Global Climate Conditions & Ethiopia, Essay Example

Ethiopia, officially, The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is one of the most prominent countries in the Horn of Africa. With Addis Ababa as is capital, Ethiopia strategically sits landlocked with neighbours Kenya to the south, Eritrea to the North, Soudan and South Sudan to the west, and Somalia and Djibouti to the east. Currently, Mulatu Teshome Wirtu is the president of the country since 2013, while Hailemariam Desalegn has been the prime minister since 2012. The country has a rich history as the oldest states in sub-Saharan Africa. There are links to the existence of a dynasty involved with the great King Solomon. King Menelik I, one of the greatest rulers of an ancient dynasty in Ethiopia is believed to have been the son of King Solomon and Queen Sheba who originated from this dynasty. The country has a total area of 435,186 sq. mi with 432,310 sq. mi covered with land (The Gef). The country has been slowly developing and has numerous opportunities that make it a prospective investment avenue. Ethiopia is potentially the next business frontier in Africa in the next 10 years (The Gef). However, the country is quickly experiencing the effects of global warming as a result of human economic activity in the pursuit of development. Ethiopia has to factor in global warming in their development agenda. In order for Ethiopia to realize growth at a steady rate, it has to integrate sustainable development strategies. This paper will highlight different aspects of the nation of Ethiopia relative to the effects of global warming on the economy in a bid to understand the underlying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the development of Ethiopia.

Global Climate Conditions & Ethiopia 

Climate change can be defined as the average weather in a country, place or region. This Includes a series of weather patterns that play an important role in developing and shaping the natural ecosystems. The climate is a change in patterns of temperature, rain, snow, humidity and wind. The climate patterns play a crucial role in shaping the ecosystems and impacting the human economies. There is further evidence that the world climate is in danger of exploding because of famine, global cooling, and acid rain is reaching crisis levels which has been ignored by the government. In order for climate change policy to be effective, it is essential that government attempts to achieve a good information flow and research on such issues. However, the Ethiopian government has failed to deliver such policies in time. At the moment, to the point where the country has been experiencing a series of droughts in the recent past (World Bank). This is evident in the amount of development assistance that the Ethiopian government receives from overseas. This is because, the amount of money that Ethiopia receives from overseas for development purposes is equivalent to the amount of damage that global warming and climate change has affected the economy. Another indication of ecosystem damage is the extinction of the spotted owls and the lack of landfills all indicated future destruction” (Clark & Dwight 592). In the past, the climate change could be measured to determine or predict weather patterns, however that has changed because the climate is quickly becoming disruptive and unpredictable. Weather patterns have in the recent past changed as seasons have either delayed or come too soon. In the recent past, Ethiopia has experienced a series of adverse weather conditions, predominantly drought. The last season of rain lasted 1 month, shorter than ever before (World Bank). It has become difficult for agricultural communities to predict weather patterns as the seasons have changed in the length and order. The ski slopes of the world are a good indication of decreasing ecosystem because the air temperature is rising so high that less snow is being made, instead the mountain’s slopes are receiving record amounts of slush and rain. As result the ski lodges are being closed” (Global Climate Change 3).The phenomenon has impact Ethiopia because this country is one the poorest countries in the world. Ethiopia is currently ranked the 10^th poorest nation in the world by the United Nations. This is largely due to the effect of climate change that has affected agriculture. This has led to a food shortage and the gradual downtrend of the economy. Ethiopia’s agriculture, economy and ecological systems are breaking down reaching catastrophic climate changes. The devastating climate changes in Ethiopia has effect on the countries health. A large portion of the population suffering from pollution water, malnutrition, bad air pollution which makes Ethiopia vulnerable to severe climate changes. The introduction of pollutants into the ecosystem existing within the borders of Ethiopia has led to local environment. The fragmentation of the local niches within the ecosystem has led to the negative effects on the country’s biodiversity (World Bank). In a climate report by China, it was reported the pollution has reached unlivable proportions. In addition, Chinas Ministry of Environmental Protection agency has reported that over 75% of the China water supply is contaminated and undrinkable” (Ajemian & Reid 418).

