Critical Thinking Skills - Developing Effective Analysis and Argument(2)

Answers to Practice 1: Features of an argument
Global Warming Requires a Global
Solution (Text 1)
The increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the past
50 years is viewed as a major factor in global warming.
~eskarch by the leading world authorities on global
warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (1PCC),13 suggests that even if all carbon dioxide
emissions ceased today, there would be climate changes
for a number of years to come, leading to water
shortages for 5 billion people and increased flooding
across Northern Europe by 2025. However, scientists
have proposed a range of solutions from increasing
efficient use of fossil fuels to incentives for using cleaner
forms of energy, which they believe are sufficient to
make a real impact on climate ~hange.~
"he Kyoto Protocol was proposed in 1997 as a means of
working towards a reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions and the halting of long-term climate change.
It focuses on developed countries, the world's greatest
polluters, and seeks to establish an overall reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions of 5 per cent on 1990 levels
over the period of 2008-2012. Many key developed
industrial nations have ratified the Protocol but a
number of others have been resistant towards signing it,
as they feel it is unfair that developing countries are
exempt from the Protocol. Although a global solution to
global warming is required, developed countries need to
take the lead.z
Politicians, scientists and businesses in developed
countries have given a number of reasons for not signing
up to the Protocol. These include doubt about the real
link between carbon dioxide emissions and global
warming, concerns about the effect on their own
economies and a rejection of the need for imposed,
rather than voluntary, reductions in emissions. A
number of leaders of state have cited the lack of
emission reduction targets for developing countries as
the key reason behind their rejection of the ~rotoco1.l~
On the surface, this appears a fair argument - global
warming is a problem for everyone, not just those in
developed countries, and requires every nation to
participate. William K. Stevens (1997)13 makes the point
that, if left unchecked, emissions from developing
countries will surpass those from developed countries in
20-30
Comments
Numbers in the text and below refer to the
grid on p. 208.
13 The research by the IPCC provides a
secondary source for this piece.
8 This descriptive opening paragraph gives
essential background information on
global climate change.
8 This paragraph gives essential
background information about the
Kyoto Protocol
2 This sentence introduces the author's
position and main argument.
10 The author sets out a number of
possible counter arguments against the
main argument here.
13 Secondary source
6 Intermediate conclusion: developing
countries need to play a role in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
5 The reason given to support this is: if left
unchecked, emissions from developing
countries will surpass those from
developed countries in 20-30 years.
7 Evidence given for what will happen if
emissions are left unchecked.
21 2 Critical Thinking Skills O Stella Cottrell (2005), Critical Thiizkiilg Skills,
Palgrave Macmillan Ltd