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Accelerating Climate Change
With the up surging shifts in temperatures and weather conditions all over the globe, climates are changing rapidly. We have accelerated global warming with all-time high pollution levels and other garbage that we have a tendency to dispose of anywhere we feel free to. We’ve been successful over time in accumulating massive amounts of garbage without removing them or degrading them. As humans, we are responsible to protect the nature that we’ve inherited from our ancestors, and thereby it is our duty to preserve it for our predecessors to come. Climate change has become the talk of the town lately because nature has started showing its other side quite frequently. It can be clearly seen that temperatures are at their all-time high, rainfall is either too low, or situations like that of massive floods can be seen in many parts of the world, summers look more like hell, and winters have become way too frosty to handle, the transitional shift in seasons is shortening, spring doesn’t feel like spring anymore it’s like early summers, not pleasant at all, and autumn too is missing its hues, we are exposed to high ultraviolet radiations causing malicious skin diseases. Despite consistent efforts by many environmentalists, the global economy boosters don’t seem to listen anymore. In the rat race to acquire riches should we turn our backs to save mother nature?
Causes of climate change:
Greenhouse gasses: The thing that drives climate change is the greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gasses, etc. These gasses along with oil on burning emit massive amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gasses trap the heat and remain in the atmosphere, they don’t escape out of the atmosphere thus raising the temperature levels on earth.
Deforestation: People have been insanely cutting forests for various industrial purposes. Despite knowing the fact that it is the forests that keep the balance alive, trees are being chopped at a much faster pace. Even if the government of a particular country says to reinstall or shift forests, they don’t understand the time it takes to recreate that they are on the verge of being destroyed forever. Added to it is the fauna that loses its home and flora that is already on the verge to become extinct. Industrial growth can never supply humans with the natural elements that we get directly from nature. Nature has to be respected.
Fluorinated gasses: These gasses, in particular, add effectively to global warming, more than 2300 times of carbon dioxide emissions. Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride are various other harmful gasses that are emitted from industries.
Global warming: Greenhouse emissions cloak the earth and trap the sun’s heat as well leading to global warming. The decade 2011-2020 was the warmest recorded temperature with a global temperature above 1.1°C after pre-industrial times. Human-induced global warming is increasing at a faster pace which might lead to catastrophic effects in the future. The world is now simmering faster than ever before, and immediate actions need to be taken to counter these effects which the human race has to pay for.
What can be done on our level to retard the pace by which climate is changing?
- Turn off the lights when not in use: Electricity is produced by power generation, and power is generated by burning fossil fuels. To reduce emissions that can choke the future of a clean environment, we can start with a simple gesture of saving electricity. You can also switch to LED lights for they are efficient as compared to incandescent and fluoride light bulbs.
- Natural ventilation methods are better: The morning breeze is fresh and delightful and much better than air conditioners. This may help you reduce energy use.
- Switch to using renewable energy: Renewable energy sources are eco-friendly. Solar panels are a better alternative to generate electricity than fossil fuels. Renewable Energy sources are also cheap and easy to maintain.
- Plant Trees: Plantation can help neutralize fossil fuels emission. They are natural oxygen generators and help to maintain balance which human exploitation activities have disturbed.
- Walk: Instead of using a vehicle that will create pollution, shift to walking, at least for a shorter distance. Walking also helps to clear our minds and helps in creating mental alerts. It’s a festive delight to go for a walk, you get to stay more in touch with your surroundings as well.
- Optimize your route: If you have to travel for a longer distance, use the route that will take less time because that’s how you’ll be able to save time as well as fuel and so less pollution.
- Carpool: Instead of going to the same place using different vehicles, use one vehicle. A carpool can also help reduce traffic, a major problem seizing a lot of our time.
- Reduce use of plastic bags: Use cotton bags or paper bags instead of plastic polythene. Plastic is a non-biodegradable substance, a major pollutant choking the entire planet. Do not use plastic if and when not necessary.
- Create compost: Food waste is wrapped in plastic bags and is thrown to landfills where they are separated thus emanating another problem to manage plastic waste. So a better alternative is to make compost that helps to make the soil fertile. You can use this compost in your backyard for better plant nourishment and managing waste efficiently.
- Lower the use of bottled water: Bottled water that comes in plastic bags is another problem. More than 1.5 million barrels of oil go for plastic water bottle manufacturing. Use steel or glass water bottles to cut plastic waste generation.
The environment has to be saved from the wounds it has received in the past. If we can create problems, we can also create solutions. Nature has its way of healing as well. Do not interfere if not needed but come up with better, more efficient, and eco-friendly alternatives to meet our needs and also save the planet. We should plan and head for a sustainable future to save the environment.
FAQs
Are we heading for a calamity with the consistent use of fossil fuels?
Yes. Fossil fuels create an immense amount of environmental pollution. Pollution is the cause of various diseases humans suffer from, of which most common are respiratory diseases resulting from air pollution. We can be saved from the calamity by planning decisively for the future by reducing pollution.
What can be done by the leaders of developed economies to save nature?
Everything. They can reach out to a large number of people to save nature, they can set an example by shifting to renewable energy sources. They need to come on a global forum to keep the environment clean. They have a wider reach and influence.
Should environmental science be taught to students in school?
Yes. A lot of schools teach environmental science to spread awareness and inculcate in students ethos to respect nature and use the resources wisely.
