ARTICLE ID: 0116

Volume 2, Issue 7 July I 2024 Agri Roots e- Magazine The Unavoidable Truth of Climate Change www.agrirootsmagazine.in ARTICLE ID: 0116 ISSN: 2583-9071 1 Naveen Kumar1, Shantnu2 Research scholar, Ph.D. Agronomy, School of Agriculture Sciences, K.K. university, Biharsharif, Nalanda, Bihar, 803115 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. C.V. Raman University, Vaishali, Bihar W e humans are programmed to respond to and academicians are very much concerned about the hazards evident and immediate, but the effect of climate change. If the proper action plan is not long term, the incipient, and to our eyes taken to eradicate this situation then this Climate invisible eludes us. Climate change describes the change will create huge impact and loss on the lives of significant and lasting changes in the global climate, billions of people as well as the biodiversity. especially in temperature and weather patterns, largely Causes of Climate Change due to human activities. 1. Greenhouse Gas Climate change is a Emissions pressing global issue that § Carbon has been the subject of (CO2): Released through extensive scientific burning fossil fuels (coal, debate. oil, and natural gas) for overwhelming energy, deforestation, and research Despite evidence, argue and some that still various climate Dioxide industrial processes. change is a hoax. However, the scientific community § Methane (CH4): Emitted during the production widely agrees that climate change is real and primarily and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas. Also driven by human activities. Climate change is a very released by livestock and other agricultural serious problem nowadays which is creating a robust practices, and by the decay of organic waste in problem in our environment and daily life activities. landfills. Climate change has become hot topic for each and § Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Emitted from agricultural every individual as it has long lasting effect on our and industrial activities, as well as during the ecosystem. All the industrialists, scientists, bureaucrats combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste. www.agrirootsmagazine.in Volume 2, Issue 7 I July, 2024 18 § Fluorinated Gases: Industrial gases used in a variety of applications, including refrigeration and air conditioning. 5. Impacts on Biodiversity § Changing climates alter habitats and disrupt ecosystems, leading to shifts in species distribution 2. Deforestation and increased risk of extinction for vulnerable § Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the species. atmosphere. When trees are cut down, this carbon Addressing Climate Change absorption capacity is reduced, and the stored 1. Mitigation Strategies carbon is released back into the atmosphere. § Transition to Renewable Energy: Investing in 3. Agricultural Practices solar, wind, hydro, and other renewable energy § Livestock production releases methane, while the sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. use of synthetic fertilizers contributes to nitrous oxide emissions. § Energy efficiency Efficiency: of Improving buildings, the energy transportation, and Impacts of Climate Change industrial processes to reduce overall energy 1. Rising Temperatures consumption. § Global temperatures have risen significantly, with § Carbon Pricing: Implementing carbon taxes or the past few decades being the warmest in recorded cap-and-trade systems to incentivize reductions in history. This warming trend is causing heatwaves greenhouse gas emissions. and altering weather patterns. § Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting trees 2. Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels and restoring § The Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets are shrinking, sequestration. forests to enhance carbon and glaciers are retreating worldwide. This 2. Adaptation Strategies contributes to rising sea levels, which threaten § Infrastructure Resilience: Building infrastructure coastal communities and ecosystems. 3. Extreme Weather Events § Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, that can withstand extreme weather events and rising sea levels. § Agricultural Practices: Developing and droughts, floods, and wildfires. These events cause implementing sustainable agricultural practices to extensive damage to infrastructure, ecosystems, and cope with changing climate conditions. human lives. § Water Management: Improving water 4. Ocean Acidification conservation and management to address the § Oceans absorb a significant portion of CO2 impacts of altered precipitation patterns. emissions, leading to increased acidity. This affects 3. International Cooperation marine life, particularly organisms with calcium § Paris Agreement: An international treaty adopted carbonate shells or skeletons, such as corals and in 2015, aiming to limit global warming to well shellfish. www.agrirootsmagazine.in Volume 2, Issue 7 I July, 2024 19 below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts However, the scientific evidence for climate change to limit the increase to 1.5°C. is based on rigorous research and data collection, § Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): independent of political or economic agendas . Countries submit their plans for reducing emissions The Urgency of Action and adapting to climate impacts, with regular 1. Mitigation and Adaptation updates to increase ambition. § Mitigating climate change involves reducing GHG 4. Individual Actions emissions through transitioning to renewable § Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Minimizing waste and energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable consumption. § Sustainable Transportation: Using adopting sustainable practices. Adaptation involves public transportation, carpooling, biking, or walking to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles. preparing for and managing the impacts of climate change that are already occurring . § Governments, businesses, and individuals all have § Support Renewable Energy: Choosing renewable roles to play in addressing climate change. Policies energy options for homes and supporting policies such as carbon pricing, investments in renewable that promote clean energy. energy, and conservation efforts are crucial for Addressing the Myths reducing emissions and building resilience . 1. Natural Cycles vs. Human Influence 2. International Cooperation § While natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and § Climate change is a global issue that requires solar variability have historically influenced the coordinated Earth's climate, the current warming trend is Agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to limit global unprecedented in its speed and scale. The IPCC has warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial stated with high confidence that human activities levels, with an aspiration to limit the increase to are the dominant cause of the observed warming 1.5°C . since the mid-20th century. international efforts. The Paris § Countries are required to submit their plans for 2. Scientific Consensus reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts, § A vast majority of climate scientists agree that known as Nationally Determined Contributions climate change is real and primarily driven by (NDCs), and to update these plans every five years human activities. Studies consistently show that . over 97% of actively publishing climate scientists Conclusion endorse the view that humans are causing global Climate change is a scientifically proven reality that warming . poses significant risks to the planet and humanity. The 3. Economic and Political Motivations evidence for human-caused climate change is § Some argue that climate change is a hoax overwhelming and comes from a wide range of perpetuated for economic or political gain. scientific disciplines. Addressing climate change www.agrirootsmagazine.in Volume 2, Issue 7 I July, 2024 20 requires immediate and sustained action at all levels of our planet. It is imperative that we take the necessary society. Dismissing it as a hoax not only ignores the steps to mitigate and adapt to climate change to ensure scientific consensus but also jeopardizes the future of a sustainable and resilient future for all. References 1. NASA. (2021). The Causes of Climate Change. 2. IPCC. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Retrieved from IPCC 3. NOAA. (2021). Global Climate Report - Annual 2020. Retrieved from NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 4. WMO. (2021). State of the Global Climate 2021. Retrieved from World Meteorological Organization 5. NASA Earth Observatory. (2021). Ice Sheets. 6. IPCC. (2019). Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. Retrieved from IPCC 7. EPA. (2021). Climate Change Indicators: Weather and Climate. 8. NOAA. (2020). 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season takes infamous top spot for busiest on record. Retrieved from NOAA 9. IPCC. (2021). Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Retrieved from IPCC 10. Cook, J., et al. (2013). Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature. Environmental Research Letters, 8(2). Retrieved from IOPscience 11. NASA. (2021). Scientific Consensus: Earth's Climate is Warming. www.agrirootsmagazine.in Volume 2, Issue 7 I July, 2024 21