The impact of climate change has been on the front burner for many governments and environmental activists in recent times. Simply put, climate change refers to the disruptions in the weather patterns that adversely impact the Earth. Some of these shifts and disruptions can be natural, like in cases of volcanic eruptions and glacial meltdowns. Still, since the industrial age, science has proved man has been the primary force behind climate change through the increased burning of fossil fuels.
This increased use and burning of fossil fuels has resulted in greenhouse emissions - which in itself is a naturally occurring process regulated by nature. Earth is warmed directly by energy from the sun and has a natural mechanism for redistributing this energy into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases act to cocoon the Earth and trap some of the sun's energy in the atmosphere, causing it to warm enough to make the Earth habitable. However, due to the increase in the burning of fossil fuels and other activities, humans are adding more greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere than the atmosphere can hold and disperse, thereby throwing off the natural balance by trapping gases, resulting in an enhanced Greenhouse Effect. This is what is responsible for the adverse changes in our weather, ice melt and ocean warming.
Carbon dioxide, often referred to as CO2, stands as the foremost contributor to global warming. As of 2020, its atmospheric concentration surged to 48% above pre-Industrial Revolution levels. Methane, a more potent greenhouse gas with a shorter atmospheric lifespan than CO2, exacerbates climate concerns.
Additionally, nitrous oxide, accumulating in the atmosphere over decades, along with non-greenhouse gas pollutants like soot, collectively degrades air quality. This deterioration in air quality significantly contributes to respiratory diseases, underlining the complex interplay between greenhouse gases and public health.
According to an article by Human Rights Career, power plants, agriculture, vehicles and transport, landfills, offshore drilling, fracking, deforestation, overfishing, melting permafrost, and consumerism are significant causes of global warming. This article stipulated that about 8,500 coal power plants are operating globally, producing one-fifth of greenhouse gases, making them the largest source of GHG emissions.
Industrial agriculture is responsible for approximately 25% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, stemming from the fuel consumption of machinery involved in cultivation, food processing, and transportation across extensive distances. Deforestation, accounting for roughly 10% of global warming, intensifies the issue as trees act as carbon dioxide sinks, releasing stored carbon when felled. The animal rearing industry generates a staggering 65% of the world's nitrous oxide emissions, with an impact 296 times greater than CO2. This sector contributes around 15% of global GHG emissions, surpassing the combined emissions from global transportation. Furthermore, animal farms utilize roughly 70% of agricultural land, exacerbating deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution.
In the United States, aeroplanes account for 9% of GHG emissions, ranking as the third-largest source of emissions. Globally, the aviation industry produces about 43 metric gigatons of CO2. Ships Contribute about 3% to global C02 emissions, and projections indicate a potential 250% increase by 2050 due to expanding international trade. Beyond GHGs, transportation activities yield detrimental side effects such as smog, soot, noise and water pollution, adversely affecting ecosystems.
Landfills are a significant source of methane emissions due to the decomposition of organic waste, releasing methane gas into the atmosphere. Additionally, overfishing contributes to climate change, as the ocean and its life serve as Earth's most essential carbon reservoirs, absorbing over 25% of all CO2 emissions.
The marine ecosystem is crucial in mitigating climate change, as it contributes to the ocean's ability to capture and store atmospheric CO2. Fish alone account for approximately 16% of the total ocean carbon flux. Overfishing poses a threat by removing significant amounts of carbon from the ocean and releasing it into the atmosphere. Destructive practices like bottom trawling further aggravate this issue; the carbon stored in seafloor sediment through heavy ploughing and re-suspending disturbs the carbon deposits and sediment, which may have otherwise remained settled for centuries.
Additionally, melting permafrost poses a serious threat to global warming. Permafrost, soil frozen for at least two years, spans approximately 9 million square miles in the Earth's northern hemisphere. In these regions, twice as much carbon is stored in permafrost compared to the Earth's atmosphere. The melting of permafrost creates an alarming cycle triggered by global warming, leading to the release of ancient stores of methane and carbon dioxide. This irreversible process poses a significant threat to plant and animal life.
To address the threats of climate change, regulatory bodies worldwide, such as environmental agencies in various countries, and international collaborative action, such as accords, play a pivotal role in measuring and understanding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Their collaboration with industry stakeholders is essential for formulating effective strategies to reduce emissions.
Governments worldwide have implemented a range of policies aimed at combating climate change, with notable strategies such as the imposition of carbon taxes. Through these measures, governments levy substantial fees on industries with high emissions, creating a financial incentive for these entities to undertake significant and measurable reductions in their greenhouse gas outputs. This approach not only seeks to hold industries accountable for their environmental impact but also fosters a broader commitment to transitioning towards cleaner, more sustainable practices on a global scale.
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