Individual Emissions, and Foreseeing Harm.” Journal of Moral Philosophy, vol. 14, no. 5, Sept. 2017, pp. 562-584.