Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW 1

Literature Review

Climate Change Effects on UTEP

Daniel Corona

University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1302

July 25, 2018

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Abstract

This paper talks about the issue of climate change and how climate change affecting

human society with a concentration on the UTEP community. This paper starts by describing

what is climate change, the challenges researchers have faced to find data or evidence to come

up with a solution to prevent and/or to adapt to climate change effects that will come in the

future, what evidence has been found and what solutions have been proposed by researchers.

Some effects of climate change are discussed in this essay, among them, how is climate change

is affecting economy and how this is relevant to the students at UTEP. This essay contains the

results of a survey conducted by the “UTEP Climate Community Survey” team. The results of

this survey show the different beliefs students at UTEP have towards the idea of climate change,

how is climate change affecting the heath of the students (even those living in different areas)

and how is climate change affecting students academically.

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Literature Review

Climate Change and UTEP

The fast growth of population and industries in the cities is a direct factor affecting

climate change. In 1973, a group of scientists wrote a warning letter to the president of the

United States regarding possible climate change effects on society (Bryson, 1997, p. xi) such as

heath, economical and even academic issues. Studies have shown that urban areas like El Paso

are most likely to be affecting climate change since urban areas are the major sources of

pollution, and the people living in these areas are also being affected by climate change in many

ways; people should stop being indifferent toward this matter.

People used to think climate change was something irrelevant for them, but recent

research suggests that the health and the economy of nations is being affected by climate change.

People, including students at UTEP, should take action on this matter. According to Guzman

(2013), climate change is not a topic should be only discussed by scientists, even though this is a

very complicated and controversial topic. He refers to this topic as a "familiar and mysterious

subject." Guzman proposed that all people should be talking and worrying about this subject, not

only scientist. He mentioned that “[he himself is] certainly not a scientist,” demonstrating an

example of his claim: all people should be talking about climate change (p. Ix-x).

This paper will explore this topic through the following questions:

• What is climate change?

• How is climate change affecting economy?

• How is climate change perceived among UTEP students?

• Is climate change affecting students at UTEP?

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Discussion of Research

About Climate Change

Most individuals have some basic knowledge about what climate change is and the

complexity of this topic. The closest and simplest definition of climate change is the patterns in

which weather change over a period of time (Stevenson, 2011, p. 1695). According to Wilkinson

et al. (2003), broad scientific efforts were the only way to detect climate change impacts on

health. He noted that “[the] detection of climate change effects on health were necessary to

provide evidence.” however, he believes that the scientific effort, as mentioned before, is the way

to do it, rather by monitoring climate changes. Wilkinson found that the constant change in

climate "makes monitoring climate change complex" (p. 1). He also argued that monitoring

means "continuous or repeated observations using consistent... methods" which, by his claim,

means that climate change patterns are really complicated to monitor. These findings show the

complexity of the subject, even scientist find it difficult to find evidence regarding what actions

to take regarding climate change. Also, it shows how climate is constantly changing which

makes the process of finding a pattern more difficult. This connects with other researchers claims

about hoe even for scientist, climate change is a difficult topic to research. As Guzman (2013)

observed, scientists do an “exceptionally poor job” when presenting or considering what action

to take regarding this subject (pp. Ix-x).

Climate change is a hazard caused by humans, especially in urban areas where more

pollution is produced. This issue could also cause bigger effects in the future as urban areas

continue to grow. According to Bulkeley (2013), seeing examples of climate change effects on

urban areas will give us understanding of what climate change effects may be “coming in the

future cities.” She noted that many evidences point to urban areas as key arenas for research. She
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found that "urban areas are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions which are vulnerable

to impact climate change" (p. 2). Climate change could affect human society in various ways.

One of the things that make climate change a very important topic it "the uniqueness of its

hazards" (p. 2). Climate change is not just affecting our health in direct paths but also in indirect

paths. It will affect in creating heat waves, air pollution, affect water quality, and other factors

(Patz, 2008). According to Patz, the ways climate change can affect the health of human kind

should be recognized and treated with deep concern. He mentioned that climate change is "not

just a single toxic, a single agent of disease" but climate change is a "multifactorial" problem. He

noted that because there are many "pathways" through which climate change is affecting

us (water quality, pollution, heat, etc...), we must find and target the main problem causing

these effects. He found that the main cause of climate change is "greenhouse gas emissions" (pp.

