Political Science

The ability to unravel the current quagmire surrounding the causes and effects of global warming remains the key to effective policy design, managements application and eventual sustainability assimilation in the society.   Energy being the key driver and core determinant of the level and nature of economic development presents a major paradox to the policy makers who are torn between conservation of nature or economic development.  However, as Antonio and Lucca (1) indicate, the problem is even further complicated by the notion of fossil fuels infinity and key uncertainties presented by poor understanding of carbon dioxide chemical cycles.  To effectively delve this consideration, the authors of this publication present a critical review of the topic by reviewing two publications on the same issues by (Kharecha and Hansen, 2008 and Nel and Cooper, 2009).

This critique presents an intrinsic evaluation of this article by analyzing the emergent concerns surrounding global warming and the intrinsic sensitivity of the environment.  To further derive a more intrinsic understanding of global warming, carbon dioxide lifetime in the atmosphere as well as mechanisms for offsetting greenhouse gases are further evaluated.  The authors consideration on energy supply at the global platform is further compared to the possibilities for climate change occurrence.  Finally, the literary application of the article is evaluated and a grade awarded for the article.

Emerging environmental concerns in the society
Zecca and Luca Chiari (1-2) present human beings over the recent past to have made key progresses in climate related studies.  Under this consideration therefore, it is more certain that the world will mostly be warmer in the next 100 years.  Zucca and Luccas views cohere with those of Hansen and Sato (1610-1612) and the conclusions of the World Watch Institute (25) that have emphasized on the looming disaster from rising temperatures.  As the authors indicate, previous studies by Kharecha and Hansen (2008) and Nel and Cooper (2009) concurred that there was indeed a great need to estimate the expected carbon dioxide by the year 2100 and therefore predict the possible temperature rise during the same period.  According to the tipping point theory, Jesse and Katsumi (165-166) argue that the fast rising temperatures of the globe will reach to a non reversible point where key environmental resources will be damaged beyond effective resilience.  While economists appear to be waking up to the bitter reality of the finite nature of the fossil fuels, the criticality of the next two centuries is greatly riddled. The notion of the finite nature of the fuel energy resources as Zecca and Luca (1-2) point out may have several repercussions related either to intensification of these fossil fuels or shift to other alternatives.                                                                                                                                                      
Carbon dioxide lifetime in the atmosphere
The understanding of carbon dioxide and its dynamics in the earth system as Simon, Chris and Nicola (320-321) indicate is presented as a critical factor in generating further insight into the possible expected impacts.  The authors of this article indicate that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is adjusted through key sinks in the ecosystem uptake by the natural vegetation and the sea water diffusion.  To make key conclusions of the expected rise in the carbon dioxide, it is critical that the rates of accumulation are considered from the historical point of view and then adjusted to reflect the effects of distribution and impacts of aerosols (Saffron and Mike 405-406) The first model describing the carbon dioxide balance is based on pulse carbon dioxide injection as a single decay mechanism that creates a large inconsistence an cannot effectively explain the phenomenon (Zecca and Luca 3).  The author prefers the Bern Carbon Cycle Model in that it effectively predicts the fraction of carbon dioxide in the order of about 1000 years and further reflects different time scales.  In their view, Jesse and Katsumi (165-166) argue that the Bern Carbon Cycle model facilitates the ability to view the problem from a diverse point of view and therefore facilitate a more precise prediction.  The authors argue that that Kharecha and Hassen (2008) present a more effective explanation of carbon sinking rates compared to Nel and Cooper (2009) who fail to account for the distribution consideration and the role of aerosols in the atmosphere.

Additional mechanisms for offsetting greenhouse gases
What other methods that possibly eliminate carbon dioxide form the atmosphere  Before the Rio De-Janeiro United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, economists believed that natural resources were indeed infinite.  While strongly deviating from this viewpoint, Zecca and Luca (2-3) indicate there is need to consider all the mechanisms that are used to adjust the atmospheric imbalances of carbon and other gases.  Sulfur dioxide in this case is considered to be one option that anchors offsetting of the atmospheric carbon dioxide.  With combustions being accepted to produce both carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxides their cooling effects are equally complementary.  However, this effect can only be felt through calculations that factor long term implications.  It is critical that more studies as Hans-Martin (159) concurs with the Zecca and Luca (2-3), that more studies are incorporated to reflect a clearer picture of this relationship.  

