6 Reasons Why Climate Change Is So Important Right Now

Climate change is affecting every single one of us, even if we don’t always realize it. From the moment that you read this sentence, the Earth is undergoing a permanent and irreversible transformation as a result of human activity.

The effects of climate change are not just going to affect future generations — they are already here, and they are going to stay for good.

If you aren’t convinced about the dangers of climate change yet, then hopefully reading this article will make you see things from another perspective.

The following 7 reasons why climate change is permanently changing our lives might help you understand the implications better.

Let's dive in

What is climate change?

Climate change refers to changes in weather patterns over time. These changes may be caused by natural processes (such as variations in solar radiation) or human activities (like deforestation).

Climate change affects many aspects of our environment, including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, sea level, ocean acidity, and atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and aerosols.

The effects of climate change vary across different regions of the world.

Let see the Climate change Types:

1. Humid Climate

A humid climate is characterized by high humidity levels throughout the year. Rainfall is uncommon in these climates, and the air temperature rarely drops below freezing.

These conditions make it difficult for plants to dry out and thrive.

2. Dry Climate

Dry climates are characterized by low humidity levels throughout the year and little precipitation.

As a result, temperatures may drop below freezing at night and rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

3. Temperate Climate

Temperate climates have moderate temperatures throughout the year. However, precipitation is generally abundant, and temperatures range between 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Subtropical Climate

Subtropical climates are characterized by warm temperatures throughout the year. Rainfall is usually plentiful, and temperatures rarely drop below freezing.

5. Tropical Climate

Tropical climates are characterized by hot temperatures throughout the year. There is often heavy rainfall, and temperatures frequently exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the cause of climate change?

There are many different reasons why climate change occurs. Find out what they are and how they affect us today.

1. Greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gases are gases released into the atmosphere due to human activities. These greenhouse gases trap solar radiation and prevent its escape back into space. There are many greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone-depleting substances, perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

2. Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas emitted by humans. It is produced naturally by breaking organic matter in soils and oceans.

When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the air.

Plants use carbon dioxide to make food, and animals breathe out carbon dioxide while exhaling oxygen. Humans produce about 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year.

3. Methane

Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that is 30 times stronger than carbon dioxide at trapping heat. It is produced by decaying vegetation, landfills, rice paddies, and termites.

As a result, methane is a significant contributor to global warming.

4. Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

It is created when bacteria break down manure and dead organisms in the soil. It is also formed when natural gas leaks from pipelines.

5. Ozone Depleting Substances

Ozone depletes the protective layer of ozone in our stratosphere.

This causes ultraviolet rays to penetrate deeper into the earth's surface, increasing the risk of skin cancer and cataracts.

6. Perfluorocarbons

Perfluorocarbons are man-made chemicals that have been linked to damage to the environment and wildlife.

They are used in products like Teflon, stain repellents, fire extinguishers, and foams.

7. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Hydrofluorocarbons were developed in the 1950s to replace ozone-depleting compounds. HFCs do not destroy ozone, but they contribute to climate change by replacing the role of chlorine in the upper atmosphere.

How does climate change impact humans?

1.Global warming

Global warming is the increased temperature of the Earth's atmosphere due to increased levels of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse gases trap heat near Earth's surface, causing the planet to warm. As temperatures rise, glaciers melt, sea ice melts, and oceans expand.

These changes have serious consequences for people around the world.

2. Extreme weather events

Extreme weather events are natural disasters caused by extreme conditions.

They may occur at any time of year, but they are most likely to happen in the summer months.

In recent years, many parts of the world have experienced severe flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Climate change makes these types of events more frequent and intense.

3. Drought

Droughts are extended periods of low rainfall. Many regions experience droughts periodically.

However, some places are experiencing more prolonged and more frequent droughts than ever before. Drought causes water shortages and affects food production.

People who live in dry areas often suffer from malnutrition.

