The Guns, Germs, & Steel presentation connects with factors that are working together to create the issue of climate change that correlates with the UN Development Goal of climate action through a chain reaction. The rise of empires due to access to guns, germs, and steel allowed for the spread of global climate change. Steel allowed empires to build guns. With the introduction of guns, people gained an advantage on the battlefield and were able to conquer new land easier. Germs also assisted with conquering land as many diseases brought by colonizers resulted in the depletion of the native populations. These included smallpox, malaria, fevers, and more. This spread and transfer of diseases allowed for colonizers to move in and build their civilizations. As these empires continued to build, explore, and expand in different parts of the world, they continued to become more advanced and innovative over time. This eventually led to industrialization and the creation of industries, factories, and machines during the Industrial Revolution. With so many empires dominating the world, industries also began to appear around the world as well. However, because these industries produced greenhouse gases, global climate change began to occur across the world as well. This resulted in the climate change crisis that we are now facing and trying to address today. Additionally, climate change presents itself in almost all places around the world as a result of the rise and domination of empires (with access to guns, germs, and steel). However, some places are experiencing different effects of climate change compared to others. For example, the Philippines has been facing violent tropical storms and typhoons, while Canada has been facing warmer waters and ocean acidification. Another example is that Mexico is facing food and water shortages, while Germany is facing extreme heat and powerful storms. Different areas are experiencing different effects because, although climate change was driven by CO2 emissions of the Industrial Revolution, different places were affected at different times. Tropical oceans and Arctic regions began warming first, while the southern hemisphere began warming much later. This inconsistency is seen across the world, but what does remain consistent is the need to combat climate change. Some organizations are even taking a global approach to this situation, by addressing issues in multiple countries. This is seen in the Climate Reality Project and the millions of people they have gathered to fight climate change. Akana, H. (2020, June 17). Guns Germs and Steel Notes & Reflection. Lecture presented at
Kamehameha Kapālama Summer School 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qjn5B1rLfbfVNieNOt2gY2o1ujdRTtn7_G5qbXcnPDs/edit McGregor, H., Gergis, J., Abram, N., & Phipps, S. (2016, August 24). The Industrial Revolution kick-started global warming much earlier than we realised. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from The Conversation website: https://theconversation.com/the-industrial-revolution-kick-started-global-warming-much-earlier-than-we-realised-64301#:~:text=In%20the%20early%20days%20of The Climate Reality Project. (2018). How Climate Change Is Impacting Different Places Around the World. Retrieved from Climate Reality website: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/how-climate-change-impacting-different-places-around-world Golembo, M. (2018, July 12). What is a typhoon: Everything you need to know. Retrieved from ABC News website: https://abcnews.go.com/US/typhoon-/story?id=56540857 Gunderman, R. (2019). How Smallpox Helped Spain Conquer the Aztecs | RealClearScience. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from www.realclearscience.com website: https://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2019/02/20/how_smallpox_helped_spain_conquer_the_aztecs_110893.html
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