Since time immemorial, the world has continuously undergone changes in its nature, weather, biodiversity and most importantly the habitat characteristics of all living creatures. The Earth’s tilt at 23.5° and elliptical rotation around the Sun, result in the different seasons that we experience. These seasons are essential for crops to grow, animals to feed and humans to survive.
However, in this ever-changing world, the intensity of climate change poses a severe challenge to our survival in the coming decades. During the industrial revolution, scientists had proven that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere exceeded the safe boundary of 350 PPM (parts per million). Currently, this number has reached approximately 415 PPM, and if it goes beyond the threshold of 450 PPM, we will have entered the high-risk zone.
Causes of Climate Change
The most prominent reason for such severity in climate change is global warming driven by the following factors:
- Excessive Air Pollution: Toxic gases emitted from the burning of fossil fuels, industrial gases and fumes, and cigarette consumption contribute to air pollution.
- Deforestation: The large-scale reduction of trees and plants results in decreased consumption of carbon dioxide and negatively impacts ecosystems, leading to imbalanced rainfall, droughts and natural calamities such as wildfires.
- Industrialisation and Civilization: The expansion of industrial and urban areas along coastal regions disrupts the ecosystem, contributing to air, soil, water, and noise pollution while endangering biodiversity.
Let’s understand the causes of climate change in detail to realise which remedies can help overcome them.
Air Pollution is a major cause of global warming as it prevents heat from getting dissipated into space from the earth’s surface. Consequently, over the last two decades, the mean temperature of the earth is continuously increasing, causing the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic circles to melt. This leads to a rise in seawater levels causing natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and tsunamis.
Scientists predict that the melting of icecaps in Greenland, West Antarctica and East Antarctica will raise the sea level around the world by about seven, five and a horrifying 50 meters, respectively. A concerning fact is that the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems means that if one part crosses a tipping point*, it increases the likelihood of other parts also crossing their critical thresholds, much like a domino effect.
Fossil fuel usage is one of the most vital contributors to air pollution. Despite the world’s rapid technological, economic and industrial growth, the emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from fuel combustion exacerbate global warming.
Industrial gases and fumes emitted from thermal power plants, nuclear power plants and factories such as fertilizer or chemical plants, cause a substantial increase in air pollution. These gases could also be deadly for humans when inhaled.
Tobacco consumption, specifically smoking cigarettes, is yet another leading cause of air pollution. Cigarette smoke produces dangerous gases that increase carbon content in the air, posing risks to both human health and the environment. In addition, cigarette filters are not biodegradable, which contributes to soil pollution making it toxic for all soil habitats to survive.
Deforestation is also a critical cause of global warming, as it drastically reduces the consumption of carbon dioxide by trees and plants. This disrupts ecosystems and leads to an imbalance in rainfall, causing freshwater scarcity and natural calamities like wildfires. Consequently, vulnerable wildlife faces challenges and loss of life.
Industrialisation and Civilization along coastal regions are increasing by the day. Consequently, this causes a major imbalance in our ecosystem through air, soil, water and noise pollution. As a result, endangered oceanic and island biodiversity is challenged for survival. Examples of such instances include the bleaching of corals in the Australian coral islands, declining turtle populations along the beaches, etc.
Remedies for Climate Change
It is evident that climate change has a detrimental impact on the Earth’s habitat. Although its consequences are majorly being witnessed by wild animals and plants, the day when human beings will experience its true impact is fast approaching.
Therefore, to save ourselves and Mother Earth, and to create a habitable environment for future generations, it is our social, moral and ethical responsibility to contribute to maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. Here are some things that we can do:
- Limit deforestation and promote tree plantation to preserve biodiversity and maintain a balanced food chain.
- Mandate the use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power plants, while restricting reliance on nuclear and thermal power plants.
- Encourage the adoption of electric vehicles as an alternative to fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
- Regulate waste removal from industrial plants to prevent direct disposal into the environment.
- Promote plastic recycling to minimize harm to habitable lands.
- Eliminate, reduce, or control cigarette smoking through stringent laws and regulations.
- Limit industrialisation or civilization in coastal regions, to protect the eco-system.
- Use electric trains instead of trains powered by burning fossil fuels.
- Implement strict laws and regulations to control fishing in oceans and seas, ensuring the survival and thriving of nearly extinct fish species.
- Encourage a shift from environmentally unfriendly habits to sustainable practices, such as using bicycles instead of motorized vehicles and opting for paper bags over plastic bags.
- Design green buildings and houses with natural ventilation and illumination systems to minimise electricity usage for air conditioning and lighting.
The good news is that the environment can still recover at an astonishing pace if we prioritise nature and implement these changes and initiatives. While other steps may exist beyond the scope of this article, they must be environmentally friendly and feasible. It is crucial that collective action, involving global leaders and geopolitical congregations, takes place to combat the devastating phenomenon of climate change. Failure to address this issue will result in irreparable harm to our environment, collapse of civilizations, and a bleak future for humanity.
Let us commit to change and take responsibility for our planet’s well-being.
*Tipping Point is the threshold beyond which a change is irreversible, i.e., crossing the tipping point means entering a point of no return. Its consequences are inevitable.
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