GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Global climate change refers to the average long-term changes over the entire Earth. These include warming temperatures and changes in precipitation, as well as the effects of Earth´s warming, such as:
Some parts of the Earth are warming faster than others. But on average, global air temperatures near Earth´s surface have gone up. In fact, the past five years have been the warmest five years in centuries.
Many people, including scientists, are concerned about this warming. As Earth´s climate continues to warm, the intensity and amount of rainfall during storms such as hurricanes is expected to increase. Droughts and heat waves are also expected to become more intense as the climate warms.
Temperature changes can have big impacts on the health of Earth´s plants and animals.
What is Global Climate Change?
What causes climate change?
There are lots of factors that contribute to Earth´s climate. However, scientists agree that Earth has been getting warmer in the past 50 to 100 years due to human activities.
Certain gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) in Earth´s atmosphere block heat from escaping. By trapping that heat, our atmosphere keeps Earth warm enough to live on. Without it, our planet would be very cold, like Mars. This is called the greenhouse effect. These gases keep Earth warm like the glass in a greenhouse keeps plants warm.
Human activities, such as burning fuel to power factories, cars and buses, are changing the natural greenhouse. These changes cause the atmosphere to trap more heat than it used to, leading to a warmer Earth.
What could happen?
Climate change affects more than temperature. Warmer water changes the patterns of ocean currents, affecting global weather patterns.
Some places will receive more rainfall, which could lead to flooding, while other places will get less, which might mean drought. Tropical storms could be stronger, and a continuing rise in sea level due to melting polar ice might push people out of their homes.
Hundreds of plant and animal species have already experienced changes because of climate change (polar bears). Other species will benefit from a warmer world, but in some cases that would be bad news for humans. Because disease-carrying mosquitoes thrive in warm, wet weather, more people could contract illnesses such as malaria as the Earth warms.
Things we must change
Deforestation
Rainforests help to control global warming because they absorb carbon dioxide. In recent years, larges areas have been destroyed, as trees are cut down for wood or burned to clear the land for farming. The burning releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Many rainforests grow on poor soils, so when they are cut down or burned the soil is washed away in tropical rains, so that the area may turn into desert. Many plant and animal species that live there can become extinct, and indigenous tribes can lose their homes.
Pollution
Air pollution and climate change are closely linked. Often it is the same gases that create the poor air quality in cities especially which can cause serious health problems for people living in urban areas.
Water pollution is a huge problem and unclean water is a major threat to human health. Water pollution happens when dangerous chemicals from factories, farming and other industries are allowed into rivers, lakes and oceans and into our water systems. Plastic waste is also a big problem.
Soil pollution is also a big problem. The use of fertilizer and pesticides can contaminate land and threaten food security.
Things we must change
Recycling
Recycling is the processing of used objects and materials so that they can be used again. About 60% of rubbish from homes and factories contain materials that could be recycled. Recycling saves energy and also reduces damage to the countryside.
Glass, paper and aluminum cans can all be recycled very easily. Many towns have special bins where people can leave their empty bottles and cans for recycling. A lot of paper bags, writing paper and greeting cards are now produce don recycled paper. Even more effective than recycling is choosing products that use a minimum of plastic and paper packaging.
Farming
Believe it or not cows´ eating habits contribute towards climate change. Just like us when cows eat, methane (a type of greenhouse gas) builds up in their digestive system and is released in the form of a burp. This might sound funny but when you imagine that there are almost 1.5 billion cows releasing all that gas into the atmosphere it sure adds up.
Things we must change
Renewable energy
Up until now, most of the energy we used came from coal, oil and gas (fossil fuels) But these will not last forever and burning them is a major cause of climate change.
Many countries are now choosing to use renewable sources for their energy needs. Solar energy from the sun, wind power from turbines, hydroelectric energy from rivers and sea water, and geothermal power, taking heat from the centre of the Earth are the main sources of renewable energy. Countries like Iceland and Costa Rica are leading the way, with Iceland getting 100% of its energy from these renewable sources.
Public transport
Transport has a large environmental impact. People use cars more, especially in urban areas and this is one of the largest growing sources of carbon dioxide in the world. Private transport contributes air pollution and global warming, and taking flights is also a big problem. As more and more people fly, greenhouse gases increase.
By using public transport (buses, trains, metros) or cycling in cities emissions from urban transport could be cut by more than 50%. Using trains for longer journeys as an alternative to flying reduces the environmental impact often by as much as 90% and for some journeys is just as quick.
What can we do?
-Instead of travelling in a car, use public transport, walk or ride your bike when you can.
-Reduce and reuse things as much as possible. Factories emit lots of carbon dioxide when making new products (buying products that are made with recycled glass and plastic also emits carbon dioxide, though less so)
-Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them to dry.
-Electronics use energy even when they are turned off, so unplug them when you are nor using them.
-Eat less meat and dairy. Farm animals emit another heat-trapping gas, methane. And some studies have found that livestock account for about half of the world´s heat-trapping gas emissions.
-Buy locally grown and in-season foods and products to reduce emissions from transporting products.
-Wear a warm sweater at home in the winter instead of turning up the heat and open your windows instead of blasting the air conditioning in the summer.