INTRODUCTION:
Climate change is one of the
most pressing issues of our time. It is a global problem that requires a combined
solution. Despite this, there is still a lot of confusion about what climate
change is, what causes it and what we can do to stop it. This blog will aim to
clear up some of that confusion. We will start by looking at the main causes of
climate change. We will then move on to the environmental impacts of climate
change. Finally, we will look at some of the valid solutions to climate change.
Climate change has become a topic of significant global concern since the
1970s. Scientists have been warning the public about dangers of climate change
and its potential impacts on the environment, economy and human health. Despite
this, emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise and the world is not on
track to meet the goals set in Paris Agreement. There are a number of causes of
climate change, from natural causes like solar variability to human activities
like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. The impacts of climate change are
already being felt around the world and are predicted to worsen in the future.
These impacts include more extreme weather events, rising sea levels and
disruptions to ecosystems.
Fortunately, there are a number
of things that can be done to mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, it
is important to act now; as the longer we wait, the more difficult and costly
it will be to address the problem. Unfortunately, the process of reaching an
agreement on global solution has been slow and difficult. The main cause of
climate change is greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions come from a variety
of sources including power plants, vehicles and factories. Greenhouse gases
trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Climate
change is already having a major impact on the environment. It is causing the
Earth’s temperatures to rise, which is resulting in more extreme weather
conditions such as heat waves, hurricanes and floods. Climate change is also
causing sea levels to rise and glaciers to melt. There are a number of ways to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the process of climate change. These
include using renewable energy, planting trees and reducing waste. We must act
now to slow the process of climate change and protect our planet for future
generations.
CLIMATE
CHANGE – WHAT IS IT?:
The gradual modification of a
place's temperature and usual weather patterns is known as climate change. Climate
change might apply to a certain area or the entire world. More frequent and intense hurricanes, floods, heavy rains, winter storms and other damaging weather events are linked to climate change. The resulting sea level rise is beginning to damage
coastlines through increased flooding and erosion, in addition to ocean
expansion caused by melting of polar ice due to rising temperatures. The
combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas is a major human
activity that is contributing to the current climate change. When these items
are burned, green house gases are released in to the atmosphere of Earth. There,
these gases cause the Sun's rays to overheat the atmosphere, raising the
average global temperature. One of the major problems facing our planet today is climate change. It is caused by the release of green house
gases like carbon dioxide and methane in to the atmosphere, which trap heat and
cause the Earth’s temperature to rise. This rise in temperature is causing huge
problems for our environment and our way of life. It is melting glaciers and
polar ice caps, leading to rising sea levels and more extreme weather
conditions. It is also putting animals and plants at risk of extinction.
MAIN
CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE:
Climate change has been a topic
of discussion for many years and it is evident that Earth is going through some
major changes. While there is still some debate over the exact causes of
climate change, the scientific community has generally agreed that there are a
few main causes of climate change. It is a complex problem that has many causes
but there are two main categories of causes: natural causes and human-caused
causes. Natural causes of climate change include things like changes in the
sun’s output, volcanic eruptions, and changes in Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
These causes are natural processes that have been going on for billions of
years and are not human induced. Human-caused or anthropogenic causes of
climate change include things like green house gas emissions from burning fossil
fuels, deforestation and agricultural practices. These are activities that
humans have started doing in large quantities only in the last few hundred
years and they are the main drivers of climate change today. Both natural and
human-caused causes of climate change are important to consider.
- Green house effect: Green house
gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide trap heat
from the Sun in the Earth’s atmosphere. This trapped heat makes the Earth’s
average temperature rise, which can lead to global warming.
- Deforestation: Trees and
other plants help regulate the Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from
the air. But when forests are cleared for logging or other development, this
carbon dioxide is released back in to the atmosphere, worsening the green house
effect.
- Burning fossil fuels: When we
burn fossil fuels like coal and oil for energy, it releases carbon dioxide and
other green house gases in to the atmosphere.
- Agricultural practices:
Agricultural activities like raising livestock and growing crops can also
release green house gases in to the atmosphere. For example, livestock like
cows release methane gas, while fertilizer use can release nitrogen.
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE:
Climate change is one of the
most significant environmental challenges of our time. It is a leading cause of
global temperature rise, sea level rise and extreme weather events. Climate
change has the potential to cause wide spread damage to our natural
environment, our economies and our social fabric. It is already affecting the
environment and society in a wide range of ways and its impacts are projected
to increase in the future.
- Melting glaciers and ice
sheets
- Changes in the timing and
amount of precipitation
- More frequent and more
intense extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts and floods
- Changes in the distribution
and abundance of plants and animals
Climate change is having
significant and wide spread impacts on our environment including our oceans,
ice sheets and biosphere. As green house gas concentrations in the atmosphere
continue to rise, the Earth’s climate will change even more, with potentially
large and unpredictable consequences for life on Earth. The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 5th assessment report found that
human activities are “extremely likely” to be the dominant cause of climate
change since 1950s. Green house gas emissions from burning fossil fuels,
land-use change and agriculture are the main drivers of climate change. Climate
change is projected to cause a wide range of impacts including sea level rise,
more frequent and intense weather events and changes in the range and
distribution of species.
SOLUTIONS
TO CLIMATE CHANGE:
As we continue to face the
threat of climate change, it is important that we take action to protect our
environment and society. The good news is that we can take action to mitigate
the impacts of climate change. By reducing our green house gas emissions, we
can help to slow the rate of climate change and reduce the severity of its
impacts. We can also adapt to the changing climate by making changes to the way
we live and work. One of the most important things we can do is to reduce our
green house gas emissions. This can be done by shifting to renewable energy
sources (solar, wind and hydroelectric power), increasing energy efficiency and
changing our patterns of consumption. We also need to protect and restore our
forests, as they play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Another important measure is to adapt to the changes that are already happening
and will continue to happen as the climate changes. This includes everything
from making our buildings more resilient to extreme weather events to planning
for changes in food production. We can also work to preserve and restore
natural habitats that help absorb carbon dioxide. By taking action on climate
change, we can make a difference for our planet and future generations.
CONCLUSION:
Climate is an area's long term
average of weather. A change in those typical conditions is called climate
change. It is a pressing global issue that requires urgent action. The main
causes of climate change are emissions from burning of fossil fuels, livestock
farming and deforestation. Humans' use of oil, gas and coal in their homes,
factories and transportation is to blame for the rapid climate change we are
currently witnessing. These fossil fuels release green house gases upon
combustion. The planet's temperature increases as a result of these gases'
ability to absorb solar heat. The impacts of climate change are already being
felt across the world, in the form of more extreme weather events, rising sea
levels and declining wildlife populations. Extreme weather occurrences are
becoming increasingly severe and endangering lives and way of life. Further
warming could make some areas un-inhabitable. Valid solutions to climate change
include investing in renewable energy, protecting forests and promoting
sustainable agricultural practices. In a historic accord signed at Paris in
2015, countries agreed that the best way to control climate change is by
working together and they vowed to make every effort to limit global warming
below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
