Climate change and its massive impact on the planet

The effect that climate change has on our planet is enormous and simply alarming. Climate change is responsible for most natural disasters; the number of natural disasters caused by climate change is way more than you could imagine. As the temperature of the planet increases, the Antarctic ice melts, resulting in increased sea levels. You could imagine the downside of increased sea levels; it results in more water reaching the land. Some scientists have also predicted that it might lead to some coastal areas getting submerged. Climate change also results in floods, tsunami, drought, earthquakes, wildfires, and much more.

Let’s talk about the Amazon forest fires which occurred last year. Yes, climate change wasn’t responsible for causing the fire, but it indeed worsened the situation. Due to high temperatures and the lack of rainfall, the fire was uncontrollable. It’s safe to say that the fire ignited the forest and the whole world as people from around the globe were furious in the handling of the situation and the government’s ignorance towards climate change. The consequence of the fire was enormous amounts of smoke polluting the planet. As we all know, smoke contains massive amounts of CO and CO2, which pollute the environment. Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. On the other hand, CO2 is a greenhouse gas, and it leads to global warming.

Furthermore, due to rising temperatures, the oceans have also become warmer. Warming seas are driving ocean animals further north and reducing sea turtle hatchling success, and the effects of increasing ocean acidification will become more deadly to all marine life. Rising ocean temperatures also affect the benefits humans derive from the ocean – threatening food security, increasing the prevalence of diseases, and causing more extreme weather events and the loss of coastal protection.

Similarly, climate change also harms animals living on land. The Tiger, which predominantly roams the Indian subcontinent, is at high risk. Thanks to strict measures, the population of the feline have increased rapidly. According to WWF, the tiger population in the wild is around 3890. However, climate change might cause wildfire or accelerate forest fire, affecting the big cat. In the same manner, snow leopards are also vulnerable. The Himalayas are prime snow leopard habitat, but, unfortunately, they are getting warmer by the day, and this will cause their range to shrink. The melting of Arctic ice also threatens Polar bears, whose population is already declining.

We certainly don’t want climate change to affect our lives or the lives of animals negatively. So, we need to take the necessary steps to tackle climate change.

Here are ten things you can do to help tackle climate change:

1. Urge governments to take action immediately

2. Use energy wisely

3. Go green

4. Try to avoid using vehicles as much as you can

5. Spread the word - Inform people about the negative aspects of climate change

6. Consume less water and don’t waste it.

7. Invest in renewables

8. Mobilize for local climate action

9. Turn off lights and appliances when you don’t need them.

10. Plant trees and create your own green space

Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in These human impacts have led the World Health Organization to call climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.

Even if efforts to minimise future warming are successful, some effects will continue for centuries, including rising sea levels, rising ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification. There is no question that increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause Earth to warm in response.

By Umar

Editor: Aasia

#ClimateChange #GoGreen #NoPlanetB