Sensitivity of the environment
As the demand to address the problem of global warming continues to intensify and therefore fueling the current dilemma due to divergent views of key stakeholders, what exactly is the environmental sensitivity  The authors default the mechanism presented by the current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that indicates the global climate to have reached equilibrium due to Green House Gases addition.  In their view, Hansen and Sato (1615) explain that since historic times, the ever changing atmosphere is expected to continue reacting to different additives and presenting equilibrium would indeed be hard.   Zecca and Lucca (3) share the same consideration and indicate that the debate on the exact equilibrium of environmental sensitivity would be pointless.

Energy Supply and Climate Change
Zecca and Lucca (3) explain that the global energy supply and economic development are very critical in determining the levels of human development that can be achieved at any time. They further emphasize that human beings as it stands presently, will not easily clear their worries as they understand that technological advancements will continue creating the demand to exploit and use more fossil fuels.  Therefore, where is the cutline between this of energy demand and supply in relation to the climate change  Zecca and Lucca (3) disagree with the conclusions of Nel and Cooper (2009) who fail to account for possible extreme exploitation of the fossil fuels.  Energy supply in the globe as Jesse and Katsumi (167) complements will always be subject to the market forces and the producing countries expected returns.  In additions to that, Simon et al (324) call for alternative methods to address the problem of climate change by indicating that it will become increasingly hard to address it as the key producing states seek to maximize their seemingly most abundant resource.  With the viewpoint of Hansen and Sato (1619) appearing to be derivationally, Zecca and Lucca (3) seeks to provide a solution to it.  From a precautionary principle point of view, it is crucial that impacts of global warming are not underestimated and therefore efficiency articulated at all levels.

Zecca and Lucca (3) strongly laments on the key uncertainties that have befallen the global community.  Reflecting on conclusion presented by Nel and Cooper (2008) which indicate that the extent of the exhibited global warming could be acceptable if compared to the expected implications of the fossil fuels exploitation, Zecca and Lucca (3) refer to it as gross miscalculation. Such policies are highly deceptive and there culminate to drawing of poor policies by different administrations.  Positive effects of energy exploitation should not be used to camouflage the uncertainties that face the human generation.  Zecca and Lucca (3) indicate that unlike analysts present from their simulations, the implications are highly extensive and must be factored at all times.  

Literary Analysis
The suitability of any literary publication is gauged on the impact it makes to the target audience.  To achieve the key objective of this article, the authors discussed the key aspects with succinctness at all levels.  The problem of global warming was brought out from a historical point of view.  Indeed, the reader is further left without any doubt of various concussions drawn from the discussion as they are accompanied by derivative equations.  Besides, key relevant resources that were consulted to make the write up and arrive at different recommendations are also provided.

From the onset of the article, there is great coherence and flow of ideas that makes the reader to follow every section with ease.  The article opens with an abstract which informs the reader of the expected flow and results.  At this point, it becomes easy for the reader to relate the presented concepts with the expected results at all stages.

This critique would perhaps be incomplete without giving credit to the effectiveness presented in the referencing method.  Most of the references used in the article are modernistic and therefore making the author to have a highly relevant approach to the topic.  However, the authors language is very technical at some instances and some readers who do not come from the same profession may have difficulties in understanding.  For instance the following terminologies have been used without clear explanations the Bern Carbon cycle model, airborne fraction and equilibrium climate sensitivity (Zecca and Luca 2-3).  This was a major undoing factor for the whole journal.

Conclusion
It is from the above critique that that this paper concludes by supporting the thesis statement, the ability to unravel the current quagmire surrounding the causes and effects of global warming remains the key to effective policy design, management application and eventual sustainability assimilation in the society. The problem of global warming was presented to be critical and therefore requiring urgent attention to reduce relates social-economic and ecological implications.  The dilemma was further presented to have been worsened by lack of enough information and wrong interpretations of the research findings.  It is critical that exploitation and eventual use of fossil fuels is considered against the expected extended implications to the human beings and other ecological factors.  Due to the presented succinctness and clear flow of well constructed ideas, this article is rated well above average.