Climate patterns play an essential role in molding natural ecosystems, and the human economies that depend on them. However, the unpredictable climate has been damaging the ecosystem world-wide including destroying the Ethiopia region. In a documented drought study by Global Environment Facility (GEF) indicated that Ethiopia has been propelled to record breaking ruinous droughts, intensification of temperatures, declining water falls that has directly harm the agriculture and further deteriorate the rural substructure”(Global Environment Facility 1). The global climate is rapidly changing with catastrophic implications.  The climate is changing at such a concerning pace, that the world is experiencing unpredictable storms, hurricanes, fires and other uncontrollable climate disruptive changes. In a public opinion survey by the Pew Research Center results indicated that Americans believe the human activity is responsible for the climates uncontrollable weather, however, the government does not have full support of the House of Representatives” (Pew Research Center 2). The advocates for a better earth has warned that the earth is getting too hot. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that there is the potential for cataclysmic events because the earth is absorbing too much direct solar energy rays from space. As the sea ice melts, its white reflective surface is replaced by a relatively dark ocean surface. This diminishes the amount of sunlight being reflected back to space, causing Earth to absorb an increasing amount of solar energy “(Monroe 1).There is plenty of evidence that the climate is eroding because of global warming reports that point at the alarming decrease of species in habitats, corroding ecosystems that is diminishing. In the last ten years, the United States has been hit with some of the most devastating droughts, fires and hurricanes in history. Including the decrease in clean drinking water in many cities in the United States. There is evidence all over the world that the climate is destroying the ecosystems. The researchers study calculated that the overall albedo of the Arctic region fell from 52 percent to 48 percent between 1979 and 2011. The magnitude of surface darkening is twice as large as that found in previous studies” (Monroe 2) in 2007, the United States was devastated with a life threatening drought. In Atlanta the water levels were reduced to some to lowest levels in history” (Global Climate Change 1). There is a global concern that the uncontrollable carbon emissions, devastating weather patterns in Ethiopia, ecosystems lack of regeneration and the earth melting in certain parts of the county, all indicated the world should be concerned with the current global conditions.

Global Issues 

The global water supply has gone under the radar globally because the water and power companies have been controlling the distribution or restricting water usage over the last 10 years. There are many coastal cities globally that spend the states funding to fight climate changes by protecting the shorelines buffers like wetlands, storm drainage system and building protect walls to keep from destroying the land and homes. In an interview of Hans Von Storch, who is a professor of meteorology has indicated that the primary problem with global climate solutions is scientists have difference estimations of the future damage of the ecosystems and climate change because they are using different models “ (Hans Von Storch as cited in Gotz 10).

