Climate Change

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Climate change describes a long term variation in the climatic conditions not excluding precipitation and average temperature. Natural internal processes may result in climate change. It may be the outcome of external influences. Consistent anthropogenic variations in atmospheric compositions and improper use of land are the other factors that cause climate change. The greenhouse effect is crucial in this context. The effects of global warming are evident from the increase in ocean temperature, rise in sea level and melting down of icebergs. There has also been an increase in the average temperature of air. The climate change with all its adverse effects is indeed one of the biggest social and environmental challenges before the global economy.

Causes of Climate Change: An Overview

The problem of climate change has gained substantial importance over the last two decades. The atmosphere surrounding the planet has changed so rapidly that living beings including animals and plants are finding it very difficult to cope with the changing atmospheric scenario.

Among the several natural factors that cause climate change, ocean currents, continental drift, meteorites and comets, volcanoes and the earth’s tilts are worth mentioning.

Apart from these natural factors, human causes also play a major role in influencing the climatic pattern of the planet. Excessive use of fossil fuels, urbanization, industrialization and deforestation all have played their roles in changing the climatic pattern of the world.

The increased concentration of greenhouse gases like Carbon dioxide and Methane in the atmosphere have major impacts on climate change.

Climate Change: Our Contributions

The changing life style of urban population contributes significantly to the climate change. Electricity has been an integral part of our day-to-day life. The thermal power plants make use of fossil fuels for power generation. These power plants emit large amount of pollutants and various greenhouse gases; thereby aggravating the problem of climatic change.

The fossil fuels used for running buses, cars and other means of transport have major impacts on climate change.

The plastic wastes generated from different sources also have major contributions in changing the climatic pattern of the world.

The use of high-yielding seeds has increased the requirements of fertilizers and pesticides. This in turn results in emission of more and more nitrous oxide and other pollutants. These fertilizers also cause major damage to the water bodies nearby when they get mixed up with the water due to rain or some other reason.

How to Fight Climate Change

Environmentalists all over the world are trying their best to protect the planet from the adverse effects of climate change. The European Union has played a crucial role in these movements. The Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 are the two important treaties that are aimed to deal the issues regarding climate change.

The primary objective of the Convention has been to urge the developed nations to check the emission of greenhouse gas. The Kyoto Protocol followed the trends set by the Convention. The Protocol is regarded as the most significant agreement on environmental issue implemented so far. The target regarding greenhouse gas emission that has been set in Kyoto Protocol needs to be achieved within the period of 2008-2012.

The European Climate Change Program or ECCP in another major initiative towards environment protection. This program introduced an array of measures and environment policies to address the issue of climate change. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme has been the basis of the European Union’s initiatives to check the emission of greenhouse gas.

However, to control the emission of greenhouse gas it is necessary to create general awareness among the common people. Substantial change in energy system, use of environment-friendly technologies in production, alternative energy efficient fuels, minimum use of fossil fuels and change in the pattern of living are the key factors that can bring about positive changes in environment.

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