The current state of the environment is the worst it has ever

been. CNN has reported that according to a study by the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2015 will be the hottest year
on record. Change must happen to ensure the continuation of life as we
know it. Humans are the main cause of clause of global warming
according to NASAs report on the causes of climate change.
The Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment states that the protection and improvement of the human
environment is a major issue which affects the wellbeing of peoples and
economic development throughout the world. Many developing
countries rely on their natural resources to support their economy.
Climate change could destroy many of these resources, making it even
more difficult for developing countries to improve. The European
Commission has said that from 1980 to 2011, floods have directly
impacted 5.5 million people and caused around 100 billion dollars worth
of damages.
Global warming is already having a profound effect on the
world. NASA has said that the global temperature has risen 1.4 degrees
Fahrenheit since 1880. This may not seem like a lot, but in the last year
NASA has predicted that each year the amount of land ice is decreasing
by 287 billion metric tons and the sea is rising by 3.22 millimeters a year.
If climate change is not addressed, it will have severe
consequences in the future. A recent study by National Geographic has
found that by 2100 oceans may rise 2.5 to 6.5 feet. That would be high
enough to submerge many cities along the eastern seaboard. National
Geographic has also said that more dire studies have predicted that the
entire Greenland ice cap will melt, raising the sea level by 23 feet,
enough to put London underwater. Higher sea levels mean that the
intensity of storms will increase, which will cause more damage and
expenses. Powerful storms would set developing countries back even
further on their path to success.
Not only will climate change hurt countries economically, it
actually can endanger human health. The Director General of the World
Health Organization, Margaret Chan has said that the evidence is
overwhelming: climate change endangers human health. Solutions exist
and we need to act decisively to change this trajectory. And these
solutions exist within the UN.
Currently, only the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) has any power over environmental
regulation. The Kyoto Protocol is linked to the UNFCCC. According to
The Guardian, 24 of 36 countries that were measured met or went
beyond their intended target. This shows the potential that the UN has to
help improve our environment if many countries participate.

The UN has already implemented many programs in an attempt

to solve worldwide problems. Many of these programs have been
successful including the World Food Programme, which provides food to
90 million people a year according to the International Business Times.
This statistic has gone down by almost 100 million people in the last
decade in which the World Food Program has existed. So, the UN has the
potential to solve issues such as global warming, but it is necessary for
all countries to participate.
One country making an effort to help the environment will not
have enough of an impact to completely change the environment.
Countries such as the UK and Germany only contribute 2 percent of the
total carbon emissions each according to the Union of Concerned
Scientists. Those countries reducing their environmental impact will help
but will not solve the issue. While it is often the developed countries that
have mostly caused global warming, it is now the entire worlds problem.
The developing countries need to have regulations on their production so
that everyone is working toward a better world. And it may set some
countries back at first, but in the long run, not having major cities
underwater and millions of people displaced as well as many other
consequences will actually help these developing countries.
Just giving money to developing countries is not enough.
Regulations need to be set in order to make sure that nations are not
abusing the money and actually are meeting goals. According to the New
York Times and The Guardian, countries such as Zimbabwe and Uganda
have misused money meant to help the country solve serious issues and
instead used it to buy satellite dishes and T.V.s for government workers.
If each country is able to set their own goals, they may differ. Countries
slacking and not meeting goals or setting insignificant goals will render
any attempts to stop global warming useless. Global regulations set by
the UN will be able to make sure each country is contributing their fair
share and it will also make positive change more efficient.
The UN has the capability to help stop global warming, but only
if all countries agree to participate and be subject to regulations. This
includes developed countries such as the U.S. and developing countries
like Indonesia and Colombia. If this happens, the future of the world will
be much brighter and allow for the continued improvement of less
developed countries.