The commentaries at the United Nations Framework Convention have called to action for global leadership to address the depleting economic development, continued climate changes caused worsening the state of poverty and uncontrollable weather conditions” (United Nations Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform 1). There are documented events of disruptive climate change that are creating potential catastrophic outcomes for any country that is bordering the ocean. There has been devastating climate changes in New Orleans, Miami, Ethiopia, Venice, and Italy. All these global hot spots could face worse consequences as the sea levels continue to grow. The rising sea levels, global droughts and the uncontrollable weather conditions indicated the world is in dire straits concerning future catastrophic events that could destroy life as we know it today.  In multiple public opinion polls completed by the Pew Research Center, the American public scored global warming and slowly eroding of the ecosystem was listed as the number one priorities they felt the government should addressed with is climate change destruction of the earth. These survey results was based on the last 20 surveys given on the subject of climate change” (Pew Research Center 2). The damages are not just limited to the shores of the United States exclusively because the entire world’s ecosystems are failing to regenerate. The climate change will damage coastal wetlands all over the world which is scary because the world’s wetlands provide vital protection of the shores from flooding, and they also provide critical habitats for the world’s plants and animals. The best example is the Florida Everglades that are filled with wetlands that are located very near to the sea level in southern parts of Florida. These diverse ecosystems are not holding us to protecting the shores because the sea level are rising too fast rises pushing the salt water into the Florida Everglades. The damage to the wild life is devastating because it destroys birds, trees, plants, turtles and alligators. According to studies completed by World Wild Life Fund (WWF) (2014), indicated that the climate changes are damaging the wildlife and threatening other species globally. The best example is the climate change that alters the temperature of the sand which does not allow the turtles nesting sites to hatch. The global warming and climate change has a global temperature impact that can damage many different economies including the greenhouse effects. The greenhouse effect is based on the amount of gases that contributed to the overall warming of the plant earth’s climate. This leads to definite global warming in regions of the world that cause a trickle effects of disaster on the planet. The interview Hans Von Storch indicated that the current climate scientist are using infidel models for that region. In order to address all the concerns and future implication of global meltdown is to implement an acceptable model that considers all the climate change data globally” (Hans Von Storch as cited in Gotz 11).This rapid pace of temperature rises cause many different negative impacts to human’s race and the world landscape. The scientist indicate the world cannot keep pretending to see the earth is warming up due to the human induced living conditions. It is apparent with the global warming on the rise, the species and their habitats will continue to diminish along with the worlds ecosystems.

Impact on Poverty

The impact of global warming on poverty causes serious flooding while other parts of the globe will experience droughts. Global warming has begun to impact the rainforests which are getting so dry that the ecosystem is falling apart while the arctic cold regions are melting. Further proof of global warming is areas of the world that was covered with ice hundreds of years ago are now bear as a desert.  The impact on poverty is at great cost because they will suffer the direct catastrophic damage of the climate changes from effects of global warming because they do not have the financial resources to adapt” (Cline 23). The climate change has effected every living organisms on this earth in one way or another. The global climate change will affect the way people live in this world including the damaging and stronger hurricanes, and more severe heat waves. In addition, climate change will effect poor nation’s seasonal crops that may never recover from the droughts. However, if the world keeps getting warmer, the negative effects will damage the earth beyond repair. It has been confirmed that the poor nations that do not have the resources to adapt or address climate changes will suffer a sure catastrophic results.

The poor countries do not possess the money to keep the agriculture production to feed that territory specifically in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the drought has destroyed the harvests therefore they are not able to cultivate food for a famishing country because the temperature range has drop below traditional standards for vegetation and clean flowing water (World Bank).  There are continents such as Africa, Asian and Latin America that has poor communities that are suffering from the wrath of the climate changes. These communities are already vulnerable because of poor living conditions, lack of clean water and degrading agriculture crops and a lack of resources to help these countries “(African Development Bank 3). In a struggling economic system, such as Ethiopia the changing climate might have both optimistic and adverse consequences on vegetation. The perfect example is one part of Ethiopia may need the much cooler temperature ranges while other parts of the region may need the warmer weather conditions to cultivate crops. In southern regions of Ethiopia is currently hot, the more droughts cripples the complete ecosystem and local economies. In Ethiopia, the weather change can make it too hot to grow particular crops, and droughts caused by global warming could reduce the amount of water intended for irrigation. Climate change is furthermore sure to trigger more powerful storms and more floods, which could destroy harvest. There is a need for an international climate commission that ensures the financial funds are diverted to these counties to address the climate change issues before the ecosystem is not able to adjust to the weather patterns.

