PART-1
Climate change, a phenomenon fuelled by human activities, poses one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. Its far-reaching effects on ecosystems, societies, and economies require urgent attention and collaborative action due to its ability to cause long term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. At the centre of climate change lies the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases trap heat within the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a gradual rise in global temperatures, a phenomenon known as global warming. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices significantly contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, intensifying the greenhouse effect.
Causes of climate change
As many may agree that humans are the sole side responsible for the drastic change in the ecology causing climate change, it is totally not true, the changes in the climate are rather due to the individual or combine effects of both the parties that is the humans and the naturally occurring world phenomenon. Given below are some of the systematic causes of climate change:
- Natural causes of climate change.
- Volcano eruption.
- Solar radiations.
- Tectonic shifts.
- Earth minute orbital changes.
- Meteorite impacts.
- Forest fire(natural).
- Human made causes of climate change.
- Electricity generation.
- Burning of fossil fuels.
- Infrastructure development.
- Lifestyle practices.
- Forest fire (man-made).
Major effects of Climate Change
The impacts of climate change are of multiple types and are pervasive, affecting ecosystems, weather patterns, food security, water resources, and human health. Rising temperatures contribute to the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, leading to rise in sea-level and ultimately coastal flood. Extreme weather events, including hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heat waves, are becoming more frequent and intense, causing devastating consequences for communities worldwide. Additionally, shifts in precipitation patterns and temperature extremes disrupt agricultural systems, effecting food production and intensifying hunger and malnutrition in vulnerable regions.
Socioeconomic Implications & its Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
Climate change intensifies existing social and economic inequalities, unequally affecting marginalized communities, including low-income populations and indigenous peoples. The loss of livelihoods (agriculture based, marine based), displacement due to sea-level rise and extreme weather events, and increased competition for dwindling resources exacerbate social tensions and contribute to conflicts. Moreover, the economic costs of climate change, including damage to infrastructure, decreased agricultural productivity, and increased healthcare expenses pose a significant burden on economies worldwide.
In order to address climate change we require a coordinated approach encompassing mitigation and adaptation strategies. Mitigation efforts aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, implementing sustainable land-use practices, and enhancing public transportation infrastructure. Additionally, reforestation and afforestation initiatives play a crucial role in decreasing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Simultaneously, adaptation measures are necessary to build perseverance and minimize the adverse impacts of climate change on communities and ecosystems. This includes implementing early warning systems for extreme weather events, improving infrastructure resilience, promoting sustainable water management practices, and enhancing agricultural techniques to withstand changing climatic conditions. Furthermore, investing in research and innovation to develop climate-resilient technologies and adaptation strategies is essential to navigate the challenges posed by a changing climate effectively.
The Importance of International Cooperation
Given the transboundary nature of climate change, international cooperation and collaboration are necessary to address this global challenge effectively. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, represents a landmark international accord aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, achieving these goals requires holistic emission reduction targets and collaborative action from all nations, regardless of their level of development or contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, supporting developing countries in their adaptation and mitigation efforts, as well as providing financial and technological assistance, is essential to ensure a just and equitable transition to a low-carbon future.
World against Climate Change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – It was established in 1992, the UNFCCC is the foundational international climate change treaty that set the framework for global efforts to combat climate change. Its ultimate objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent or decrease dangerous human interference with the climate system.
Kyoto Protocol – It was adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, the Kyoto Protocol was the first agreement under the UNFCCC framework that set emission reduction targets for developed countries. It introduced mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI), and Emissions Trading (ET) to help countries achieve their targets cost-effectively.
Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol – Adopted in 2012, the Doha Amendment introduced a second commitment period, running from 2013 to 2020, for further emission reductions by participating developed countries. However, it was less widely adopted and did not include some major environmental polluters.
Paris Agreement – It was agreed upon in 2015 and it came into effect in 2016, the Paris Agreement is a landmark global pact that set out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It introduced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that each country sets and commits to achieve, reflecting its ambition for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Agenda 21 –This is not exclusively focused on climate change, although Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by organizations of the UN, governments, and major groups in every area in which humans impact the environment. It was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The SDGs are broader than just climate change, they recognize the integral relationship between addressing climate change and sustainable development. It was adopted in 2015, the 17 SDGs set forth a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Climate action (Goal 13) explicitly aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 – While not solely focused on climate change, the Sendai Framework, adopted in 2015, aims to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health. It acknowledges that climate change significantly increases the risk of natural disasters and emphasizes the need for climate change adaptation as part of disaster risk reduction strategies.
(To be concluded…)
(Author is Senior Assistant Professor, Division of veterinary Medicine, SKUAST Kashmir)
