Global Warming Threats and Solutions

Table of Contents Introduction Natural or man-made? Solution Conclusion Works Cited Introduction There is little doubt that our earth is undergoing a gradual increase in temperature: global warming is real. Baffling statistics by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) indicate that the earth’s temperature has risen by roughly 0.6 degrees Celsius, the highest since the mid 1800s, further reports indicate that the duration from 1997-2003 were the hottest years ever recorded.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Global Warming Threats and Solutions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Worst is yet to come as the United Nations committee on climate has predicted a temperature rise of between 1.8 to 6 Degrees Celsius by the end of the century which enough to melt all ice and polar caps (IPPC, pg. 2). This would spell disaster as many countries, cities and towns will be submerged, including the Netherl ands and New York City. The threat is real and unless we act appropriately, almost half of all earth will be under the sea at the turn of the century. Natural or man-made? In the past few years, the threat of global warming has appeared real and this has led to debates over who or what was responsible for the condition. The media, politicians and the general population have been divided on this topic. Skeptics argue that human activities man is not the leading cause of global warming, they assert that climate will change continuously, as it has in the past, human activities not withstanding (Singer, pp. 1). However, to understand the actual cause(s) of global warming, we need to understand how the process occurs. Global warming is mainly contributed by Greenhouse gases, this consists of water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and Ozone. The highest contributor of these gases to the atmosphere is man. The Industrial Revolution had greatly increased the amounts of CO2, CH4, chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere with levels of CO2 and CH4 increasing by 40% and 150% respectively since the mid 18th century. These values are the highest during the last 650,000 years, the last time CO2 levels were higher than this was roughly 20 million years ago (IPPC, pg. 1). The high levels of CO2 have been caused by burning fossil fuels and de-forestation, man is the cause of both (Simon et al, pp. 79). A recent study examined more than seven million studies of temperature, salinity, and other factors that affect the world’s water systems collected by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and compared them with predictions from computer simulations.Advertising Looking for report on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The study found out that natural occurrences in the atmosphere, such as volcanic eruptions and the sun’s activities, could not sufficiently account for global warming. Simulations based on human activities, however, exactly corresponded to the observations (Henderson, para. 6). The study eliminated all possible causes of global warming and was left with one culprit: man. The study also simulated past and future consequences of global warming and the findings were nothing to be admired and cannot be merely dismissed. Global warming could cause disastrous effects in the future, for example, a study undertaken by a team of scientists led by Ruth Curry of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found out that 20,000 square kilometers of ice in the Arctic melted between 1965 and 1995 (Henderson, para. 10). Continued melting at this rate could destabilize the ocean currents that keep Britain warmer than other European countries. Solution The evidence that man is responsible for global warming is admissible, therefore, solutions to global warming lies with us. The solution to global warming is quite simple, one does not have to make long journeys or spend large amounts of money, rather, implementation of the strategies that are outlined below will assist in averting this menace (Pearson, para.4). The first step is energy efficiency. This is a very large topic and covers almost all facets of energy use contributing to global warming. Energy efficiency involves adoption of energy forms that limit global warming, also referred to as alternative or renewable energy. The three main sources of these energy forms are the sun, tidal and wind energy. Other forms include hydroelectric, geothermal, diesel and biodiesel energy forms. Solar and wind energy present us with a greener and more environmentally friendly energy options, besides being renewable, they can be harnessed from almost anywhere on earth. Another simple process of keeping global warming in check is to plant trees around the house, school or in any open field. As simple as it may sound, this goes a long way to eliminating the Greenhouse g ases from the atmosphere, making the earth cooler. Other outdoor activities such as using bicycles or walking over short distances instead of using a car are very pivotal in reducing the levels of Greenhouse gases. We should strive to recycle materials around the house, especially non-biodegradable types such as packaging material. Plastic packaging bags can be re-used to reduce the environmental damage related to these materials. The manufacturing process of plastic bags also leads to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Global Warming Threats and Solutions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion If everybody follows these rules, we would be helping ourselves and even the future generations by preserving the earth. If all of us take a role in preserving the earth, the cumulative effect would be significant to cause a drop in the level of Greenhouse gases, hence the earthâ⠂¬â„¢s temperature. Works Cited Henderson, Mark. New proof that man has caused global warming. Times Online.  