5-6). Taking these findings in account, we can conclude that the pollution produced in urban

areas are a major cause of climate change; therefore, people living in these areas are being

severally affected by it.

Climate change is a controversial topic that even the best scientists are not able to come

up with a definite solution for it. As mentioned before by Wilkinson et al. (2003), climate change

is a quite difficult topic. The National Research Council (2010) described how the committee

was "tasked with developing technical document" to provide necessary information to

understand climate change and provide "insights into environmental sustainability issues" (p. 5).

He claimed that in order to "support policies and investments to increase resilience” in human

and Earth systems, we need information to access vulnerabilities to climate change. He noted

that current observation systems that monitor elements of how climate is changing do not

necessarily provide information about climate change impacts on humans that “would be
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relevant for economic or political planning or decision making” (p. xi), and as mentioned by

Guzman (2013), scientist do an “exceptionally poor job “when presenting data on climate

change.

Climate change is a health risk seen through history that is now affecting the health of

many. According to McMichael et al. (2017), history can help us to understand or predict future

health effects of climate change (p. xv). McMichael noted that major risk humankind has faced

in the past millennia have been often provoked by climate change. McMichael found that

knowledge on past human experiences regarding climate change can “alert us from what risk we

may be facing or may come in the future” (p. xv). The awareness and the concern on climate

change have alerted all American people since now we understand the what climate change

means for not just the American population but for all the Earth (Kennedy, 2008).

Kennedy claimed that "the issue of climate change is not an issue about polar bears or distant

melting glaciers," but it is a topic that everyone should be concerned about. Climate change not

only affects our communities but also "our health and health effects on our children." He

mentioned that scientist throughout the world have found that climate change is a risk factor to

our health and that through history we can find out that effects of climate change before it is too

late. He found that the 2003 heat wave in in Europe was responsible for the death of more than

30,000 people (p. 1). Having this in form type of data will definitely help us to understand what

risks may be coming in a near future.

Even though climate change is a very complicated topic even for scientist of high

prestige, many researches have concluded that urban areas are the ones affecting the climate

change the most and the ones being affected by it too. Research has shown that urban areas can

contribute in the search for data on climate change given that through past event we can
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understand we are standing in these issues and what possible outcomes may be coming in the

future.

Climate Change and Economy

Human activities may have to be reduce and also industries may have to reduce

production in order to prevent climate change. Concerns about possible climate change effects on

environmental, economic and social issues have cause international debates about what should

be done to reduce greenhouse gases, "which are claimed to be the main cause [of climate

change]" (Barrio, 2010). Barrio argues "the debate is over" since we now know the science

required and we know see the threat, it’s not the time to debate anymore but to take action. He

found that the more fundamental response is to try to reduce or avoid the human activities that

are seen as "causing climate change" such as trying to reduce gases emitted from the combustion

of fossil fuels in vehicles and power stations. (p. xi). Not only does industries may have to reduce

production to reduce pollution but also according to the National Research Council (2010),

climate change effect will increase as population grows increasing the demand of for resources

(p. xi). It is common knowledge that decreasing in production and increase in demand in not a

good sign for economy.

The economy is being and will be affected by the increase of high temperatures due to

climate change. According to Akerman (2013) greenhouse gases will double or triple in next few

decades which will magnify the sun's potential and heat up the Earth causing high temperatures

to increase (p. 13). This temperature rises will cause the population to spend more money to take

care of their usual expenses such as electric bills and gas. Since prices for such things can

increase for the reasons mentioned before; these are direct factors affecting UTEP students since

all of them need transportation and probably school tuitions may increase for these reasons.
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Primary Research

UTEP Climate Community Survey

This survey was conducted with the main purpose to find academic and health issues

among students at UTEP, to find if students were aware of climate change causes and effects

(focused on their community), and to find whether students were concerned about climate

change or not. The research was conducted in the university’s library, in the afternoon, on July

20, 2018 during a summer term at UTEP. The surveyed people were randomly selected (N=30),

being divided in equal amounts according to their gender. The students selected where between

the ages of 18-34, all of them living in areas of El Paso and Cd. Juarez. The survey consisted on

nine questions (Appendix B) asked to every single one of the selected people.