Carbon emissions 

Carbon dioxide is distributed into the natural environment each time we burn up fossil fuels for instance gas, coal or oil. In a natural carbon process, carbon dioxide is re-absorbed by plant life and trees. In the global market they is a need to bring new innovate ways of decreasing carbon emissions. In a video interview with Bruce Mellon says that the best defense against carbon emissions is using the best technology called sky mining. Sky mining limit the amount of carbon that is released into the atmosphere” (Asregadoo 1). Nevertheless, the rate wherein we are burning fuels is extremely quickly for trees and vegetation to soak up and transform into breathable air. Moreover, numerous rainforests are actually lost due to the cutting down of trees, which doesn’t help out with the present existing situation. Civil society activists from five Arab countries are urging the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ease pressure on their governments to reduce food and fuel subsidies “(Lobe 1). The impact of all this excess carbon dioxide in the natural environment is that the overall temperature range of the world is rising, resulting to global warming. Even though the standard global temperature is escalating, on an everyday level the climate is beginning to change destroy agriculture as well. If the world does not take the proper steps to addressing globally warming in the immediate future including the exploding carbon dioxide levels, the agricultural productivity will continue to fall to critical levels ” (Cline 23).

As result of continue climate changes because of carbon dioxide levels, you will find the continue damages such as severe floods, weather changes and draughts. To be able to decrease the risk of even more fluctuating atmospheric condition, we need to decrease the level of fossil fuel we are burning up .Carbon dioxide emissions are the common type of gas emitted from the burning of fossil fuels. The higher the carbon content in the fossil fuel or the more inefficient the burning process is, generally the more CO2 that is produced. The carbon emission need to be decreased because it’s destroying the world’s protective zones. We are helping destroying these protect levels every time we burn coal, gas, and carbon dioxide which is pushed into the air while carbon dioxide is absorbed again into the plants. However, the most deadly part of the burning is the unknown reactions to releasing carbon dioxide that has been dormant below the surface for thousands of years. The effect of all this extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is that the overall temperature of the planet is increasing. Whilst the average global temperature is increasing, on a day-to-day level the climate is changing in unpredictable ways from floods and hurricanes to heat waves and droughts). To try and reduce the risk of ever more extreme weather, we need to reduce how much fossil fuel we are burning. We reduce fossil fuels to generate power. From maintaining warm in our residence, to fuelling our automobiles, to increasing our food, to manufacturing our DVD players. The overall carbon which we because people are to blame for is called our carbon framework. Carbon pollutants, particularly carbon dioxide belong to an accumulation of gases that unfavorably influence the quality of our air and improve the greenhouse impact. Greenhouse gases include a direct effects on the natural environment, causing extraordinary weather conditions changes, a worldwide temperature increase, the loss of ecosystems and possibly harmful health outcomes for individuals.  Many have searched solutions to control carbon pollutants by means of state organizations mandates. There are basically two existing universities of thought concerning humanitarian control over carbon emissions. The initially , a carbon tax , is exactly what it really seems like — taxing businesses directly , based on the quantity of carbon they put into the environment . The goal of a carbon tax should be to encourage companies and other establishments to decrease their overall emissions.  The challenges with reducing carbon emissions is the governments cannot agree on the best solutions to fining better ways to find clean energy. In addition, the greenhouse gases are such a big part of our world that finding new options does not mean the automobile industry is going to change to battery cars to help reduce carbon emissions. The government will have to create a laws and legislations that makes is mandatory to make products such as cars to be met carbon emissions regulations before selling to the consumer market.

Economic development

Ethiopia has come to a standstill in economic development because of the pending problems with climate change. Over the last decade Ethiopia had some good numbers because of the mining economic growth but the reality of the climate change damages cannot make that problem disappear. It is clear the Ethiopian economy has become very dependenton natural resources but the climate changes is damaging those resources each year.  The longer the problem goes unaddressed the more difficult it will be to reverse the environmental degradation. Ethiopia’s agricultural will suffer from the constant droughts which hurt the local economies of an already poor country. The same economy is negatively affecting the Ethiopia environmental problems that has been the backbone of the Ethiopian local communities. The climate changes has made the unsustainable agricultural because of poor soil erosion, fertility soil damage and lose of ecosystems.  The inefficient agricultural production not only leads to water and crop shortages.