Web. IPCC. Summary for Policymakers. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis.  Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Pearson. Mastering biology. 2010. Web. https://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com/northamerica/masteringbiology/ Simon, Eric, Reece, Jane, Dickey, L. Jean, and Dickey, Jean. Campbell Essential  Biology. San Francisco: Pearson, Benjamin Cummings, 2010. Singer, Fred. Global Warming: Man-Made or Natural? Imprimis. Vol 36, No. 8, August 2007. This report on Global Warming Threats and Solutions was written and submitted by user Jerry T. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Webvan Firm Analysis

Webvan Firm Analysis Introduction Webvan is an online firm that deals with packaging, selling, and delivery of grocery products. The firm was established in 1996 under the leadership of Louis Borders. Borders’ vision was to establish a customer-focused grocery firm. The firm’s objective was to increase its customer base by nurturing a high level of customer satisfaction (McAfee and Ashiya 1).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Webvan Firm Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the ways through which the firm intended to achieve this goal entailed simplifying the consumers’ purchasing process. The firm intended to achieve a high level of effectiveness and efficiency in its operations. For example, Webvan ensured that orders were delivered within thirty minutes. Its efficiency regarding product delivery was facilitated by the fact that the firm established a number of distribution centres. Problem identificatio n In a bid to achieve its vision, Webvan adopted the concept of online marketing. Webvan intended to exploit the niche market that is arising from the growth in the Internet and the high rate at which consumers are purchasing products online. The firm invested heavily in infrastructure, but it did not focus on marketing, which led to low sales. Consequently, the firm’s online model was adversely affected. This paper evaluates the problems faced by Webvan coupled with how they can be resolved in order to reposition the firm as a strong online company. Inherent complexities in Webvan’s business model Despite Webvan’s goals to attain an optimal market position in the e-groceries market, the firm faced a number of fundamental challenges. One of the major complexities faced by the firm relates to the fact that it did not understand how the groceries value chain operates. Therefore, the firm invested in a system that it had not tested (McAfee and Ashiya 3). Secondly, the firm also faced a major challenge in motivating consumers to adopt online shopping in their purchasing processes. During its inception, most consumers were only acquainted with purchasing groceries from convenient stores. By visiting the stores, consumers were in a position to access price discount in addition to gaining a unique experience during the purchasing process. Moreover, most consumers attached little economic value to the amount of time spent when shopping in the supermarket, which means that a significant proportion of consumers did not value convenience. Consequently, online shopping was a rather new concept to most consumers. Therefore, changing the consumers’ behaviour is one of the uphill battles faced by the firm.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Webvan intended to deliver a wide range of perishable and non-perishable products to custome rs through its online model. However, the 30 minutes duration within which the firm intended to achieve this objective was relatively short. Moreover, this model was untested with regard to delivery of perishable products. Therefore, the likelihood of the model failing was relatively high. Dealing with grocery products was another major challenge that the firm faced, as such products were characterised by low profit margins of 1% to 5%. The firm also faced a major challenge with regard to sustaining its wide product range and meeting the temperature requirements in to preserve the products (McAfee and Ashiya 7). Technological discontinuities and behaviour changes necessary to implement Webvan’s business model Webvan’s failure arose from its inability to understand how it would successfully integrate online shopping technology to groceries. Despite its failure, Webvan can attain an optimal market position by improving its online shopping model. In order to achieve this goal, the firm should focus on a number of technological discontinuities. Technological discontinuities refer to the changes that the firm will be required to implement in order to maximise its sales revenue. Considering the volatile nature of the IT industry, it is imperative for Webvan to develop a well-structured framework to implement the technological changes. First, the firm should align its operations