4. Heat waves

Heat waves are high temperatures over a prolonged period. They can cause dehydration and lead to heat stroke.

Heat waves are becoming more common and are expected to worsen.

5. Sea level rise

Sea level rise occurs when the ocean warms and expands. As the ocean grows, the land underneath becomes submerged.

This causes coastal cities to flooding. Sea level rise is already affecting millions of people worldwide.

6. Food shortage

Food shortages are caused by a lack of access to sufficient food. Hunger is a significant problem in developing countries.

Lack of clean drinking water is also a problem. There are many reasons why people cannot get enough to eat.

One of them is conflict. Another reason is that farmers need the right tools to produce crops efficiently.

7. Water pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water with harmful substances. Pollution comes from human activities, including agriculture, industry, and domestic use.

Water pollution can affect the quality of our air and soil. It can also harm animals and plants.

What can we do to help climate change?

1.Manmade carbon emissions are the leading cause of global warming.

We have been causing climate change for the past 50 years by burning fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal. Currently, about two degrees Celsius of warming is above the average for the global climate.

Robust action is needed to avoid a potentially catastrophic rise in global temperature. The best way to reduce your environmental impact is to reduce energy use, slow car travel, and avoid burning fossil fuels.

2. We use too much energy, and there’s no sustainable alternative.

We burn many fossil fuels as we heat the Earth’s surface and make the atmosphere even more intense.

This is mainly coal and oil, which account for about two-thirds of global warming. The remaining third is renewable energy, like solar, wind, and biomass.

Without fossil fuels, humans would require an average of about 40 calories per day to maintain indoor and outdoor temperatures adequate for metabolism.

After that, sustainable agriculture and livestock production would be consumed to maintain food production.

3. Humans drive a lot too fast and far too often.

Humans drive faster in both directions and farther in some parts of the world than at other times.

This is partly due to the growing population and a desire for more space. However, there is also an increasing need for more technology that allows people to stay in contact with one another more often.

There is a massive potential for hybrid cars that combine human and auto technologies. Other human-driven devices, like robots, are getting faster and better at performing tasks.

4. Land cover is also changing at an alarming rate.

In many areas of the Earth, the amount and distribution of trees, bushes, and other plants have changed dramatically in the past century.

Forests have been reduced by 80 percent, while grasslands have experienced a loss of about 50 percent.

The alpine areas of the Earth have also seen a significant change. Most of the mountains that rise above the desert and tropical regions are covered in forests.

However, a large portion of this change is due to agriculture. Beyond the changes in the landscape, climate change has also created changes in land cover and vegetation.

The amount of precipitation is also changing. In addition, the amount of vegetation that is growing is also changing.

All these factors make it more difficult for plants to survive and thrive in this new environment.

5.Sea Levels are Rising at an alarmingly rapid pace.

The sea levels, which have been half as high as they were during the Cold War, are now about 20 percent higher than they were 3000 years ago.

Although the overall sea level outlook is favorable, many coastal cities and states struggle to save their streets. In some cases, they may even be forced to build seawalls or fill some roads.

In addition, sea levels are rising in other areas of the Earth. This increase in sea level will have an impact on the climate too.

For example, the Arctic Circle is experiencing the third consecutive decade of sea level rise. Similarly, the Antarctic Circle is experiencing the third straight decade of sea level rise.

These three regions are each expected to experience a surge of between 5 and 10 millimeters (0.25 and 1.25 inches).

6. Climate change profoundly impacts biodiversity around the Earth, and we only have time to act now!

In addition to increasing levels of global warming, another major factor is the expansion of human-induced climate change.

All these combined suggest that it is only a matter of time before the Earth’s biodiversity is seriously endangered. To be safe, we need to act now.

Conclusion

The world is warming at a rapid pace. In fact, human-induced climate change is responsible for the increase in global average temperature.

But what if we could reduce our impact on the Earth’s climate by only seven steps? Let’s see how!