Why Climate Change is More Important Than Ever

By: Kirti Moteka

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Image retrieved from Environmental Defense Fund

Tsunamis, famines, wildfires, pandemics — all the disasters in recent years can be linked to climate change. Climate change is the increase in global warming due to greenhouse gases. Essentially, the sun’s rays get trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases and gradually increase the average temperature of Earth. Over time, this can lead to a change in ocean currents and wind patterns, melting of glaciers at the poles, and an increase in pollution. 

The Paris Agreement by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed by 195 members in 2016, in a global effort to impede climate change. The agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2 ̊C and 1.5°C. However, according to the UN Emissions Gap Report 2019, they state, “By 2030, emissions would need to be 25 percent and 55 percent lower than in 2018 to put the world on the least-cost pathway to limiting global warming to below 2 ̊C and 1.5°C respectively.” This means that as global citizens, we all need to prioritize climate change and work towards reversing it. 

President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, which ceased the $3 billion funding that the United States provided to the UN. On the other hand, president-elect Joe Biden promises to rejoin the Paris Agreement and work towards meeting the UN’s climate goals. 

Yet regardless of government policies, we can all do our part to prevent Earth from heating. By reducing our driving, carpooling, avoiding fast fashion, composting, and even planting trees,  we can work towards a more sustainable planet. Climate change affects everyone and the consequences are disastrous. 

In addition to the effects mentioned earlier, NASA predicts that heavy precipitation events will continue, which means a larger amount of rainfall in dry regions as well. Yet according to weather patterns, larger rainfall in one place may lead to decreased rainfall in other places - leading to droughts and wildfires. As rainfall rates rise, so are expected storm intensities, which would lead to larger hurricanes. By 2100, the sea level is predicted to rise by 1-8 feet, which causes some habitable areas to be evacuated. Before 2050, the Arctic Ocean is expected to become ice-free due to the large amounts of glaciers melting. All of these consequences would prompt animals, plants, and humans to migrate - which means many people would lose homes. 

However, it’s not just humans that would lose homes — animals and plants are at risk as well. According to the UN’s report on biodiversity in 2019, about 1 million animals and plants are at risk of extinction. This mass extinction is a result of animals losing long term habitats and a rise in invasive species. Pollution on land and in water also hurts habitats, as 300-400 million tons of trash are dumped into the oceans. Coral reefs are in even more danger - if the oceans rise by one more degree celsius, then 99% of the world’s coral reefs will be in danger. 

Climate change and global warming are substantial crises that need our attention. We can not put it off for later generations — our actions today will determine what tomorrow looks like. Earth is our home, and we must work to protect everyone and everything on it. 

Sources: 
https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/climate-change/ 
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24021772 https://www.unenvironment.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2019 https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-1-million-animals-plant-species-face-extinction-d ue-climate-change-human-activity-population/