What Are The Causes Effects And Solutions Of Global Warming – Climate change is real and the evidence is all around us. While changes to the earth’s climate are nothing new, it appears that the recent effects are having a devastating impact on countless people, places and wildlife. If you want to know what climate change really is and why it matters, then read on to learn more about its causes, effects and practical solutions to stop it.

You’ve probably heard the terms climate change and global warming used interchangeably. That’s because they both describe changes in the earth’s climate. While global warming focuses on the increase in the average temperature of the planet, climate change usually refers to changes in things like precipitation, wind patterns, and temperatures over a period of time. Measured climate changes could take years, decades, or even millions of years.

What Are The Causes Effects And Solutions Of Global Warming

Climate change has been happening for as long as the earth has existed. It happens whenever the earth’s climate patterns change and remain in place for a measurable period of time. This was particularly evident in natural cycles of cooling and warming. Before human causes began to change the global climate, five main factors interacted with each other as climate change occurred. These five factors include: [1]

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The American Association for the Advancement of Science stated: “The scientific evidence is clear: Global climate change caused by human activities is happening now and is a growing threat to society.” [2]

Greenhouse gases play a vital role in the earth’s climate cycles. As the planet is hit by the sun’s rays, some of the energy is absorbed and the rest of the energy and heat is reflected back into space. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere capture the reflected energy, redirecting it back to earth and ultimately contributing to global warming. Various gases play this role, including:[3]

While some of these greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, are naturally occurring, others, such as CFCs, are synthetic. CO2 is released into the atmosphere from both natural and man-made causes and is one of the main contributors to climate change. CO2 has increased at an alarming rate and has the potential to remain in the earth’s atmosphere for thousands of years if not absorbed by the ocean, land, trees and other sources. [4] However, as CO2 production has steadily increased, the earth’s natural resources to absorb it have also been diminished. This is already happening in many ways as the earth’s resources disappear from things like deforestation. Some studies even predict that plants and soil will be able to absorb less CO2 as the earth continues to warm – possibly accelerating climate change even more. [5]

Solar activity, as mentioned above, plays a role in the earth’s climate. While the sun goes through natural cycles, waxing and waning in the amount of energy it emits to earth, solar activity is unlikely to be a major contributor to global warming or climate change. Since scientists began measuring the sun’s energy hitting our atmosphere, there has been no measurable upward trend.[6]

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There are many significant ways in which agriculture impacts climate change. From deforestation in places like the Amazon to the transportation and livestock needed to support agricultural efforts around the world, agriculture is responsible for a significant portion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, agriculture is also an area that is making huge strides to become more sustainable. As productivity increases, less carbon is emitted to produce more food. Agriculture also has the potential to act as a carbon sink and could eventually absorb almost as much CO2 as it emits. [7]

Deforestation and climate change often go hand in hand. Not only is climate change increasing deforestation through fires and other extreme weather conditions, but deforestation is also a major contributor to global warming. According to the Earth Day Network, deforestation is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gases worldwide. [8] Many people and organizations fighting climate change point to reducing deforestation as one of, if not the most important, issue that needs to be addressed to slow or prevent climate change. [9]

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the largest contributor to climate change in the United States is the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation. Of these factors, transportation in the form of cars, trucks, ships, trains and airplanes emits the largest percentage of CO2, accelerating global warming and remaining a significant cause of climate change. [10]

Although interconnected with many of the agriculture and deforestation issues we have already touched on, livestock in the form of cattle, sheep, pigs and birds play a significant role in climate change. According to a study, Livestock and Climate Change, livestock worldwide are responsible for 51% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. [11]

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From melting glaciers to more extreme weather patterns, people everywhere are starting to notice the real impact of climate change. While some nations around the world are taking action with initiatives like the Paris Climate Agreement, others are continuing business as usual, pumping millions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere year after year. Although the long-term consequences remain to be seen, for now, climate change continues to cause extreme weather, as well as economic and security challenges on a global scale.

Changes in weather are perhaps the most visible effect of climate change to the average person. One reason for this is the financial impact that severe weather events can have. There have been six climate disasters in the US so far in 2019, most costing more than $1 billion. [12] According to the National Climate Assessment, extreme weather events will continue to increase in frequency and intensity as climate change continues to occur. [13] Extreme weather influenced by climate change includes:

In 2014, the United States Department of Defense released a report that declared climate change to be a severe and immediate threat to national security. According to former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, “rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty, and conflict.” [14]

In addition, climate change is likely to cause economic challenges in many parts of the world. Some estimates show that the US already spends about $240 billion annually due to human-caused climate change, and future costs are expected to be even higher. [15] However, it is difficult to put an exact number on the true costs of climate change once you consider the staggering costs of losing natural resources such as clean air and water.

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The long-term impact of climate change could be absolutely devastating to the planet and to everyone and everything that lives on it. If the world continues on its current trajectory, then we will likely continue to see increasing effects on everyday life.

There are many ways climate change could affect human health. Depending on age, location and economic status, climate change is already affecting the health of many and has the potential to impact millions more. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health risks related to climate change may include: [16]

Ecosystems are interconnected networks of living organisms that help support all types of plant and biological life. Climate change is already altering seasonal weather patterns and disrupting the distribution of food for plants and animals around the world, potentially causing mass extinctions. Some studies estimate that nearly 30 percent of plant and animal species are at risk of extinction if global temperatures continue to rise. [17]

Climate change could have a significant impact on food and water supplies. Severe weather and increased temperatures will continue to limit crop productivity and increase water demand. With demand for food expected to increase by nearly 70% by 2050, the problem is likely to get worse. [18]

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Sea level rise could have far-reaching effects on cities and coastal habitats. Rising ocean temperatures and melting ice sheets have steadily contributed to rising sea levels on a global scale. At current rates, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts sea levels will rise at least 8 inches by 2100, potentially causing flooding and shrinking ocean and wetland habitats. [19]

While contributing to sea level rise, shrinking ice sheets present their own unique set of problems, including rising global temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change has caused summer melting of the ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica to increase by nearly 30% since 1979. [20]

The ocean is one of the main ways CO2 is absorbed. While at first glance this may sound like a net positive, increasing human-caused CO2 is pushing the world’s oceans to their limits and causing increased acidity. As ocean pH levels drop, crustaceans have difficulty reproducing and much of the ocean’s food cycle is disrupted. [21]

Although the effects of climate change may seem bleak, there is still hope. By taking immediate action to reduce climate change, we may never see the worst consequences. Also, as the world adopts cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions, millions of new jobs and billions of dollars can be created

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