Outline
- Introduction (Starter, Greenhouse Effect, Industrialization, Man-made/Natural)
Effects
Health
Coastal Land Merge
Wildfire
Storms
Glacier
Migration
Floods
Heat Waves
Droughts
Changing Rain Pattern
Food Crisis
Health Issues
Economy
Conflicts due to coastal land merge
International Response
IPCC
UNFCCC
COP
Kyoto Protocol
Paris Agreement
Plantation
Suggestions
Forestation
Subsidised Renewable Energy
Sanctions for Non Compliance
International Peace
Public Awareness through Media
Conclusion
Earth has given birth to man and bestowed upon him everything he needed for his survival. But, in return, he never gave a little attention to her health. Moreover, her pleasant climate is endangered under the hands of greedy man. Due to severe consequences on his own health, now he is collaborating on how to decrease earth's temperature.
Global Warming is affecting everyone on this planet irrespective of his/her location, but we may say that some regions are more vulnerable than others. Global warming is the gradual increase in the atmospheric temperature of the world. Global Warming results in climate change. Since last decade it has increased to such an extent that it posed a real threat to humankind all over the world. Industrialization is blamed mostly for increasing carbon in the air giving rise to global warming.
A layer of ozone gas (O3) in the stratosphere allows only un-intoxicated solar rays to reach the Earth surface. Greenhouse gases (Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Methane, Chlorofluorocarbon, Water Vapour, etc.) damage the ozone layer and reduce the thickness of the ozone layer. Thinner ozone layer cannot absorb all ultraviolet solar rays, hence some of the ultraviolet rays pass to the earth surface which increase temperature as well as health issues. On the other hand, a thick layer of CO2 due to an excessive amount of carbon does not let these rays escape into space which increases earth temperature and this process is called Greenhouse Effect. Carbon Dioxide is emitted mostly from fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal, etc.). 1-5% ozone depletion from Volcanoes, 15-20% from natural resources and 75-85% from human activity. Forests are major sources of carbon consumption, but through deforestation this natural carbon sucking facility is being wasted by man.
Majority of scientists believe that it is a man-made phenomenon, whereas a minority of scientists think that it is a part of the life cycle of earth and we should not care about it. They argue that as in the initial phase, earth was very hot and gradually it cooled down after millions of years and in the same pattern it may have gotten warmer. But all these assumptions are baseless and tantamount to suicide. Hence, the precious lives could not be sacrificed for these baseless and ill-minded assumptions while it has been proved scientifically through the greenhouse effect.
Glacier melting speed has been increased, which will give rise to sea level resulting in floods and then migrations. Sea level is increasing 3mm/year. But according to current estimates, it is likely to cross 5ºC by the end of the century, which will increase sea level by 2m. As a result, Shanghai of China, Miami of USA and some parts of the Bangladesh will go under water.
States blame each other for not doing enough to counter global warming or violating treaties/agreements on global warming. Due to sea level increase, coastal land is merged which results in cross-border conflicts between states like Indo-Pakistan conflict and Sino-Indian war because of Himalayan glacier.
After the rise of sea level, floods occur casually and the people living in flood friendly areas have to migrate to safe places. People go to other places with different cultures, traditions and customs. This difference of culture generates diversity in the society, which has both faces; positive and negative. Sometimes, differences in cultures bring about cultural clashes.
Scientists argue that trapped micro-organisms in glaciers may create pandemics after glaciers melting. Till now, there is no linkage of Covid-19 with climate change, but there is probability of it in future. Moreover, it has been approved that global warming has severe consequences for human and all other living beings, which will become more serious with the increase of global temperature.
To counter it, the 1st step was taken as the establishment of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) in 1988 covering 100s of scientists all over the world to study its causes and to find strategies to mitigate it. IPCC has recently published its report about worsening climate conditions and said it is an existential threat for all living beings on the earth.
In 1992, UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) was held, in which participants made an agreement to meet yearly and to make agreements and treaties to counter global warming.
