What is climate change?
Climate change describes a phenomenon of term-lasting but severe changes of weather conditions on the Earth for an extended period. These changes are derived mostly from the human activity, especially through the increase of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) to the atmosphere.
Causes of climate change:
- Burning Fossil Fuels
When we burn fossil fuels, including coal, oil and gas, as fuel for energy production we release a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Deforestation
Tress trap carbon dioxide into their tissues, but when forests are destroyed or burnt, the trapped carbon is released, adding it to the carbon already in the atmosphere, which effect the greenhouse.
- Industrial Processes
Some industrial processes, such as cement manufacture and chemical manufacture, release greenhouse gases while others emit such pollutants.
- Agriculture
Besides agricultural practices that include the rearing of livestock and rice farming, methane gas emission is another greenhouse gas that is also very strong in intensity.
Effects of Climate Change:
- Rising Temperatures
We witness a general raising of global temperatures which is accompanied by a higher number and severity of heatwaves.
- Thawing Ice Packs and Glaciers
With the temperatures rising, ice caps and glaciers melt which eventually leads to rise in the level of seas.
- Extreme Weather Events
Climate change is the cause of the more frequent and severe natural calamities, for example, and in this case, hurricanes, floods, and droughts.
- Loss of Biodiversity
Numerous plants and animals are threatened with disappearance from the Earth because of the transformations of their habitats which were brought about by the climate change.
How climate change affects our plants:
- Ocean Acidification
The oceans serve as a reservoir for most CO2 emitted into the atmosphere and ocean acidification occurs, something that impacts marine life.
- Disruption of Ecosystems
Human activities have been intensifying the climate change, affecting eco-systems providing food and water, such as agriculture.
- Risk to the Health of Mankind
Climate change is a threat for the health condition since it may intensify respiratory illnesses or heat-related illnesses.
- Social and Economic Ones
The impulse of climate change may result in a population shift, shortage of food and water and bad economy.