What is global warming? Understand the causes and effects

 

What is global warming? Understand the causes and effects

Understand the causes and effects of climate change

Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the biggest contributors to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions.

As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap heat from the sun. This leads to global warming and climate change . The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Higher temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting nature’s normal balance. This poses many risks to humans and all other life forms on Earth.

Causes of Climate Change

Generating energy

The generation of electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a large share of global emissions. Most electricity is still generated by burning coal, oil or gas, which produces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide – powerful greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat. Globally, just over a quarter of electricity comes from wind, solar and other renewable sources that, unlike fossil fuels, emit little or no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.

manufacturing goods

Manufacturing and industry produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy to make things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothing and other goods. Mining and other industrial processes also release gases, as does the construction industry. The machines used in the manufacturing process generally run on coal, oil or gas; and some materials, such as plastics, are made from chemicals derived from fossil fuels. The manufacturing industry is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

cutting down forests

The cutting down of forests to create farms or pastures, or for other reasons, causes emissions, as trees, when cut, release the carbon they have been storing. Each year, approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed. Because forests absorb carbon dioxide, destroying them also limits nature’s ability to keep emissions out of the atmosphere. Deforestation, along with agriculture and other land-use changes, is responsible for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.

using transport

Most cars, trucks, ships and planes run on fossil fuels. This makes transport a major contributor to greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide emissions. Road vehicles account for the largest part, due to the combustion of petroleum derivatives, such as gasoline, in internal combustion engines. But emissions from ships and planes continue to grow. Transport is responsible for nearly a quarter of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. And trends point to a significant increase in energy use for transportation in the coming years.

producing food

Food production causes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases in a variety of ways, including through deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture and grazing, digestion by cows and sheep, production and use of fertilizers and manure for the cultivation and use of energy to operate farm equipment or fishing boats, often with fossil fuels. All of this makes food production a major contributor to climate change. And greenhouse gas emissions also come from food packaging and distribution.

energizing buildings

Globally, residential and commercial buildings consume more than half of all electricity. As they continue to consume coal, oil and natural gas for heating and cooling, they emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Growing energy demand for heating and cooling, with increasing ownership of air conditioning, as well as rising electricity consumption for lighting, appliances and connected devices, have contributed to an increase in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from buildings in recent years.

consuming a lot

Your home and energy use, how you move, what you eat and how much you throw away all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The same happens with the consumption of goods such as clothing, electronics and plastics. A large portion of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to private households. Our lifestyle has a profound impact on our planet. The richest bear the greatest responsibility: the richest 1% of the global population combined are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the poorest 50%.

*Based on various UN sources

Effects of Climate Change

higher temperatures

As greenhouse gas concentrations increase, so does the global surface temperature. The last decade, 2011-2020, is the hottest on record. Since the 1980s, each decade has been warmer than the last. Almost all land areas are experiencing more hot days and heat waves. Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and make working outdoors more difficult. Wildfires start more easily and spread faster when conditions are warmer. Temperatures in the Arctic have risen at least twice as fast as the global average.

more severe storms

Destructive storms have become more intense and more frequent in many regions. As temperatures rise, more moisture evaporates, which exacerbates extreme rainfall and flooding, causing more destructive storms. The frequency and extent of tropical storms are also affected by ocean warming. Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons feed on warm surface ocean waters. Such storms often destroy homes and communities, causing deaths and huge economic losses.

increase in drought

Climate change is changing the availability of water, making it more scarce in more regions. Global warming exacerbates water scarcity in already water-scarce regions and is leading to an increased risk of agricultural droughts that affect crops and ecological droughts that increase the vulnerability of ecosystems. Droughts can also trigger destructive sand and dust storms that can move billions of tons of sand across continents. Deserts are expanding, reducing land for growing food. Many people now face the threat of not having enough water on a regular basis.

A warm and growing ocean

The ocean absorbs most of the heat from global warming. The rate of ocean warming has increased sharply over the past two decades across all ocean depths. As the ocean warms, its volume increases, as water expands as it gets warmer. Melting ice sheets also cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal and island communities. In addition, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it out of the atmosphere. But more carbon dioxide makes the ocean more acidic, which endangers marine life and coral reefs.

species loss

Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. These risks increase as temperatures rise. Exacerbated by climate change, the world is losing species at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history. One million species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. Wildfires, extreme weather, and invasive pests and diseases are among the many threats related to climate change. Some species will be able to move and survive, but others will not.

not enough food

Changes in climate and the increase in extreme weather events are among the reasons behind the global increase in hunger and malnutrition. Fish, crops and livestock can be destroyed or become less productive. With the ocean becoming more acidic, marine resources that feed billions of people are at risk. Changes in snow and ice cover in many Arctic regions have disrupted food supplies from grazing, hunting and fishing. Heat stress can deplete water and pastures for grazing, causing declines in agricultural production and affecting livestock.

More health risks

Climate change is the greatest health threat facing humanity. Climate impacts are already damaging health, through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement, mental health pressures, and increased hunger and malnutrition in places where people cannot grow or find enough food. Every year, environmental factors claim the lives of around 13 million people. Changing weather patterns are expanding disease, and extreme weather events increase deaths and make it difficult for health systems to keep up.

Poverty and displacement

Climate change increases the factors that put and keep people in poverty. Floods can sweep through urban slums, destroying homes and livelihoods. The heat can make working outdoors difficult. Water scarcity can affect crops. Over the past decade (2010–2019), weather-related events have displaced an estimated 23.1 million people on average each year, leaving many more vulnerable to poverty. Most refugees come from countries that are more vulnerable and less prepared to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

*Based on various UN sources

 

Henrique Cortez *, translation and editing.

 

in EcoDebate , ISSN 2446-9394

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