Earth is the most beautiful orb in the whole universe. It is home to millions of species, including the tiny insects living in your garden and also polar bears. But one specie has put the survival of all the species at stake. Home Sapiens- Kiddos! Don’t get offended but your ancestors have destroyed the globe and even we have a major role in the destruction. You know what I am talking about. Climate change! You guessed it right. It is the biggest environmental issue now. In this blog, I will discuss everything you need to know about climate change. I will tell you in what ways you can play your role in mitigating the damage.
Explain climate change in the simplest wording
Alrighty kids if you are confused about the issue, let me walk you through the basics. I will explain to you what is the real fuss about climate change. How did we get here in the first place? First, you need to understand the basic mechanism of the Earth. You must have studied from your textbooks that the sun is the main power source of the Earth. There is a delicate balance in nature. The Earth’s atmosphere acts as a life-sustaining force by trapping heat inside the atmosphere. But in recent centuries, scientists have detected abnormalities in the climate. You must have witnessed deadly storms, huge wildfires, draughts, extinction of species, floods, and many more. This is climate change! Don’t confuse climate with weather.
Climate change’s ultimate guide
Difference between climate and weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere measured for a short time, usually minutes, hours, or days. But when the atmospheric conditions are measured for a longer period, usually for more than 30 years, It is known as the climate. The climate remains consistent for a longer period of time.
Is climate static?
No, it’s not. Climate is a dynamic phenomenon. It has been changing in the past. You must have seen ice age in movies. The last ice age occurred some 11,700 years ago. Earth experiences a cyclic phase of cooling and heating.
Why can’t I feel the temperature rise?
Like I told you climate change is not a day-to-day atmospheric condition. It spans a longer time typically more than 30 years. We might not feel a single-degree change in temperature, but even the globe is sensitive to even a fraction of degrees Celsius. Poor Earth it is sweating. Since the pre-industrial times, humans have caused global temperatures to increase by 1.1 degrees Celsius. This change is enough to cause the melting of more than 95% of the ice in the Arctic region. Other impacts of this 1-degree change in temperature will be discussed in the later section of this article. This change is not enough to be felt by us but it has already caused devastating change around the globe.
What causes climate change?
You must be thinking what is the main driving force behind climate change. Other than the last few decades, climate change was caused by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, [shift in Earth axis], solar insulation, tectonic plates, and others. But since the advent of the scientific revolution, humans have become a major catalyst for the change in the climate. The scientific revolution gave us machines such as cars, refrigerators, lights, computers, etc. Electricity became a necessary thing for our survival other than food, air, and shelter. Traditionally electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels, i.e., coal, oil, and natural gas. This process releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. These greenhouse gases act as a shield around the surface of the Earth and trap the outgoing radiation. The excessive trapping of heat results in increasing the global temperature. Deforestation is another factor behind the change, as trees absorb carbon dioxide.
Sources of greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases are emitted from several sources, some of which are as follows;
- Transportation –is responsible for 1/3 of global carbon emissions.
- Construction
- Production of electricity by the burning fossil fuels
- Volcanic eruptions
- Production of cement
- Livestock (domestic animals like cows, buffalos, and pigs produce greenhouse gases when they fart, poop, or burp xD)
- Crop fields
Consequences of Climate change
I have already told you about the impacts of the change. If timely action is not taken, the consequences will be very costly. Some of the major impacts of climate change include ice cap melting, flooding, storms, heavy rainfalls, rise in temperatures, draughts, wildfires, food insecurity, sea levels rise, and many more. The consequences look very scary, but the good news is that climate change is still manageable. If everyone around us is well informed and we work together.
What should I do?
I hope you now have a better picture of the consequences of human-induced climate change. It is you and I who can save the planet and make it a better place to live. If you have already committed to helping the globe. Then, here are some of the goals and duties which I am going to assign to you and your family. Your goal is to reduce your carbon footprint. There are many ways to do that such as:
- Use green energy such as sunlight, wind, water, etc.
- Make everyone around you aware of the problem and its consequences
- Protect the forest and plant as many trees as you can
- Change your diet, eat less meat (Livestock farming is a major cause of climate change)
- Ensure sustainable lifestyle practices
- Turn off the light when leaving the room
- Walk more drive less
- Use public transit, cycles, or bikes instead of personal cars.
- Promote the use of sustainable materials such as wood and stone instead of concrete.
- Ensure transition from non-renewable sources of energy to clean energy
- Tell your dad to install a solar panel if you haven’t got one.
- Save water, power, and resources.
Movies about climate change
If you want to learn more about climate change; You can of course read more articles on my blog. I have also made a list of movies you can watch to educate yourself and your family about the grave issue of climate change. Here is the list of movies for you:
- Before the Flood (A national Geographic documentary starring Leonardo DiCaprio)
- The day after tomorrow
- Cool it
- Don’t look up
- Mother!
- Ice Age: The Meltdown
- Arctic Tale
- WALL-E
- A Beautiful planet
- An Inconvenient Truth
The fight against climate change is ongoing. We are in this together and we will make it. We will be the winners in our fight against climate change.
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