Spreading awareness: What is climate or environment change?

Spreading awareness: What is climate or environment change?

Earth's temperature is gradually rising due to climate changes. We all need to understand and know about what the climate change actually is and how it is affecting our planet.

Human activities over the past decades have contributed to a huge increase in carbon footprint which causes increase in the temperature. This causes the melting of ice among other harmful effects.

But what is climate change actually?

The climate (temperature, weather events etc.) of a region is a multi-year average of its weather. The change in that average is called climate change. This average is changing very fast and the average global temperature is on the rise.

What will be the effects of this change?

Way of living

The climate change can cause water shortage which could make growing food difficult. There can be dangerous storms and excessive rain. Some areas of earth could go excessively hot while others could submerge into water due to rising sea levels.

Our environment

 With the melting of polar ice, which causes rise in sea level, the low lying areas could be flooded with sea water. Melting of long-lived ice releases methane, a green house gas, which makes the conditions worse. Wild fires are on the rise due to extreme weather conditions.

Nature, wild and sea life

Environmental changes trigger large scale animal migrations but the abrupt change can make certain species extinct.

Examples are polar bears which will be affected due to melting of ice, Atlantic ocean salmon due to rising water temperature and coral reefs due to increased acidity in ocean (because of increased carbon dioxide).

Reasons of climate change

Increased usage of fossil fuel, e.g. oil, natural gas and coal etc, has caused an increase in earth temperature by 1.2 degrees Celsius (about 34.16 degrees Fahrenheit). This fuel is used in a variety of our daily life applications (transport, generating electricity, keeping our homes warm etc.).

The use of fossil fuel releases the green house gases which trap the sun energy, hence increasing the average temperature.

Changes in global surface temperature relative to 1850–1900

IPCC 2021 Summary for Policymakers: Changes in global surface temperature relative to 1850–1900
Source of above image: IPCC 2021: Summary for Policymakers
Carbon dioxide is a green house gas which has increased by 12% in last two decades. Another reason for increase in greenhouse gases is the cutting of trees, which when burnt or cut down release carbon dioxide.

Future effects of climate change

The increase in temperature up to 1.5 degrees celsius is being considered a safe upper limit but going above that can be catastrophic. The projection till end of this century is around 3 degrees celsius.

Following are some extreme effects that could occur in future.

  • Extreme flooding in some areas.
  • Islands in Pacific Ocean can submerge into water.
  • Many upper level countries could face drought, hence food shortage.
  • Increase in abrupt rains and extreme storms.

 IPCC 2021, Summary for Policymakers: Average rise in sea level relative to 1900s.

Source of above image: IPCC 2021, Summary for Policymakers

What can we do?

Switch to solar or wind energy sources

Even at smaller scale, if we switch over to cleaner energy options this can make huge difference. Powering your small devices using solar energy can help reduce your energy bills as well. Shop all clean energy at goosavvy.com.

Consume less energy at home

Use energy efficient and energy start appliances and devices. We currently do not have product recommendations on our store but we will soon have a separate blog on how you could save energy at home.

Eat more plant-based food

Buy local and seasonal food, eat more plant-based meals, use up what you have, and compost any leftovers.

Walk, bike or take public transport

Walk, bike or take public transport (drive less), reconsider your travel. Shop bike accessories that you might need on the go.

Throw away less food

Reducing the food waste can help minimize the methane gas emission which is a green house gas and traps more sun energy. Food waste that ends up in landfills causes this gas to be formed.

Reuse, repair, recycle

Prefer products that are durable and can be reused. For example re-usable drinking straws, reusable coffee cups, bamboo cutlery etc. Shop all reusable products.

Prefer plastic free, compostable product materials

Products that are made from biodegradable material are friendly to environment. Their material after the use can be composted to use as plant food etc. Shop all biodegradable material products.

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