The term ‘climate change’ has become synonymous with doom and gloom – have we done too much damage and if so, is it too late? What it is, is a question many of us ask ourselves but few of us truly grasp the significance of and its implications in the current and future ecological state of the Earth. This article seeks to demystify this taboo topic and analyse what climate change and global warming is and how it affects us in both the short and long term.
At its core, climate change is the predictable and permanent alteration of the climate as a result of man-made activity that influences global temperatures. To astronomers, this is known as the ‘greenhouse effect’, whereby a combination of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other gases absorb infrared radiation preventing it from dissipating into the upper layers of our atmosphere.
Global warming, on the other hand, is a subset of climate change and refers to the average rise in global surface temperatures as a result of this drastic alteration to the environment. Its effects can be seen in the records of Arctic, Antarctic and Greenland – all of which are currently experiencing rapid and irreversible melting of glacial mass and higher sea levels.
The implications of these two environmental phenomenons on our daily lives are far-reaching, both on a global and local scale. Climate change can already be seen in the form of extreme weather phenomena, such as floods, droughts, snowfall and heatwaves, that cause significant damage to countless lives and livelihoods. As this pattern of climate disruption continues, it is likely to devastate ecosystems, destroying the habitats of countless species.
The socio-economic impacts are equally disconcerting, with vast regions prone to poverty and decay, or forced to cope with the expensive insurance rates imposed without any tangible preventative measures in place. Moreover, it is believed to make food production unsustainable in many regions due to extreme temperatures or lack of water.
It is not all doom and gloom however, and many governments across the world have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 40%, providing a glimmer of hope that this worldwide crisis can be managed and reversed. This presents an opportunity to phase out the use of fossil fuels, invest in renewable energy resources and promote sustainable building techniques.
Despite being a broad and seemingly daunting topic, climate change and global warming can be demystified through careful analysis and understanding of the facts. Respect for our natural environment and intelligent policies for creating a more sustainable future will go a long way in ensuring a brighter tomorrow for us and generations to come. Governments, institutions and citizens must come together to make this happen by adopting concrete steps for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in cleaner methods of energy production. As this is a task for all of us to undertake, we must each strive to be the catalyst in creating the change that is desperately needed.
