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Will polar bears become extinct in the future?
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Society still has the time and resources to conserve polar bear population

Polar bears are in danger of becoming extinct. Their habitat is beginning to melt, diminishing housing space and hunting grounds. However, if humans can stop the negative changes in time, the polar bears won’t be at risk anymore.

Context

In 1975, scientists found trace amounts of airplane fuel gas in the ozone layer. Because of the gases, the ozone layer surrounding earth was believed to be in danger. The ozone layer is a part of the earth’s atmosphere that keeps a large amount of the sun’s heat and ultraviolet rays from negatively affecting humans and the environment. To try and reduce emissions, scientists and activists have tried to find solutions. Polar bears are artic predators that live exclusively in artic regions such as Alaska, Russia, Antarctica, and Greenland. Due to rising global temperatures, scientists have noticed that artic regions are melting and causing polar bears to decline. Currently, scientists believe that polar bears will become extinct by year 2100.

The Argument

Polar bears are threatened by climate change. Because of global warming, the ice plains and snow that polar bears rely on to survive are melting. Scientists believe that by year 2100, polar bears will become extinct.[1] But humans don’t have to wait to try and keep the polar bear population alive. Humans have a way to beat back climate change. It requires a few changes to everyday lifestyle. Ways to beat back climate change include reducing carbon emissions. For example, taking bikes or public transportation to reduce the number of cars on the road.[2] There are a few other ways to reduce climate change like recycling and investing in alternative power sources like solar power.[3] With these solutions, carbon emissions will stop destroying the ozone layer and warm the earth any further. The polar bears‘ environment will stop melting. People can keep the polar bears safe.

Counter arguments

Saving the polar bears’ environment needs saving from global warming. The global warming is caused by carbon emissions from tools humans use. It would be an easy fix to save the polar bears’ environment if humankind worked together. But it’s not that easy. Unfortunately, not all people take responsibility of sustaining any environments let alone polar bears. Society doesn’t think about the future as much as the present. Most of the time, people who aren’t concerned with the environment believe that the change isn’t affecting them or don’t believe they have time to support it.[4] When enough people believe that they can’t make a difference or a problem isn’t as big as it seems, the problem gets worse. Another problem that arises when climate change is talked about, is the belief in alternative solutions that will keep the environment healthy and still sustain human life. Solar power and taking public transportation seem like great solutions. However, if that were to happen, switching over would be a very slow process. For example, solar power can be inefficient and expensive [5] while public transportation is an easy place to get germs.[6] There needs to be a better solution.

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Humans can stop polar bears from becoming extinct. [P2] Reducing climate change can happen through public transportation, recycling.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] People will not be willing to step up and try to save the polar bears’ environment. [Rejecting P2] Reducing climate change by changing lifestyle is too much work.

References

  1. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/polar-bears-extinct-by-2100/
  2. https://cotap.org/reduce-carbon-emissions/
  3. https://interestingengineering.com/10-ways-you-can-help-reduce-the-climate-change
  4. http://planetearthherald.com/why-people-dont-care-about-the-environment/
  5. https://greentumble.com/solar-energy-pros-and-cons/
  6. https://info.debgroup.com/blog/germs-on-planes-trains-and-automobiles
This page was last edited on Saturday, 15 Aug 2020 at 13:18 UTC

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