The results of the survey showed more than the team expected, we did not only find the

information we were looking for but also find relevant information regarding why students have

certain beliefs about this topic (climate change) and how students living in different areas form

El Paso or Cd. Juarez where being affected by climate change.

A survey conducted at UTEP in 2015 showed similar results to the results obtained by

our team (Prospector, 2015, p. 4). Three years ago, students had similar concerns and beliefs

regarding climate change. Furthermore, our survey proved/showed more evidence regarding

some of our references by finding how students living closer to the city areas where most likely

to acquire a weather-related sickness.

Although results cannot be generalized, through our research we were able to conclude

that indeed climate change is affecting our community and as suggested by the National

Academies (2009), that although planning for adaptation it is a plan still in process, it is

important to quickly move forward to avoid future impacts on climate change. He noted that this
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is a "relative ne topic" for the community, and that it was made fully know to the people after

realizing the effects and changes in earth systems from having more heat trapped in the

atmosphere. The author also found that the best way to prepare or adapt for this climate changes

is reducing greenhouse gases, which some cities and states already began to do. These findings

concern the student at UTEP since climate change is affecting their community in various ways.

UTEP and Climate Change Beliefs

Students at UTEP have a similar concept about climate change. According to UTEP

Climate Community Survey (2018), most of the students at UTEP believe that the main cause of

climate change is "human kind." A high percent of students claimed to believe that the pollution

emitted from local industries and the excessive use of vehicles are the main cause of pollution

(figure 3) shows the percentage of students that believe in climate change. Also, is commonly

believed, among students at UTEP, that since we live in the border of El Paso and Cd. Juarez, the

pollution coming from Juarez is affecting the situation in El Paso -regarding climate change

(figure 1) shows pictures of the pollution produced at El Paso and Cd. Juarez; some respondents

motioned that the pollution produced in these areas can be noticed at plain sight. As stated

earlier, pollution is one of the major cause for climate change; the fact that pollution can be seen

at plain sight shows that we are definitely contributing to climate change.

Students at UTEP believe that climate change can have an effect in their education. After

conduction the survey, we found that around half of the respondents (see figure 2) claimed that

weather-related situations have prevented them from attending classes and even prevented them

from turning in assignments (see figure 2). However, this belief could be bias since through the

survey we also discovered that the GPA of the respondents revolves around 3.0 and 4.0 range.
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Even though climate change is a concept commonly accepted among the students at

UTEP, after conducting the survey we found some people that reject the idea of climate change.

Around 10% of the respondents claimed that they didn’t believe in the idea of global warming or

climate change (see figure 3).

Climate Change and UTEP

UTEP community believe and are concerned about climate change. According to Nova

(2001), as early as 2001, UTEP was bringing speakers to campus to talk to students about certain

topics such as climate change (p. 19). Also, in the prospector (2017), Cristian Velasquez claimed

that the topic climate change is a very important topic to research; however, since climate change

is a very complicated and controversial topic UTEP decided to put this topic aside for a while

along with other topics similar to this one (p. 3). Furthermore, In The prospector (2015), a survey

was conducted over UTEP where UTEP students gave their opinion on climate change. most of

the students said that they believed and where concern about the topic. These findings show that

the UTEP community have been concerned about climate change even as early as 2001.

Health of the students at UTEP is being affected by climate change. As mentioned before

many times by many sources, studies and research have shown that urban areas are one of the

biggest sources of pollution, which is one of the major causes of climate change. People living in

urban areas are prone to acquire a weather-related sickness more often. The survey conducted at

UTEP by our team (UTEP Climate Community Survey) showed living in El Paso and Cd. Juarez

areas tend to acquire a weather-relate sickness of 1 to 3 times a year as shown in (figure 4). Also,

it was discovered that students living closer to the city tend to get sick more often than students

who live in less populated areas. Students living in campus claimed that they did not get a

weather-related sickness in the past year.

