Introduction: What is Climate Change?
By definition, climate change is a long-term shift in our planet’s average temperatures and weather patterns. With humans being a dominant influence on our planet’s climate, Earth’s average temperature has increased today by an average of 1°C in the past century. As we contribute more greenhouse gases, especially from burning fossil fuels, Earth’s average temperatures and weather patterns have changed drastically. The most important thing to note down from climate change is that it affects everyone and everything on Earth.
Why is it a global issue?
However, climate change is a frightening thing for the world because of how it can affect our average temperatures and weather patterns. Seeing that Earth’s average temperature has increased by 1°C in the past century, that increase in temperature can affect the quality of life for both humans and all species on Earth. When it comes to the changes in weather patterns, that increase in Earth’s temperatures makes extreme and unpredictable weather more common across the world. These drastic impacts are because of how certain places on Earth are now becoming either hotter, wetter, and/or drier. Also, these increased global temperatures can reach to the point where rainforests die, sea levels rise to a dangerous level, and displace up to billions of peoples and species.
If these increased temperatures and crazy weather changes are not enough, then understand that these can also affect glaciers, certain species, and sea acidity. Glaciers will melt due to the higher temperatures and cause sea levels to rise. Certain species, like coral reefs, will die off. Lastly, thanks to our greenhouse gases, the added gaseous carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will add liquid acidic carbon dioxide to our oceans, which once again, kills certain species. Because of all this, climate change is a global issue that affects everyone and everything on our planet, and initiatives have to be taken to fight against climate change.
What is the world doing to fight climate change?
As of right now, the world has agreed to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5°C, since prior to the industrial period. This is because when the increase goes beyond 2°C, the weather patterns would become incredibly dangerous, a lot of species would become extinct, and biomes would be heavily damaged, especially the colder and wetter biomes. When 97% of the world’s greenhouse gases are caused by human activity, the world fights against climate change in many ways with the following are the three biggest actions that the world is taking:
- Cut down man-made greenhouse gas emissions Along with drastically cutting down man-made greenhouse gases, the world has also considering switching to using renewable energy. However, the main problem with switching to renewable energy is that it is expensive and requires a lot of space. For example, wind energy requires a large of space of wind turbines.
- Tackle deforestation and limit the amount of forests being cut down. Trees are essentially carbon sinks and what is very relevant to climate change is that they absorb and hold carbon dioxide. The problem when deforestation is committed on a large scale is that the carbon dioxide held from the trees will get released from the forests and contribute to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which would ultimately add to climate change.
- Eat less meat. Based on research, each meat eater contributes 1.5 more tons of greenhouse gases than a vegan per year. While this does not seem much to a person, a planet of eight billion people switching to vegan eating lifestyles can make a huge difference in the fight against climate change. Although there are other reasons why people may eat less meat, the concern of climate change is another reason to eat less meat and potentially save the world.
How are organizations and governments responding to climate change?
As mentioned earlier, the international community has agreed to try to cap Earth’s increase in temperature to 1.5°C since prior to the industrial period. The United Nations and many other organizations are working together on the fight against climate change. Their purposes range from limiting greenhouse gas emissions, spreading awareness, to achieving sustainability. With many organizations helping to solve the climate crisis, there is a profound commitment from the international community. In terms of governments, local governments around the world, which represented over a billion citizens, have made Climate Emergency Declarations. These declarations also admits the dangers of climate change and that these governments will accommodate as best as they can to help fight climate change. However, since climate change is a global issue that affects everyone, these governments and organizations heavily encourages all of us to take part in the fight against climate change.
How well are we fighting against climate change?
The goal that the international community is aiming for is cap Earth’s increase in temperature to 1.5°C since the industrial period. However, assessments have revealed that we are still on course for the temperature to rise to 4°C or higher. These temperatures are once again the point where rainforests could die, sea levels could rise to a dangerous level, and billions of people are displaced. Although we have organizations and governments responding to the fight against climate change, it has also been calculated that if every government in the world acted together, then the temperature rise would lower to 2.8°C. Although that is a bit better, that goes to show that we are currently a long way from achieving our promises.
Conclusion Section: What is our role in climate change?
With climate change seeming so serious, and seeing how doomed we are, hope could be lost. However, although statistics tell us that we are far from solving climate change, it is still important to do our part in fighting against climate change. It does seem daunting that the world is in danger, but making a chance to save it is better than nothing. Considering how fossil fuels play a huge role in our daily lives, it is understandable that it is hard to let go, even if we are the reason why 97% of the world’s greenhouse gases. Today, it seems hard to see if you will make a difference in doing your part to fight climate change. However, every last effort, from organizations to governments to you, will matter, and that is most evident with taking the action to eating less meat. Although this blog post focuses on addressing the global issue of climate change, and how the world is promising to respond to it, your efforts towards it also matter and that is why my upcoming post is about “Our Role In The Fight Against Climate Change.” Until then, cherish the Earth that we have right now and decide if you would like to fight climate change for it.
