Scientists have issued new "warning" about climate change. How climate change is affecting our planet and how can we play our role to decrease it?

According to new research, most of the countries across the globe are unable to meet Paris climate deal in which greenhouse gases goals were defined and the consequences would result in extreme weather.

Environment Agency has issued warning that intense attacks of flooding may occur in North East due to climate change. It has warned the young people that they should be more prepared.

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Research says that chances of dryness, precipitation and dry heat will rise to around 90% if countries of Europe, North America and Asia don’t make efforts to minimize greenhouse gases emission.

“We are not prepared for today’s climate, let alone for another degree of global warming,” says study author Noah Diffenbaugh, a Stanford University professor of earth system science.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON PLANET EARTH:

We have reached another miserable milestone. Polar ice has fallen to its lowest level since start of human civilization.

Ice sheets absorb most of the sun's heat. The loss of sea polar ice is considered one of the most vital sign as the planet warms. When ice melts, ocean water is exposed, it absorbs more heat and hence it starts new chapter of global warming. It is affecting the sea mammals especially polar bears and walruses.

As a result of climate change, major cities of the world are getting out of water. Weather is becoming more extreme all over the world. Cape Town might be at risk of running completely dry and fear to reach day zero. The residents of Cape Town have been asked to limit their water usage. Some areas of US and Brazil have already seen drought.

Climate change has also affected the wildlife across the world.

It has forced Australian rats to extinct and now bats have also going to affect. Bats travel to warmer areas when temperatures start to drop. This change in bats migration pattern also affects their reproduction cycle.

According to UN report, 90% of natural disasters are related to weather. The planet’s glaciers and ice are rapidly melting and as a result of this melting, sea level is rising and ocean is heating. It is fueling storms and hurricanes. Last year hurricanes in USA are example of climate change.

Almost one third of CO₂ emissions finish up in oceans changing the chemistry of the ocean water and making it more acidic. This acidic water is dissolving seashells and sea creatures are dying.

Rapidly changing climate is making agriculture more vulnerable.

Globally, farmers are struggling hard to cope the threats of flooding and draught. Both these extremes are destroying the crops. Fertile top soil is washed away due to flooding while droughts are drying out the crops causing huge loss to the farmers. Most of the Texas corn crops are badly affected due to drought.

Flooding and other extreme weather conditions damage the infrastructure and disrupt the transportation system such as road, airport runways and rail lines. Underground tunnels get flooded and bridges are deformed due to thermal expansion.

Some other effects of global warming on planet Earth are summarized below:

• Many rare species are affected due to rise in temperature. For example, Adelie penguins have declined in number in Antarctica.

• Some foxes, butterflies and hilly plants have moved farther to relatively cooler regions.

• Globally, rain and snowfall has increased on average.

• Sea levels are estimated to rise up to 23 inches by the end of this century.

• Chances of hurricanes and storms are becoming stronger.

• In Ethiopia, rainfall could decline by ten percent over the coming 50 years.

• Some diseases will start to spread mostly malaria and Zika virus.

EFFECTS OF CLIAMTE CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH:

Climate change will not only affect the planet but it will also impact human health in the following ways:

• Increase in temperature increases the formation of smog. It causes irritation of lungs and activates asthma.

• Extreme heat during summer leads to more death and diseases causing bacteria grow faster in warmer fresh water.

• For every 1°C increase in temperature above threshold limit, death rate could increase by 2 – 5%.

• Increase in UV radiation can affect our immunity system.

• Increased droughts can lead to mental illness and suicide.

• Due to poor growth of vegetation, malnutrition is likely to increase.

• Due to increase in sea surface temperature, waterborne infections would spread.

• Chemical air pollutants can increase the impact of allergenic pollens on human health.

HUMAN IMPACTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE:

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Since later part of 20th century, human activities have caused the remarkable increase in global average temperatures. The most contributing activities are as be:

• Burning of fossil fuels during industrial revolution has increased in greenhouse gases concentrations.

• Rapid expansion of development, farming and industries are increasing carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere and changing the climate system.

• Deforestation, urbanization and change in vegetation patterns also affect the climate.

HOW WE CAN PLAY OUR ROLE TO DECREASE CLIMATE CHANGE:

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• Removing fossil fuel subsidies
• Accelerating energy efficiency
• Using renewable energy
• Building low carbon, robust cities
• Growing forest landscapes
• Reducing air pollution

References:

1- https://www.edf.org/climate/how-climate-change-plunders-planet
2- https://futurism.com/bat-migration-climate-change/
3- http://www.climate-change-guide.com/melting-polar-ice-caps.html
4- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-effects/
5- https://cleanet.org/clean/literacy/principle_6.html