POST 6: Climate Change and Society

 Climate change is the greatest environmental threat facing humanity.

The planet has experienced climate change before: Earth's average temperature has fluctuated throughout history experiencing long periods of cold ("ice ages") and warm periods ("interglacial"). 

The rate of increase in global warming is different from past warming. The current rise in global average temperature is occurring much faster and probably faster than any warm interglacial period in the last million years.

Climate change is imminent, today its impacts have caused environmental, social and economic damage. If we keep our arms crossed, the damage will increase more and more, generating very serious consequences.

Some global data:

• The average global temperature has already risen by 1.1ºC since pre-industrial times.
• The period 2015-2019, according to the World Meteorological Organization, will probably be the warmest period ever recorded.
• The rate of sea level rise has risen to 5 mm per year during the period 2014-2019.

Fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions are the biggest contributors to global warming. The shift from the use of energy from non-renewable sources to a system of renewable, efficient and clean sources is necessary.

Forests are natural sinks of carbon that by photosynthesis absorb CO2 and return oxygen to the atmosphere. The oceans are also sinks of carbon, absorbing up to 50% of the CO2 generated. So its destruction accelerates the process of global warming causing serious havoc on flora and fauna.

Consequences of climate change include:

Ecosystem changes

Desertification

Melting the poles

Sea level rise

Ocean acidification

Extreme weather events, such as storms and hurricanes

Mega-fires

In the worst likely scenarios, the temperature increase could reach 4.8ºC by the end of the century.

The poorest countries will suffer the worst consequences with a lack of drinking water, major changes in food production conditions, and an increase in mortality rates due to floods, storms, droughts and heat waves. And they could be threatened by diseases such as malaria, malnutrition and waterborne diseases.

Both national and international policies, agreements and treaties are necessary, which allow us to carry out a renewable energy system based on savings and efficiency, which can reduce emissions worldwide, ending the use of fossil fuels.

We have to start actions now! the world needs to take a break, you have to reduce emissions, implement efficient means of transport, opt for clean energy, reforest, invest in research, not waste water, become aware of the use of plastic and change habits, recycle, generate compost with organic waste, among others.

Your results are back. It's climate change. How many greenhouse gases have you been consuming?NOAA drawingClimate.gov by Emily Greenhalgh.

Even if we now drastically reduce gas emissions, scientists say the repercussions would continue, such as oceans and glaciers, it can take hundreds of years to respond to temperature changes.