In this blog post, we reflect on the severity of global warming revealed through the film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and the actions we must take.
“What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” – Mark Twain.
This quote appears in the opening of the film An Inconvenient Truth. In this film, Al Gore strongly denounces the problem of global warming, asserting that the United States bears primary responsibility. Through this film, I learned about several serious issues I was previously unaware of and was deeply moved. I knew global warming was serious, but this was the first time I understood it in such detail. The film delves much deeper into the global warming problem we were generally aware of, helping viewers grasp it more concretely. It also made me imagine the future of the Earth and proposed solutions to prevent that future, making it a very meaningful film.
The film identifies three primary causes of global warming. The first is the explosive growth of the global population. As the population increases rapidly, people are using limited resources indiscriminately. The population continues to grow, and we must focus on conserving resources. Furthermore, we must also strive to produce alternative energy sources in preparation for resource depletion.
The second is the belief that the economy and the environment cannot coexist. Many people believe that destroying the environment is unavoidable for economic development. However, seeking greater prosperity by destroying the environment is merely an excuse. For example, the Grand Canyon in the United States developed its tourism industry by preserving the environment, which significantly contributed to the local economy. We must develop the economy and the environment simultaneously to achieve synergy.
The third is the attitude that by the time reality is recognized, it is already too late. Many people tend to give up, thinking it’s already too late once they recognize a problem. The movie also used this analogy for environmental issues. It satirizes those who believe the environment is already destroyed and cannot be restored. But it’s not too late for environmental conservation. Of course, the environment can be restored.
The movie features a scene comparing Earth’s atmosphere to a thin membrane. This signifies that the atmosphere is extremely thin and can be easily destroyed. Professor Roger Revelle, Al Gore’s mentor, spent his life studying Earth’s carbon dioxide levels, and his findings were shocking. Professor Revelle discovered that carbon dioxide levels fluctuate seasonally each year. In spring and summer, as the Earth moves closer to the sun, photosynthesis intensifies, reducing carbon dioxide levels. Conversely, in autumn and winter, as the Earth moves farther from the sun, carbon dioxide levels increase. This resembles the Earth breathing. However, an even more shocking finding from Professor Revelle’s research was that carbon dioxide levels were increasing exponentially each year. He was able to estimate past carbon dioxide concentrations through Arctic ice cores, revealing a period when concentrations never exceeded 300 parts per million (ppm). Recently, however, these concentrations have far surpassed 300 ppm, increasing nearly three to four times. This has caused glacial retreat, and as a result, 40% of the world’s population drinks water originating from the Himalayas. Half of these people drink water from Himalayan glaciers. If all Himalayan glaciers were to melt away, 20% of the world’s population would face water scarcity. This demonstrates that global warming is no longer merely a political issue but has become an ethical one. Furthermore, melting glaciers significantly impact ecosystems. Animals that rely on glaciers as habitats lose their homes, with species like polar bears and penguins suffering the consequences.
In the film, Al Gore recounts how his son was in a coma after a car accident. When his son woke up a week later, Gore realized the preciousness of the things he had taken for granted. This experience made him recognize how precious the Earth’s environment we currently enjoy truly is, and he understood the necessity of cherishing the land and air we will pass on to future generations.
Another problem with global warming is the occurrence of hurricanes due to rising sea temperatures. Rising sea temperatures bring hurricanes, and as global warming causes temperatures to rise further, more powerful and numerous hurricanes occur. Furthermore, temperature changes promote water evaporation, causing droughts, and the evaporated water falling as rain in other regions can trigger floods. Consequently, the entire world is suffering significant damage from natural disasters like droughts, floods, and hurricanes.
Finally, the film uses the frog experiment as an example to illustrate the danger of environmental issues. If you place a frog in boiling water, it immediately senses the danger and jumps out. However, if you place it in water and slowly heat it, the frog fails to detect the danger and eventually dies. This serves as a metaphor for the current process of environmental destruction. We may not feel the destruction of the environment, but the situation worsens over time, and neglecting it could lead to a tragic outcome.
Through the film An Inconvenient Truth, I realized that all the natural disasters occurring now are caused by human activity. This means we must solve these problems. Therefore, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on Earth, we must use public transportation and appliances that consume less energy. Furthermore, if we conserve electricity, protect the environment, and make efforts like preventing wildfires, we may one day live on a clear Earth again.
