The history of climate change is a long one. It was thought that human activity could change the planet's weather patterns for hundreds of years. Even the ancient Greeks believed they could change rainfall by plowing fields and removing trees. However, it took until the 20th century for most scientists to accept that humans could indeed affect the climate.
Scientists began to collect data on the impact of greenhouse gases upon the climate in 1950s. The "Keeling Curve", an graph showing the rise in CO2 levels over the years, was one the first scientific discoveries. This was one evidence of the greenhouse effect, and it was one of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 20th-century.
After World War II had ended, governments began to consider ways to slow greenhouse gas emission. The rising global temperature would lead to more severe droughts and hurricanes, according to scientists. Some even warned of the possibility of an imminent ice age. Scientists dropped their warnings after the cooling period ended.
The temperatures began to rise in the mid-1980s. Droughts and wildfires were common in the United States as the 1988 summer reached its peak. A series of climatic phenomena confirmed that global warming was true.
In the 1970s, scientists noticed that aerosol particles could block sunlight. The Second Industrial Revolution introduced electricity, fertilizers and other pollutants to the atmosphere. They also accelerated clearing land, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was created. This is another significant milestone in the history climate change. This protocol called for the total ban on chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. It was based on research by three scientists who reported abnormally low ozone levels over the South Pole in 1985.
1972 saw the United Nations Scientific Conference (UNSC), convene the first Earth Summit. This conference adopted a declaration regarding the human environment and called on monitoring of climate changes. It also created the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Environment Coordination Board. These bodies developed acid rain programs and a program for the protection of the ozone layer.
Journalists, businessmen, and politicians all had an interest in global warming. It was portrayed in popular magazines as a possible harbinger of an impending ice age. Also, there were predictions of severe heat waves or droughts. These warnings were not confirmed, but they received significant attention.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the first international treaty to address global climate change, was established in 1992. It was aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of industrialised countries. The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 and became effective in 2005.
The Paris Agreement, which replaced the Kyoto Protocol in 2015, set a goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. These countries must reduce their carbon emissions. Without this, the Earth may experience catastrophic consequences.
FAQ
How does human activity affect climate change
Human activity is one of the major factors contributing to climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (IPCC), human activity is responsible for more that 70% of all global warming.
Burning fossil fuels: Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, are burned. This creates more atmospheric CO2, which acts like a "greenhouse" gas, trapping heat and increasing temperatures. This leads to higher ocean levels as Arctic ice melts and scrambles weather patterns around the world leading to deadly storms, droughts, and floods which could affect food production and endanger human health.
Deforestation - Trees which store atmospheric carbon dioxide within their trunks, when they absorb it through photosynthesis, are removed by deforestation. Reduced forest cover can also increase albedo, which is the amount of reflected sunlight coming back into space. This reduces solar heat absorption at the surface of the earth and promotes global warming. It also reduces the quality of local air, with deforestation being permanently linked to respiratory problems.
Farming is responsible for 14% to 18% of all anthropogenic greenhouse emissions globally each year. Large amounts of methane gas are released by animal waste due to its richness in methane bacteria. Eating less or none of these products can reduce global warming.
In conclusion, although human activity has had a devastating impact on our environment for centuries, technological advancements have enabled us to focus our minds towards the future. Instead of relying on carbon-emitting heavy industry, we can use green innovation to create eco-friendly efforts that combat climate change effectively and ensure everyone's safety.
What impact does climate change have on food security and agriculture?
Climate change and global warming are directly impacting agriculture and food security. The changing climate can affect rainfall patterns, temperatures, soil moisture levels, and extreme weather. This can cause disruptions in farming, decrease crop yields, and result in a loss of agricultural biodiversity. Warmer temperatures can cause crop diseases and pests to multiply. It can also affect the ranges that are suitable for agricultural production. In turn, this could increase the cost of food production and result in a greater incidence of hunger and poor nutrition worldwide.
Rising sea levels are a threat as they could flood important agricultural land along the coast. This would lead to an increase in salinity in wetlands that support important crops. Changes in climate also have an impact on livestock production. In summer, high temperatures can lower fertility rates in animals like sheep and cattle. This can result in lower milk yields, which can worsen food insecurity.