In 1995, the 1st COP (Conference of Parties) was held in Berlin, Germany. Conference of Parties is held every year except in 2020 due to COVID-19. COP-27 was held in November, 2022 at Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt. In COP27, “Loss and Damage Fund” was created by nearly 200 countries to help the countries affected by climate change. But, who will pay for it? Developed countries? Never! It is another agreement as many like this have been brushed aside in the past.
The Kyoto Protocol-1997 and Paris Agreement-2015 were signed in Japan and Paris respectively as an agreement between governments to decrease greenhouse gases for climate control. Paris Climate Accord 2015 is most important because in this accord certain goals were set and states were agreed to limit atmospheric temperature to 1.5ºC above the pre-industrial temperature level.
Plants are the natural suckers of CO2; therefore, deforestation is prohibited worldwide and plantation campaigns are at peak all over the world. As forests suck Carbon Dioxide and emit Oxygen, that’s why they are called the lungs of the world. Due to the increase in temperature, wildfires have erupted in the forests. Therefore, it is necessary to decrease carbon emission first, before planting new forests. It could also be achieved by planting forests with a calculated way to avoid wildfire in future.
In the current report of IPCC, it is stated that the states are reluctant to comply with the treaties/agreements. Hence, it is highly unlikely that the world will achieve this goal. To achieve this goal, IPCC recommended that carbon emission must be stopped and bring it to zero by 2050. But sadly, it is evident after thirty years of continuous warnings from scientists, the world failed to achieve it. It is pertinent to mention here that most of the developed states are not serious in this alarming issue and some of the developed states have openly withdrawn themselves from these agreements. IPCC scientists have warned that it's “Now or Never” to limit warming, and if we don’t stop it now, the world has to face consequences.
There are some hurdles in achieving this goal. First of all, there is no technology to suck such a large amount of Carbon Dioxide from air. We can minimise it by shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy, but it is very costly. Moreover, developed countries are less-enthusiastic to support under-developed countries financially and technologically.
The Sino-US conflict and Russia-Ukraine war is a major hindrance in collaborating with each other on this issue. China gave a clear signal by saying that; “China’s commitment on Climate Change is linked with the overall China-US relations”. In simple words, if the US impose sanctions on China, in return China will not abide by the treaties/agreements on Climate Change. The USA, one of the biggest CO2 emitters, has withdrawn from Paris Agreement. Moreover, China and Russia are not enthusiastic to abide by the agreement.
Most of the states, including Pakistan are moving towards Coal Energy, which is a major source of carbon emission. Pakistan is importing coal from Afghanistan, because it is cheaper than petrol. Acknowledging the hazardous consequences of the usage of fossil-fuels, using coal as a energy source is tantamount to suicide. Developed countries are the first, who introduced this dangerous tradition and the developing countries are following suit.
No doubt, renewable energy is expensive and it would require a long time to shift from fossil fuel to renewable, but it is the only option we are left with. Public transport should be free within the city to discourage private bikes/cars. An updated, fast and smooth railway network will also benefit in this regard. Moreover, use of cycles can also add a great contribution.
Public awareness about climate change and its far reaching consequences is the need of the day. In this regard, the media has to play a positive role to urge people to think about this phenomenon. Social media is a very effective source to spread this alarming issue. Therefore, national and international media should be engaged to put public pressure on their rulers, who are reluctant to comply with the international treaties and agreements on climate change.
Global warming is a scientifically proven phenomena, largely man-made, and the industrial revolution is a major factor behind it. The life on earth is facing consequences of gradual increase in temperature. Many summits have taken place at international level to decrease the global temperature. But, it has been observed that developed states are not as serious as this issue demands. Conflicts like Ukraine war are in the hands of men, but if global warming is not heeded now, it would not be in the hands of men to counter it in the near future. It is impossible, until the people of the states take stand in case of non-compliance against their governments. The thing to remember is that, there are billions of galaxies in the cosmos, and billions of planets in our galaxy, but there is only one Earth. Let’s take care of it.