Climate change refers to the periodic modification of the Earth’s temperature and climate variations. It refers to the long-term but significant changes in the global climate.
The terms climate change and global warming are being used interchangeably. The reason behind this is that both of them describe changes in earth’s atmosphere and climate.
Changes in the earth’s atmosphere due to climate have lasted more than a few years, decades and even for million years.
Earth’s climate patterns change have become eternal and remain on earth for a measurable amount of time. Human factors have contributed to the earth’s climate change since decades.
Therefore, it is urgent to identify the causes of climate change and take the necessary actions upon it.
Below are some of the reasons behind climate change and their contribution in earth’s rising atmosphere:
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Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases have an important role to play in the earth’s climatic cycles. As the earth is impacted with the sun’s rays, some of the radiation and energy is absorbed, and the rest of that energy and heat gets reflected into space. These greenhouse gases are essential for trapping the sun rays and reflected energy and are responsible for redirecting them to the earth.
Therefore, these gases eventually lead to global warming. Numerous gases are responsible for which are as follows:
- Water vapor
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane
- Nitrous oxide
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Some of the emissions have been occurring naturally since ages but many of them such as CO2, Methane and CFCs emissions are due to the human activities
The increase in emissions of CO2 due human activities has been increasing at an alarming rate all over the world. With the rise in CO2 production , the earth’s natural resources to absorb it has also been diminished. Few of the human activities like deforestation, soil erosion has led to continuous warming of the atmosphere accelerating climate change.
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Agriculture
Agriculture is also known as one of the major contributors of climate change.
From having deforestation in the Amazon to the commute livestock that it takes to support agricultural efforts around the world, agriculture is held responsible for an important part of the world’s greenhouse gas release and emissions. On the other hand agriculture is also an area that is making commendable improvement to become more sustainable and pollution free all across the globe.
With the increase in productivity, countries are releasing less carbon with the production of more food. A
As agriculture also has the potential to act as a carbon sink, and has the capacity to take in the same amount of CO2 it emits.
Deforestation
Deforestation and Climate change are the two sides of the same coin. On one side climate change has increased deforestation activities and on the other hand deforestation is also one of the major contributors to rising earth’s atmosphere and climate change.
According to the reports and researchers on Earth Day Network, deforestation is the second leading contributor to global greenhouse gasses. Many groups and people are fighting against climatic worsening and deforestation as it is one of the most important issues that must be addressed to prevent climate change.
Livestock
While related to many of the agricultural and deforestation issues we have already discussed, livestock in the form of cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry is also playing a major role in climatic worsening and earth’s rising temperatures. “Livestock and Climate Change,” livestock around the world are being held responsible for 51% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
Long Term Impact of Climate Change
The time has come to be aware as the long term impression of climate change can be devastating and catastrophic if not considered now. If we as humans continue on our current trajectory it is most likely that our future generations will face repercussions in their everyday lives.
Health
With the passage of time, effects of climate have been rising, and have been impacting our health. According to the reports Center for Disease Control and Prevention, few of health related issues due to climate change are as follows:
- Heat-related illness
- fatalities from severe weather changes
- Asthma & cardiovascular disease caused by air pollution
- Respiratory problems
- Diseases spreading due to poor quality of water
Water & Food Resources
Increased temperature and disturbances have limited crop productivity and surged the demand for water. With a rise in demand for food of 70% by 2050, the problem will likely only get worse. Apart from food and resources, studies also estimate that nearly 30% of plant and animal species are at high risk of getting extinct if climate change continues to the same level as it is now
Sea Levels Rising and Shrinking Ice sheets
The rise in sea levels has been evident since many decades affecting coastal areas and habitats nearby. Shoots in alarming temperatures and melting ice sheets have disturbed the sea levels at the global levels.
At current rates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates sea levels to rise by at least 8 inches by 2100, which will act as the root cause of natural disasters as flooding and surge in wetland habitats
The inhuman human activities are pushing CO2 emissions to a limit resulting in increased acidity in the sea levels and disrupting the ocean’s food cycle.
Climate change has driven summer melt of the ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica to increase by nearly 30% since 1979.
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Read Also : Climate change impacts on water resources
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Solutions for Climate Change
The disastrous effects of climate change do seem severe but there’s still some hope left if the Governments’ start taking serious steps from now onwards.
“After all, It is better late than never”
There is an urgent need to curb the human causes of climate change which will also restrict natural causes of earth’s atmospheric depletion. If the steps are taken now and the world moves towards being cleaner and tartas adopting sustainable solutions ,there may be millions of new jobs created and billions of dollars of economic benefits. Mentioned below are the ways we can contribute and battle the fight against climate change.
- Buy Renewable Energy Certificate
- Having home energy efficient
- Purchase carbon offsets
- Having a plant-based diet
- Reduction in wastage of food Recycle
- Limiting using if Fossil fuels
- Ban on deforestation
