The global phenomenon of climate change, or global warming, is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. Increasingly frequent and severe disasters like flooding, drought, and rising sea levels are directly linked to global warming. While the prolonged effects of global warming remain uncertain, the present-day evidence collected from numerous scientific research projects, suggest that it is having significant and damaging impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human society.
Global warming occurs when Earth’s average temperature increases due to the increase in levels of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere and the trapping of heat energy. A range of human activities have driven this process, from burning fossil fuels for electricity or transportation, to changes in land use such as deforestation, or the misuse of resources like plastic and water. This process has caused a rise in global temperatures, and the increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases has an incredibly detrimental effect on the climate.
The ocean temperature is rising, leading to a decrease in the amount of phytoplankton, a small, aquatic organism vital to the health of the ocean food chain. It provides sustenance to fish and other animals, while also secreting up to half of Earth’s oxygen. The global warming of the world’s oceans causes disruptions in fisheries and the destruction of entire marine hotels, which in turn affects the livelihood of fishermen. Combined with overfishing and other human activities, both local and global, livelihoods are threatened as resources become depleted.
In addition to a decrease in food security, global warming leads to an increase in extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts. Owning to the destabilization of climate patterns, more areas are affected by dangerous storms and more often. Furthermore, these events can lead to an increase in deaths, destruction of infrastructure, and various health issues, such as vector-borne diseases, since insects are capable of migrating to new regions and gain a higher level of resistance to cold temperatures due to global warming.
Scientific research has highlighted how temperatures are rising significantly faster than before, which will lead to magnified destruction of coral reefs and the extinction of 1 million species of plants and animals. These are crucial habitats and organisms crucial the carbon-oxygen cycle, food security and the overall health of the planet, and the disappearance of such species will have untold impacts on global ecosystems.
The phenomenon has been linked to the current water crisis affecting various parts of the world, like Southern India and Central Africa. However, global warming has many systemic connections to the rise of poverty and conflicts, as more areas become affected by desertification, decreased food production, and access to resources, leading to a destabilization of society.
Global warming not only affects our environment but also our health. Many studies have found that heat-related deaths are increasing, as are various diseases such as asthma and both cardiovascular and renal disease due to air and water pollution.
Considering this immense threat to the planet and life-bearing species, governments must urgently strive towards implementing policies which limit global warming and further damaging climate effects. They must work to reduce emissions and increase investment in renewable energies such as solar and wind-based power and agriculture. Furthermore, they must take tangible steps towards eliminating plastic waste and deforestation, and must make funding available to affected countries, as well as communities. Additionally, it is critical that politicians and policy-makers foster societies that are more mindful of their ecological impact and prioritize educating the public on the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.
Ultimately, global warming is a complex problem, but with unified effort and concerted action, it can be alleviated. Now is the time to call upon governments to prioritize the environment, to reduce the emissions responsible for climate change and safeguard the planet’s future.
