What is climate change?

Causes of Climate Change

Climate change is driven by a variety of factors, both natural and anthropogenic:

Natural Causes

• Volcanic Eruptions: Volcanic eruptions can release large amounts of ash and gases, including sulfur dioxide, which can reflect sunlight and temporarily cool the Earth's surface.


• Solar Variations: Changes in the Sun's energy output can influence the Earth's climate. For example, periods of higher solar activity can lead to warmer temperatures.


• Orbital Changes: Variations in the Earth's orbit and tilt, known as Milankovitch cycles, can affect the distribution of solar energy on the planet and lead to long-term climate changes, such as ice ages.

Human Causes

• Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy and transportation releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat and warming the planet.


• Deforestation: Cutting down forests reduces the number of trees that can absorb CO₂, increasing the concentration of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.


• Industrial Processes: Various industrial activities, such as cement production and chemical manufacturing, release greenhouse gases and other pollutants that contribute to climate change.


• Agricultural Practices: Agriculture contributes to climate change through the release of methane (CH₄) from livestock digestion and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from fertilizer use.

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the Sun, keeping the planet warm enough to support life. While the greenhouse effect is a natural and necessary phenomenon, human activities have enhanced it by increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and climate change.

Greenhouse Gases

The main greenhouse gases contributing to climate change include:

• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): Released from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and various industrial processes.


• Methane (CH₄): Emitted from livestock digestion, rice paddies, landfills, and the production and transport of fossil fuels.


• Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): Released from agricultural activities, particularly the use of synthetic fertilizers.


• Fluorinated Gases: Synthetic gases used in industrial applications, such as refrigerants and solvents, which have a high global warming potential.

Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change has wide-ranging impacts on the environment, human health, and economies:

• Rising Temperatures: Increased global temperatures can lead to heatwaves, affecting human health, agriculture, and energy demand.


• Changing Precipitation Patterns: Altered rainfall patterns can result in droughts, floods, and changes in water availability.


• Extreme Weather Events: More frequent and severe storms, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events can cause widespread damage and disruption.


• Sea Level Rise: Melting glaciers and polar ice, along with the thermal expansion of seawater, contribute to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.


• Ocean Acidification: Increased CO₂ absorption by oceans leads to acidification, affecting marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons.


• Impacts on Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Shifts in habitats and changes in species distributions can lead to the loss of biodiversity and altered ecosystem services.

Mitigation and Adaptation

Addressing climate change requires both mitigation and adaptation strategies:

Mitigation

Mitigation involves reducing or preventing the emission of greenhouse gases to limit global warming. Strategies include transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, reforestation, and developing technologies for carbon capture and storage.

Adaptation

Adaptation involves adjusting to the current and expected impacts of climate change. This includes building resilient infrastructure, improving water management, protecting coastal areas, and developing drought-resistant crops to help communities and ecosystems cope with changes.