Climate Change- A Challenge for Present and Future Generations

 Today, the world is encountering a lot many problems in terms of uncertain societies, uncertain economies and uncertain climate. Climate change is among one of the crises being faced by today’s generations and which has a far-reaching impact on the coming generations. 

In simple words, Climate change is nothing but a long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. The causes of these shifts may be natural or anthropogenic (human activities induced). Fluctuations and unexpected events in the solar and ecosystem may be understood as the natural causes of climate change. Whereas, use of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), unchecked release of industrial waste, greenhouse gas emission, deforestation and pollution are a few anthropogenic factors causing an irreversible and irreparable damage to the climate. increased human and industrial activities have been mainly responsible for climate change and cause of greenhouse gas emissions. Emission of greenhouse gases form a blanket around the Earth and trap the sun’s heat and thus make the Earth warmer. Carbon dioxide and methane are the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions and warming of the Earth. It has been identified that use of gasoline for driving a car, coal for heating a building, deforestation, release of industrial waste are the major contributors of carbon dioxide release and unchecked disposal of garbage and landfills are a major source of methane emissions. Further, sectoral divide indicates that energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main emitters of greenhouse gases.

As per the Sixth Assessment Report (2021) by The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), greenhouse gas emissions have warmed the Earth by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) since pre-Industrial times (1800-1990) and it is expected that within the next few decades, the global average temperature will reach or may exceed 1.5 degree C (appx. 3 degrees F). These changes will affect all regions of Earth. In its report IPCC has highlighted that climate change is intensifying the water cycle resulting in intense rainfall and flooding on one side and intense droughts on other side. Warming of the planet is increasing the rate of melting of glaciers, change in pattern of rainfall, ocean acidification and reduced oxygen for marine life. Occurrence of frequent and intense droughts, water scarcity, uncontrollable fires, rising ocean levels, flooding, melting of polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity, ability to grow food, housing, safety and work are other consequences of the climate change. The climate change crisis is biggest challenge before the humanity and threat for the future generations. Several research reports indicate that between 2030-2050, climate change will cause approximately 250000 additional deaths per year and the rise in number of deaths will be because of increase in diseases like malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. If financial loss from climate change is calculated then the direct costs to health are estimated to be between US$ 2–4 billion per year by 2030.

Scientist call such a state of affairs as “Planetary Emergency” and call for immediate action plan to mitigate the climate change. If not addressed immediately, climate change may change the course of civilisation. At this time of emergency, it is expected and desirable that serious steps should be taken at global level to combat the challenges arising out of climate change. A number of studies indicate that production and consumption account only one third of the total emissions and rest is because of industrial, transportation and deforestation. Economists, business leaders and scientists are looking for the alternates to mitigate the climate change. In order to curtail the climate change, effective policy measures at global, country, business and corporate level needs to be taken up. Carbon foot printing, investments in products that boosts climate conservation and manufacturing of products that facilitate green living are solution points which the businesses can adopt to mitigate emissions.

Various organisations (UN, WorldBank, WHO, IPCC, EPA) have made action plans, agreements and treaties which bind all the countries to combat climate change. Paris Agreement (2015) is one such treaty which binds all the 196 member countries to mitigate climate change. This ambitious framework focuses on cut in greenhouse gas emissions, provision for financial assistance, technology development and capacity building to combat climate change.

Another important energy system requiring immediate attention is switching from fossil fuels to renewable energies like solar or wind.  Studies indicate that renewables will help reduce the emissions considerably and save the Earth. All over the globe, countries are targeting for net zero emissions by 2050, and aim to achieve the half way mark by 2030. Also, researches have suggested that fossil fuel production must be declined by 6 per cent per year between 2020- 2030 to reduce the level of emissions.

So far, it is apparent that transition of all sectors of the economies from fossil fuels that emit carbon to clean energy sources like wind and solar, harnessing the power of nature to capture carbon, and deploying the technologies that capture and store carbon will help mitigate the climate change in faster and cost-effective way. However, it is true that even if the world successfully reaches net zero carbon emissions by 2050, globe has to continuously strive for the actions to combat harmful climatic impacts for present and future generations.