with market changes by identifying the possible technological discontinuities and market needs that might affect its ability to maximise online sales. In a bid to identify the technological discontinuities successfully, Webvan should take into account the customers’ future needs and the prevailing technological trends. This move will minimise the likelihood of the implemented ICT technology from becoming obsolete. The firm should also assess potential substitute technologies that can be incorporated and compare with the technology that has already been integrated (McAfee and Ashiya 9). It is also imperative for Webvan to engage in a comprehensive marketing campaign. The campaign should focus at creating awareness on the benefits associated with online shopping. The firm should conduct its market awareness campaign on both traditional and emerging mediums, which will play a critical role in the firm’s effort to attract its customer base and hence its sales revenue.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Webvan Firm Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some of the aspects that the firm should focus on relates to the economic benefits of online shopping. For example, online shopping saves on cost, as the consumer does not incur additional cost in their purchasing process due to transport. Moreover, online shopping is more convenient with regard to time, as it eliminates the amount of time that the customer may be required to queue. Target market Webvan targeted three main custome r groups, which include the new technologists, price insensitive consumers, and time conscious consumers. Before adopting the online shopping model, Webvan conducted a comprehensive market research. From the market research, the firm identified a customer group that values their time. These customers include senior citizens, mothers with young children, upscale employees, students, and physically challenged customers. Some of these customers such as students, senior citizens, and upscale employees attach high value to the convenience associated with online shopping. Consequently, they prefer shopping perishable and non-perishable products online rather than visiting supermarkets. Challenges associated with Webvan physical plant infrastructure In an effort to exploit the online market, Webvan invested in a high capital and technology intensive project. The project entailed constructing a number of distribution centres in different parts of the US. The distribution centres were fitted with optimal warehousing and order management technologies (McAfee and Ashiya 11). Despite its commitment in implementing the online shopping technology, Webvan experienced a major challenge with regard to meeting the cost of the high-tech warehouse. For example, the firm incurred $40 million in constructing the distribution centres in Atlanta. The firm experienced a major challenge in sustaining the operations of the high-tech warehouses considering the fact that its grocery sales were relatively low. The high cost of operation forced the firm to implement the downsizing strategy. For example, in 2001, the firm retrenched 2000 employees. Most investors in Webvan lost the amount they had invested. Moreover, the firm was forced to apply for bankruptcy protection. Conclusion The case study shows that Webvan faced numerous challenges that hindered its success in the online shopping market segment. First, the firm did not conduct a comprehensive consumer market research in order to det ermine the consumers purchasing patterns. Consequently, its online shopping model relied on assumption rather than market facts.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example, the firm assumed that the prevailing market size in the US would translate into sales, which motivated the firm to engage in an aggressive market expansion. The firm also incurred high cost in maintaining the distribution centres it had established in the US market. Moreover, Webvan’s management team assumed that the frequency of online purchases would enable the firm to maximise its sales. However, most consumers who purchased through the firm’s online shopping system did not engage in repeat purchase behaviour. Therefore, the firm was not in a position to develop and maintain a strong customer base. The firm also experienced a challenge due to technological discontinuities. Recommendation Despite the above failures, Webvan can improve its online business model and hence its performance. In order to achieve this goal, the firm should consider the following. Webvan should conduct a comprehensive consumer market research. The research will give the firmâ⠂¬â„¢s management insight with regard to the consumers’ purchasing behaviour. For example, the firm will be in a position to identify the products that consumers purchase online rather than selling all its products through the online business model. The firm should continually invest in research and development with regard to ICT, which will improve the firm’s competitiveness within the online market segment. The firm should also evaluate its target market in order to identify changes in consumers’ purchasing patterns, and thus the firm will improve its online shopping technologies to be aligned with the prevailing market trend. McAfee, Andrew, and Mona Ashiya. â€Å"Webvan.† Harvard Business Review, 25 Sept. 2001: 1-28. Print.