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Conclusion

Even though this is not a high academic research, it is more than clear that climate

change is a matter that should concern everyone, including students at UTEP, since the

evidenced provided shows that climate change is affecting our community. Since El Paso and

Cd. Juarez are urban areas; our hypothesis was that our community would have similar health

issues and concerns about climate change. According to many of the sources mentioned

previously, urban areas are major factors affecting climate change and major areas affected by it

too. By this being said; people living in El Paso and Cd. Juarez Areas (students at UTEP) should

not only be aware and concerned about climate change and its causes and effects but actually

take in account that fact that we, as a community, should take action to star to adapt to the

climate change and try to reduce pollution in our community to prevent bigger climate change

effects in the future.

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References

Ackerman, F., & Stanton E. A. (2013). Climate economics: the state of the art (1st ed.). USA

and Canada: Routledge.

Bryson, R. A., & Murray, T. J. (1977). Climates of hunger: Mankind and the world's changing

weather. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. Retrieved from http://0-

search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat04704a&AN=nug.b114

2740&site=eds-live&scope=site

Bulkeley, H. (2013). Cities and climate change. New York: Abingdon, Oxon. Retrieved

from http://0-

search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat04704a&AN=nug.b263

4941&site=eds-live&scope=site

Guzman, A. T. (2013). Overheated: The human cost of climate change. New York, NY: Oxford

University Press.

Jonathan, P. (2009). Chap. 3. Climate change: A challenge for public health: Hearing of the

committee on health, education, labor, and pensions, united states senate, one hundred

tenth congress, second session, on examining climate change, focusing on it as a

challenge for public health. (pp. 1). Washington: U.S. G.P.O.

Kennedy, H. (2009). Chap 1. Climate change: A challenge for public health: Hearing of the

committee on health, education, labor, and pensions, united states senate, one hundred

tenth congress, second session, on examining climate change, focusing on it as a

challenge for public health. (pp. 1). Washington: U.S. G.P.O.

Marquina Barrio, A. (2010). Global warming and climate change: Prospects and policies in Asia

and Europe. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

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McMichael, A. J., Woodward, A., & Muir, C. (2017). Climate change and the health of nations:

Famines, fevers, and the fate of populations. New York: Oxford University Press.

National Research Council. Monitoring climate change impacts: Metrics at the intersection of the

human and earth systems. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Retrieved

from http://0-

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7317&site=eds-live&scope=site;http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12965

The National Academies (2009). Adapting to the impacts of climate change: America's climate

choices (2010). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.

Stevenson, A. (2011). Oxford dictionary of English Oxford]: Oxford University Press; 3rd ed. /

edited by Angus Stevenson. Retrieved from http://0-

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3620&site=eds-live&scope=site; http://0-

www.oxfordreference.com.lib.utep.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780199571123.001.0001/ac

ref-9780199571123

The University of Texas at El Paso, University Communications. (2001). Nova quarterly: The

university of Texas at El Paso. Nova. Retrieved from http://0-

search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ir01087a&AN=dcutep.no

va.1173&site=eds-

live&scope=site;http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1173&conte

xt=nova; http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/nova/174

UTEP, S. P. (2017), The Prospector, April 18. Velazquez, C., Retrieved from http://0-

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spector.1284&site=eds-live&scope=site;

http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1284&context=prospector;htt

p://digitalcommons.utep.edu/prospector/282

UTEP, S. P. (2015), The prospector, April 21. The Prospector, Retrieved from http://0-

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spector.1207&site=eds-live&scope=site;

http://digitalcommons.utep.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1207&context=prospector;htt

p://digitalcommons.utep.edu/prospector/209

Wilkinson, P., Campbell-Lendrum, D., & Bartlett, C. L. (2003). CHAPTER 10: Monitoring the

health effects of climate change. climate change & human health

(pp. 204-219) World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://0-

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live&scope=site
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Appendix A: Images

Figure 1. Pollution in the El Paso and Cd. Juarez.

Source: utep.edu

Figure 2.

Figure 3.
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Figure 4.
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Appendix B: Survey Questions

Survey Questions

1. Age

2. Gender

3. Are you from the El Paso/ Juarez area? If so, What area?

4. Do you believe in man-made climate change?

5. Why or why not?

6. How did you learn about this topic?

7. Has anything weather related stopped you from turning/completing an assignment?

8. What is you GPA range? (1.5-2.0, 2.0-3.0, 3.0-4.0)

9. How many times have you gotten a weather-related sickness in the past year?