Climate change

Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperatures and weather patterns. These changes can be natural, for example, through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 19th century, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket that envelops the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

Some examples of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change are carbon dioxide and methane. These come from the use of gasoline to drive a car or coal to heat a building, for example. Land and forest clearing can also release carbon dioxide. Landfills are a major source of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and land use are among the top emitters.

Greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest level in 2 million years

And emissions keep increasing. As a result, the Earth’s temperature is now 1.1 ° C higher than it was at the end of the 19th century. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record.

Many people think that climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But the rise in temperature is only the beginning of the story. As the Earth is a system, in which everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others.

The consequences of climate change now include, but are not limited to, severe droughts, water shortages, severe fires, rising sea levels, floods, melting of the poles, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity.

People are affected by climate change in a variety of ways

Climate change can affect our health, ability to grow food, shelter, safety, and work. Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as people living in small island nations and other developing countries. Conditions such as sea level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the point that entire communities have had to relocate, and prolonged droughts are creating a risk of famine. It is analyzed that the number of “climate refugees” will increase in the future.

Every increase in global warming matters

In a 2018 UN report, thousands of scientists and government reviewers agreed that limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 ° C would help us avoid the worst climate impacts and maintain a livable climate. However, the current trajectory of carbon dioxide emissions could increase global temperature by as much as 4.4 ° C by the end of the century.

The emissions that cause climate change come from all parts of the world and control everyone, but some countries generate much more than others. The 100 countries that emit the least generate 3% of total emissions. The 10 countries with the highest emissions contribute 68%. Everyone needs to take action on the climate, but the people and countries that create the most problems have a greater responsibility to act first.