What is

Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average

temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate.

What are its causes?

Almost 100% of the observed temperature increase over the last 50 years has been due to the increase in the atmosphere of greenhouse

gas concentrations like water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and ozone. The largest contributing source of greenhouse gas is the burning of fossil fuels leading to the emission of carbon dioxide.

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere act like a mirror and reflect back to the Earth a part of the heat radiation, which would otherwise be

lost to space. The higher the concentration of green house gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the more heat energy is being

reflected back to the Earth. The emission of carbon dioxide into the environment mainly from burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas, petrol,

kerosene, etc.) has been increased dramatically over the past 50 years.

The various impacts of global warming…

..on climate

More extreme climates in inland locations. More frequent and devastating hurricanes.More destructive storms…

..on habitats

Wildlife depends on healthy habitats. They need: • The right temperatures • Fresh water • Food sources • Places to raise their young

Climate change is altering key habitat elements that are critical to wildlife's survival and putting natural resources in jeopardy.

..on economy

Global warming will exacerbate the problems that developing countries already face (e.g., low agricultural productivity, hunger, malaria, water shortage, coastal flooding). Consequently, global warming would/could/might/may swamp their meager adaptive

capacity. Not only would this be a tragedy for the developing countries, it could trigger social, political and economic instability, and mass migrations which would create large

negative spillover effects for the US and other industrialized countries

..on seaScientists predict an increase in sea levels worldwide due to

the melting of two massive ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, especially on the East coast of the U.S. However, many nations around the world will experience the effects of rising sea levels, which could displace millions of people. One nation, the Maldives, is already looking for a new home, thanks

to rising sea levels.

..on coral reefs

A report on coral reefs from WWF says that in a worst case scenario, coral populations will collapse by 2100 due to

increased temperatures and ocean acidification. The ‘bleaching’ of corals from small but prolonged rises in sea temperature is a severe danger for ocean ecosystems, and

many other species in the oceans rely on coral reefs for their survival.

..on agriculture

Droughts have been occurring more frequently because of global warming and they are expected to become more frequent and intense in Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, most of the Americas, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Their impacts are aggravated because of increased

water demand, population growth, urban expansion, and environmental protection efforts in many areas. Droughts result in crop failures

and the loss of pasture grazing land for livestock.

..on fisheries

Rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification are radically altering aquatic ecosystems. Climate change is modifying fish distribution and the productivity of marine and freshwater

species. This has impacts on the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture, on the livelihoods of the communities that depend on fisheries, and on the ability of the oceans to

capture and store carbon.

..on energy

A large portion of energy infrastructure is located in coastal

areas and therefore sensitive to sea level rise and storm surge. For

example, fuel ports and the generation and transmission lines that bring electricity to major urban coastal centers are at risk. Changes in the

frequency and severity of storms and other extreme events may also damage energy infrastructure.

..on tourism

An international team of economists predict that by the end of the century the expected rise in temperature will make many current tourist hot spots a

bit too toasty while making some currently chilly places warm enough

to entice fair-weather travelers.

Climate change would shift patterns of tourism towards higher altitudes and

latitudes. Tourism may double in colder countries and fall by 20 percent

in warmer countries….For some countries international tourism may treble whereas for others it may be

cut in half.

..on polar animals

By 2050, rising temperatures could lead to the extinction of more than a million species. And because we can’t exist

without a diverse population of species on Earth, this is scary news for humans.

Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the decline of the Adéliepenguins on Antarctica, where their numbers have fallen from

32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years.Since the mid-1980s, with less ice on which to live and fish for

food, polar bears have gotten considerably skinnier.If sea ice disappears, the polar bears will as well.

..on healthHuman beings are exposed to climate change through

changing weather patterns and indirectly through changes in water, air and food quality and changes in ecosystems, agriculture, industry and settlements and the economy

According to a study by WHO Climate change was estimated to have been responsible for 3% of diarrhea, 3% of malaria, and 3.8% of dengue fever deaths worldwide in

2004.

For each anticipated impact category (and for others not included here), there is a wide range of institutional, technological, and behavioral adaptation measures that can be pursued to minimize damage.

Governments should become aware of the consequences of global climate change and start working to increase public awareness. As most measures might take decades to plan and implement, any delay only makes the problem harder to solve.

In addition, greenhouse gas emission rates have to be decreased. The time for playing around has passed. Governments and people in positions of power, as hard as it might be, should agree on a global approach and then set about implementing it. There have been some advances, but not enough. Developed countries, having caused the global warming problem, should take the lead in implementing the Kyoto Protocol as soon as possible.

A key ingredient is technology transfer. Most developing countries are still building industrial, energy, and distribution infrastructures. Developed countries should try to ensure that only the latest and cleanest technologies are installed so that the solution is not only postponed to a later date.

Picture Credits:

Information Credits: