Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #78

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Explain in detail the term Climate Change

The change in average temperature and weather patterns in Earth in long term period (several decades) is called as climate change. The climate of the earth has changed naturally before also where factors such as solar radiations, orbital changes and volcanic eruption played important role. But, current climatic changes are man made, called by scientists as long term changes in average weather patterns including increase in global average temperature (global warming), precipitation and frequent extreme weather events.

This global warming is mainly caused by enhanced greenhouse effect because during the combustion of fossil fuel ( coal, oil, natural gas), deforestation and industrial/ agricultural activities, large amount of greenhouse gases like CO2, CH4 and N2O are emitted in the atmosphere by man, allowing heat to be captured in the atmosphere of earth-akin to wrapping earth in a blanket. From 1800, CO2 levels have increased from 280ppm to above 420ppm and global average temperatures increased by 1.1C as witnessed from receding glaciers, melting ice-caps, global sea level rise (around 20cm over last century), ailing coral reefs, increasing numbers of extreme weather events like storms, hot waves, droughts and flood. IP CC has compiled these observations using satellite, ice core and weather stations' data as evidence.

What is the importance of Climate Change?

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Climate change risks are vast and affect all life forms on earth; environment is less stable due to increasing global temperature that caused loss of biodiversity and the chain reaction effect on food webs, as evidenced by vanishing polar bears' feeding ground and dead coral reefs acting as home to a quarter of marine species, threats on food security caused by drought, prevalence of vector-borne disease such as malaria, mass migrations caused by sea level rise and weather extremes, damaging the global economy by trillions every year while the least-developed countries suffered the most;it is also aggravating inequality and conflicts.

To deal with climate change, we have mitigation processes such as the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, afforestation, and global climate agreements like Paris agreement aiming at preventing global warming above 1.5 C and adaptations that minimize impacts such as construction projects and weather prediction. Otherwise we may reach unstable tipping points such as permafrost melting which further accelerates climate change; our current mode of life could potentially end forever. Implementing these methods will ensure stability and prosperity of Earth while balance economic progress and environmental sustainability.

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