Population Growth

There is no doubt that the world’s population growth  is a primary reason for the  global warming because the human continue use of fossil fuels drives the carbon emissions to critical points. Our demand for more gas, more oil, and more fuel from the earth spews carbon dioxide into the world’s atmosphere. In the 20 century, the United Nations Population Fund has reported that the human race has grown from1.6 billion to 6.1 billion people “(UNFPA 1). The earth cannot control the appetite for consumption of the people however, they can provide more solutions to address the increase in population that was predicted 10 years ago. The developing countries were the first to make adjustments to the overcrowding of communities by addressing the climate change issues, however, they do not possess the financial backing from the International global countries for support. However, the developing countries do consume their share of fossil fuels. The United States has been calculated to contribute 25 percent of the fossil fuels release in the atmosphere. However, the population growth is stagnant in the major countries because of the climate changes. According to the United Nations Population Fund, the fastest growing nations like India and China will cause more than half of global emissions which means the entire world is responsible for climate changes and carbon dioxide problems.

Sustainable development

Climate change was recognized as a global sustainable development challenge with strong social, economic and environmental dimensions. The recent findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change regarding the impacts of climate change on sustainable development were seen by many as a cause for concern. The global warning and weakening ecosystems has been viewed as a global sustainable development challenges according to the Intergovernmental Panel. The primary reason is severe impact of climate change on poor developed countries because they lack the financial means to protect their region” (United Nations Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform 2). Climate change impacts all countries but was noted to be particularly severe for developing countries, especially African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing States, which were particularly vulnerable, given their exposure and inadequate means and limited capacities to adapt to its effects. Noting the contribution of human activities to climate change, countries highlighted the need for urgent attention and further action by the international community, in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, recognizing that social and economic development and poverty eradication were the overriding priorities for developing countries.

Economic Impacts

The global climate is integrated with so many system that the devastating impact can have a snowball effect on agriculture, weather, plants life, and animal life, use of water and carbon emissions. The economically impact is based on the rains that wash out the agriculture crops which causes the price of vegetation to become so high the consumer stops buy the product. In a study performed by researchers calculated that the overall albedo of the Arctic region fell from 52 percent to 48 percent between 1979 and 2011. The magnitude of surface darkening is twice as large as that found in previous studies “(Monroe 3). The temperature drops can be some cold that the farmer’s crops cannot bring fruit or vegetables to the market causing a food crisis. Historically the pollination of crops are done in the fields while the birds that migrate to eat from the fields. The solution of bringing the process inside impacts the ecosystem. The ecosystem has an impact on the reproduction process of fish, water supplies regeneration abilities, and wetlands healthcare and forest health. Each one of these areas can have a financial impact of the global economy.

Environmental Challenges

The nation of Ethiopia has harmful polluted air, deficiency in growing food and loss in fertile soil and an inadequate habitat. Ethiopia’s overall economy is furthermore definitely influenced by natural resources. Exploitation of these natural resources might create huge financial benefits for the short term. Nevertheless, in the long run unsustainable utilization of these kinds of natural resources enhances not only environmentally friendly degradation, but diminishes monetary growth and livelihood possibilities. Throughout the last year or two Ethiopia has had an amazing economic growth and the region has achieved significant development in the direction of many of the century development goals including those for poverty , having access to education and learning and  wellbeing . Enhancements also have recently been produced in basic national infrastructure and in building up both regional and national guidelines and governance capability. Today over 80 million people live in Ethiopia, and over 80% are living in rural areas. Population growth remains high at 2% and Ethiopia is expected to reach over 120 million people by 2030 “(Cesar & Ekbom 12).

