Curious about Climate Change? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with some interesting facts about it. From shrunk glaciers, dry rivers to rising sea-water levels and increasing temperatures, the specter of climate change is right before our eyes. Scientists have stated that the global climate will continue to get more precarious, primarily due to human-produced greenhouse gases.
Needless to say, the present trajectory of climate change spells doom for humanity across the earth. This article explores the most crucial facts that you should be aware of as a responsible global citizen.
Here are 10 Climate Change Facts You Might Not Have Known
1. Global Temperatures Are Rising At An Alarming Rate
Earth has gotten hotter by 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial times, mainly due to industrial carbon emissions. Although the number may seem small, the accumulated heat throughout the globe’s surface is causing freakish weather events. And since greenhouse gasses trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, we will not notice any significant drop in the temperatures even if we stop the carbon emissions altogether.
2. Humans have caused the Global Temperature Rise Over The Last Century.
While natural causes of climate change like bushfires and volcanic eruptions exist, human activities are responsible for the steep rise in global temperatures in the last 100 years. Actions like depleting the world’s fossil fuel reserves for energy, introducing chemical-intensive farming for getting more yields, and deforestation have affected the natural balance of the earth’s atmosphere while also promoting the release of greenhouse gases. It is time that humans minimized their carbon footprint in the world by going green and supporting eco-friendly products and remedies launched by the likes of Canada weed dispensary.
3. Polar Ice Caps And Glaciers Are Melting
As a result of global warming, the Arctic’s giant glaciers and sea ice are melting. According to WWF data, Arctic sea ice is melting at 13 percent per decade, and Arctic ice has melted by a massive 95 percent in the past three decades. Scientists fear that at this rate, all the ice in the Arctic could vanish by 2040. The melted ice of the Arctic has increased the water levels in the seas and also given rise to coastal storms like typhoons and hurricanes.
4. China And The USA Cause 43% Of Global CO2 Emissions Together
According to recent CO2 emissions data, developed nations have high per capita carbon dioxide emissions, while major developing countries like India and Brazil have higher overall emission levels. According to 2018 reports, China is the world’s largest CO2 emitter, with emissions reaching 10.06 billion metric tons, and the USA sits in the second position with CO2 emissions of 5.41 billion MT in 2018.
5. Deforestation And Rainforest Destruction Is Shooting Up CO2 Levels
Forests store CO2 for hundreds of years. When we destroy rainforests, massive quantities of carbon dioxide go back to the atmosphere and directly impact the temperatures. According to studies, one-fifth of the world’s largest rainforest, Amazon, is releasing more carbon dioxide than it is absorbing. One of the primary reasons for this uptake is deforestation and bushfires in the Amazon basin.
6. Rising Temperatures Are Adversely Affecting Wildlife
Global warming has transformed ecosystems that have been natural habitats of various species. Such disruptions are not only about affecting the temperatures in wildlife habitats but also depleting food supplies and damaging spaces used to raise wildlife.
Although some animals have managed to migrate and survive in newer habitats, species like polar bears, arctic foxes, gray wolves, reindeer, toads, penguins, and painted turtles are on the brink of extinction.
7. Climate Change Is Impacting Drinking Water Supplies
Global warming is lowering groundwater levels, the increasing number of natural disasters is contaminating safe water sources globally. In the last two decades, 75% of natural calamities were water-related, such as floods and droughts. When hotter temperatures are shooting up the portions of pathogens in drinkable water, rising seawater is mixing with fresh water, making it salty and unsafe for drinking purposes.
8. Climate Change Is Destroying Coral Reefs
In the last three decades, 50% of the earth’s coral reefs have perished. Warming oceans cause coral bleaching, and ocean acidification leads to the weakening of coral reefs’ structural integrity. Events like sea-level rise, changing storm patterns, and altered ocean currents are also responsible for destroying coral reefs.
9. Vulnerable Sections Of The Human Society Will Perish Due To Climate Change
Climate change has a different impact on different regions. The first casualties of climate change will be poor nations located in low-lying areas. So, although rich nations like the USA can hold back against rising water levels for a certain period, countries like Madagascar and Nigeria are already facing the heat. Small island states like Tuvalu and Kiribati are projected to be flooded by 2050, leaving their vulnerable population at risk.
10. The Paris Climate Agreement Is A Global Attempt To Fight Climate Change
The 2015 Paris Climate Treaty is an international agreement to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The 197 participating nations will work on independent five-year plans to reduce the temperatures and contribute to a better environment. The agreement provides technical, financial, and capacity-building assistance to parties for adapting to a greener living.
Conclusion
The earth’s climate is changing rapidly, and the faster we respond to it, the better chance we have for surviving. We must bring change in our lifestyles besides asking for institutional actions to tackle climate change. Climate change is a global challenge, and all of us have to face it together.
Watch this space for updates in the Facts category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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