Global warming and climate change are complex issues. However, governments around the world are making efforts to reduce these effects through adaptation strategies such as climate-smart agricultural (CSA) strategic investments. This involves promoting sustainable methods such as crop rotation techniques or genetic diversity through the conservation of native seed varieties, which help protect against negative impacts from extreme weather conditions or other environmental stressors caused by the changing climate. In addition, CSA strategies call for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of deforestation-related logging activities.
To ensure food security amidst a rapidly changing environment, it will be essential for farmers around the world to adopt technologies that are more sensitive to changes in the climate when it comes to selecting appropriate crops to grow on certain parcels of land. It is essential to make improvements in existing infrastructure so that appropriate actions may be taken when crucial crop thresholds are reached. This includes the introduction of stable irrigation networks with adequate access waters at times when there is less availability due to warmer temperatures or heavy downpours, which can wash away important access water resources. Effective collaboration is key to creating lasting solutions that allow for the continual adherence to international dietary guidelines concerning quality nutrition in changing climates around the world. This includes all levels of government, NGOs and local communities.
What are the most effective solutions for climate change?
Climate change is an urgent issue, and it requires immediate attention from government, business, and citizens. An unstable climate system can be seen in rising temperatures, extreme events, high sea levels, and melting of polar ice. Multiple solutions have been proposed to address this phenomenon. These solutions range from technological solutions to behavioral changes to geoengineering.
Technological Solutions: There are many technological solutions that can be used to combat climate change. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power provide reliable, clean energy that has minimal environmental side effects. Electric cars powered entirely by renewable energy could replace petrol vehicles and significantly reduce pollution. Other technological solutions include reforestation projects that aim to increase carbon sequestration in trees and soil as well as coastal protection systems to protect vulnerable places against rising ocean levels.
Making behavioral changes: Simple changes to routines can make a huge difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting future climate disruption. Locally produced goods can reduce emissions and transport costs. Public or active transportation can optimize the use of resources, reduce cost and pollution simultaneously. Similarly, more efficient insulation in homes can decrease dependence on gas boilers to heat homes. This will also help lower bills.
Geo-engineering : Geo-engineering refers to large-scale interventions in natural system that have been deemed too risky for potential unforeseen results.
The effectiveness and efficiency of these solutions will depend on how many producers invest in green alternatives. However, incentives such as electric Cars play an integral part in incentivizing alternative solutions. Other than increasing consumer awareness about their utility over time, it is possible to mandate alternative solutions via policies measures. This requires regulatory bodies that are willing to engage players further. Although nontechnological approaches can work at one level; solving the global warming problem requires all parties.
Statistics
- According to the 2014 report on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (page 8) from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, governments at various levels are also getting better at adaptation. (climate.nasa.gov)
- This source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland, including rivers and rain. (climate.nasa.gov)
- The 100 least-emitting countries generate 3 per cent of total emissions. (un.org)
- The 10 countries with the largest emissions contribute 68 percent. (un.org)
- This source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland, including rivers and rain. (climate.nasa.gov)
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How To
How to Reduce your Carbon Footprint and Fight Climate Change
There are many ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and combat climate change. First, invest in energy-efficient appliances and lighting. You can also save electricity by unplugging electronics when they are not being used, using public transit, walking and turning down the thermostat in the summer and winter.
Second, recycle as much material as possible. Compost food scraps rather than throwing them away. This will ensure that they don't end-up in landfills which release methane gas into our atmosphere. For shade and natural cooling, consider planting trees around your home. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Additionally, look into purchasing products with minimal packaging.
You can help reduce your personal emissions by supporting organizations such as Emissions Reduction Alberta, Climate Change Solutions; The Pembina Institute and The Nature Conservancy Canada. These organizations work to lower emissions through clean energy investments. They also support international initiatives such ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability's Urban Sustainability Strategies program.
All of us can make small changes to our daily lives and help combat climate change.