What is Climate Change?

Climate change first became of concern during the 1960s, when the effects of greenhouse gases
began to add up. The distribution of greenhouse gases in the environment is on a steady rise since
the late 20th century. During those times crop failure, droughts, floods were given the name of bad
weather and the thought of climate change was just ignored. Scientists identified these rigorous
changes in the environment but were not given due attention and no discussions were done to solve
these problems. Climate change is the global phenomenon of climate transformation which is
characterized by the changes in the usual climate of the planet. Climate change has taken a huge toll
on the natural surroundings. Global sea level rose about 8 inches in the last century. The rate in the
last two decades has nearly doubled to that of the last century. The amount of snow cover in the
Northern Hemisphere has decreased over the past five decades and is melting rapidly. The planet's
average s temperature has risen about 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit (1.18 degrees Celsius) since the late
19th century, and scientists predict that it would further increase to 3 degrees which is a huge
concern. Gases in the atmosphere such as methane, carbon dioxide, water vapour, nitrous oxide,
and chloro-fluoro carbons increase the earth’s temperature by trapping heat around the surface.
This is known as the greenhouse effect. These gases occur naturally in the atmosphere and more
proportion of the greenhouse gases in the air around us can lead to an increase in the earth’s
surface temperature and also lead to the strengthening of the greenhouse effect. The burning of
fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas has led to an increase in the carbon dioxide
particles in the air which is more than a third since the Industrial Revolution. Extreme weather
conditions can be seen such as heavy rainfalls, floods, storms, and frequent droughts which are
increasing at an alarming rate. Climate change also affects the health of humans who are the major
culprits of this. Exposure to smog and higher temperatures can lead to health problems such as
asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer. Sincere efforts need to be done to curb the effect of climate
change on our planet. These changes majorly need to come from governments and businesses, but
scientists say even small changes in our lives can limit our impact on the climate. Reducing our
dependence on meat and dairy consumption or by fully going vegan. Shifting to sustainable
transport and minimizing plane travel will not only lower air pollution but also help in stopping
climate change. Forests are of great importance and protecting them is an important climate
solution. Oceans absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to keep
our climate stable. Many are overfished, used for oil and gas drilling, or used for deep-sea mining.
Protecting oceans and the life in them is essential. As stated by the United Nations climate report
those least responsible for global warming will suffer disproportionately from its effects. According
to a 2021 report by the United Nations, and many people will face chronic hunger, water scarcity,
and homes taken by rising water levels as a result. Therefore,2021 is a “make or break year” for
climate change.