Global Warming: The Mystery, The Fact

We are not new to the term 'Global-Warming'. Climate activists have been repeatedly mentioning this term in order to make us aware of the consequences global warming will have on us and our home, The Earth. Repeated campaigns and awareness drives are carried out in order to bring home the idea that we have only one planet we can call home and although we are not all-powerful we must at least do whatever is in our power to save our only home and thereby save ourselves and all of life.
                                                                   
The only planet with life: Earth

What is Global warming?

Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate. There is great debate among many people, and sometimes in the news, on whether global warming is real or a hoax. But climate scientists looking at the data and facts agree the planet is warming. While many view the effects of global warming to be more substantial and more rapidly occurring than others do, the scientific consensus on climatic changes related to global warming is that the average temperature of the Earth has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 °C since 1900. 


Causes of Global Warming


Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants and greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface. Normally, this radiation would escape into space—but these pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter. That's what's known as the greenhouse effect. The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, industrialization, and other human activities, are believed to be the primary sources of the global warming that has occurred over the past 50 years.

             
Rapid Industrialisation is one of the causes of Global warming
 

Consequences of Climate Change


According to sources climate change has several main effects:
  • Increased average global temperatures
  • Warming oceans
  • Sea-level rise
  • Increased extreme weather events such as extreme disasters
  • Ocean acidification
  • Shrinking ice sheets, shrinking glaciers, and reduced snow cover

      
Melting ice will cause a rise in global sea-level

Solution for Global warming


Climate Change is driven primarily by the use of fossil fuels and secondarily by greenhouse gas emissions through deforestation, agriculture, and other less prominent causes.

The primary way to solve global warming is to eliminate the role of fossil fuels in the modern society wherever possible. This means transitioning to renewable and carbon-free energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro which cause less than 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuel energy sources.

Secondarily, deforestation should be prevented and replaced with sustainable forestry and land-use practices. Because plants breathe in carbon dioxide and store it, they actually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Therefore, in a simple sense, there are two ways to solve climate change.

  1. Reduce and stop emissions of greenhouse gases including Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide
  2. Remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by allowing forests, the oceans, and other natural systems to act as carbon sinks – which is what they naturally do. We can encourage this removal of greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere by ending deforestation, ocean habitat destruction, and promoting sustainable forestry.

The solution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a worldwide commitment that must be enacted across nearly every sector of industry and personal choice. Fortunately, the technology to switch to renewable energy such as solar and wind is readily available and is now cheaper in most places than energy coming from fossil fuels such as coal and gas. The switch to renewable energy will solve a large piece of the puzzle if we can act fast enough to implement it.

In addition to reducing our carbon footprints, we can all also take the additional step of offsetting the emissions we cannot prevent through carbon offsets.

We can all play a role in solving climate change in many areas of our lives: citizen, worker, individual. The fundamental premise is: reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


That's it for now. Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.

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