The use of natural resources, combined with the effects of global warming and human-generated pollution, are the major causes of climate change and permanently altered our Earth’s atmosphere.� Over time, the damage to delicate ecosystems has increased and it is still unclear when this irreversible destruction will result in the death of our planet.
The increase in greenhouse gas emissions held in Earth’s atmosphere due to human activities has been dubbed the ‘greenhouse effect’ and it is what is causing the planet to suffer. It causes the Earth to become warmer and accelerates the rate of climate change. Sea temperatures are rising, snow melts faster and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is greater than it has ever been – leading to airborne pollutants and an increased risk of flooding, drought, desertification and other natural disasters.
The UN’S Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggest that, without urgent action to reduce emissions, global temperature could rise by 3.2 degrees by the end of the century – a significant increase for our planet.
This ongoing destruction has led experts to consider when the Earth may reach a breaking point and become unviable to sustain life. It is thought that once the average global temperature reaches 4-5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, we will move beyond the reach of current technologies to counter the effects of global warming, bringing the death of the Earth ever closer.
If we continue to rely heavily on our planet’s natural resources, by the year 2100 global temperatures will have risen by a staggering 7 degrees. By this point, approximately 30.7 percent of plant and animal species on Earth will be faced with extinction and sea levels will have increased by at least 0.5 meters.
Some predict that if we don’t take immediate and adequate steps to reduce our carbon emissions, by the year 2200 sea levels will have risen by almost 1 meter, leaving the majority of coastal cities under water. Also, extreme weather conditions could become the norm, dictating the availability – or lack thereof – of food and clean water.
Though the outlook for our planet looks dire, there is still hope for us to save the Earth and our future. Innovations in renewable-energy sources, such as solar and wind, are just two ways in which we can counteract the detrimental effects of global warming.
Moreover, if everyone decreased their carbon footprint and showed more consideration for their natural environment – by conserving energy, reducing air travel and investing in environmentally-friendly products – it would greatly reduce the current rate at which global warming is heating the Earth.
Unfortunately, even with a series of decisive changes, the future of our planet remains uncertain. As we are fast learning, to save the Earth we must act faster.