Ethiopia’s overall economy and environmental system are fragile and susceptible to environment change. Environmental difficulties in Ethiopia include ecosystem change, soil degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and habitat solutions, and air pollution of land, air and water. Ethiopia’s economic system is also highly depending upon natural resources. Exploitation of these natural resources may produce huge economic advantages temporarily. Nevertheless, in the long run unsustainable utilization of these natural resources enhances not just environmental degradation, but diminishes economic progress and livelihood possibilities. This environment and ecosystem change policy brief aims at quickly showing crucial environmental sustainability problems and options in Ethiopia, their linkages to poverty decrease and socio-economic improvement.

The most important environmental conditions in Ethiopia include, global warming, property degradation, overgrazing and deforestation, in-door polluted air and water pollution. Key ecological problems for Ethiopia include climate change, soil degradation and deforestation. Climate change resulting in variability in temperature and rain shower is anticipated to increase further over the last hundred years. A lot more droughts and floods may have harmful has an effect on farming production and adversely affect the nationwide economic system and people’s livelihoods. Even though improving Ethiopia remains among the nations on earth with the lowest overall performance concerning indoor pollutants and water in terms of influence on human well-being.

Key Environmental Problems, Their Causes and Opportunities

The Ethiopian human population is suffering from global warming and its affects the natural environment and natural resources. Sustained climate change are estimated to bring bigger variability, and extraordinary weather conditions occasions that should furthermore drive degradation of the country’s ecosystems. In a greenhouse study indicates, the potential catastrophic destruction of unstable ecosystems are apparent in the India, Canada, Somalia, Amazon rainforest and Ethiopia. The global temperature is rising at an alarming rate that a two percent rise would cause a water scarcity for over 500 million people” (Green House Gases Fuel Water Shortage 1). The effect of ecosystem change in Ethiopia has already been obvious in the improving climate and decreasing rain fall, especially in the northern region of parts that are particularly susceptible to drought. Agriculture is the supply of livelihood to a massive most of the Ethiopian community. A reduction in periodic rainfall has disastrous ramifications on farming production resulting in food uncertainty, malnutrition and famine. The regularity and strength of drought will probably improve over the coming generations, that should display a dangerous hazard to biodiversity, ecosystems water, agricultural and human physical health. Territory degradation is among the most significant issues in Ethiopia. Along with natural elements such as rainfall and erodible garden soil , population pressure , overgrazing , unsustainable land use and growth of agriculture causes serious and degradation which influences farming efficiency . The increasing human population demands more fuel wood and more farming production which enhance needs for brand new farmland, which accelerates deforestation and forest degradation. Indoor pollutants is a significant environmental challenge causing severe respiratory health issues. In an interview with David Cameron indicates the world needs to prepare for future global climate changes devastation because the signs are present. David pointed out record breaking freezing weather in Florida, out of season hot weather in California that brought on the worst drought in history, Alaska is melting with catastrophic heat waves. In addition to Slovenia ecosystem breakdown, Australia heat waves floods in Bolivia and Brazils droughts” (EnvisionNation 1). It strikes the poorest the most, specifically women of all ages and young people. These types of complications are primary ly a result of the inadequate households’ usage of standard contaminating stoves and woody biomass, which is their leading supply of energy for cooking food, heating and illumination. Water pollution constitutes a large risk to Ethiopia’s public health, mainly caused by high levels of organic pollutants and water borne diseases. Access to safe water in terms of improved water sources is very poor. Children are most vulnerable to lack of safe and improved water and sanitation. The main drivers of environmental degradation in Ethiopia include high population growth, high urbanization rate, as well as an economic growth that is largely driven by agricultural production, infrastructure expansion and increasing energy demand.   Web research implies that climate change effects will increase the problems faced by poor men and women in Ethiopia whose livelihoods depend upon the environment. Deforestation, loss of earth sources, and loss of water access are deteriorating the toughness of the women and men who are most impacted by these materials.  Outcomes of climate change rainfall patterns as well as extraordinary weather occasions such as droughts adversely affect farming production and food security. In Ethiopia, food uncertainty is prevalent due to persistent drought and flooding.

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