 Introduction

 Causes of global warming

 Rise of temperature
 Effects on Atmosphere
o Melting of Glaciers Rising of sea levels
 Impact on Living things
o Human beings
 Impact on human health
 Need for shelter
o Wildlife
 Impact on Asia
 Africa, being the most vulnerable region to climate change
 How climate change is harmful for Pakistan
 Steps to control climate change
o Paris Agreement ]
o Kyoto Protocol
o Copenhagen Summit
o Montreal Protocols
 What can be done on individual basis
 Conclusion
The planet is warming, from North Pole to south pole. Since 1906 the global average surface
temperature has increased between 1.1 degree Celsius and 1.6 degree Celsius, even more in sensitive
Polar Regions. This gradual rise in temperature is known as global warming or climate change, impacts
of which are observed in the form of melting of glaciers and sea ice, shifting precipitation patterns,
setting animals on the move, damaging human health and agriculture. It is very important to take
serious steps on individual as well as collective level to stop the earth from destruction.

Global warming is average increase in the temperature of earth’s atmosphere. While rise in temperature
is a natural process, human activities accelerate the process resulting in threat to the environment.
Global warming is cause by enhanced greenhouse gases, depletion of ozone layer, frequent nuclear
activities, volcanic eruptions, deforestation and increased use of non-renewable energy resources.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, average temperature rose by
0.95 degree Celsius between 1880 and 2016. The pace of change has been an additional 0.07 degrees
per decade making surface warm faster than ocean surface by 0.10 degrees versus 0.06 degree C per
decade. Even 0.5 degree change in temperature matters because it can disturb the delicate processes of
ecosystem.

The relationship between climate change and water is significant one. The rising temperature results in
fast melting of ice. Since the early twentieth century, glaciers around the world have been retreating at
an unprecedented rate. As per the National Ice and Snow Data Center, glaciers in the Himalya
Mountains of Bhutan have been receding for past few decades and lakes have formed on the surface
and near termini of many glaciers. The Ganotri Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in the Himalya,
situated in the Uttarkashi District of Garhwal Himalya is 30.2 km long and between 0.5 and 2.5 km wide.
Over the last 25 years, Ganotri has retreated more than 850 metres with the recession of 76 metres
from 1996 to 1999 only. Once these glaciers have melted away, they cannot be restored and the areas
dependent on the glaciers for freshwater have to find alternate sources of fresh water. Canada’s
Athabasca Glaicer has been shrinking by about 15 metres per year. And has melted more that 1.5
kilometres in past 125 years. Artic sea ice is level in mid July 2017 is also below the annual of 1980s.
Several ice caps and ice shelves have disappeared altogether in this century. As the glaciers melt, sea ice
disappears, the Earth absorbs more sunlight than in normal temperature.

The Global Mean Sea Level has risen by 4 to 8 inches. However, the average annual rise is 0.13 inches
roughly twice as the preceding 80 years. The intergovernmental panel on climate change estimates the
oceans to rise between 11 and 38 inches by 2100 and it is enough to swamp many of cities across US
East coast. It is also foreseen that melting of Greenland ice sheets will be enough to submerge London.
Many developing and developed countries such as Bangladesh , the Netherlands, and Guyana are
particularly at risk. Maldives is under the threat of rising sea level, and their president called a summit in
2009 to bring international attention to their issue. The meeting became famous as under water cabinet
meeting.

Human beings are largely affected by climate change in the form of severe heat, natural disasters, poor
air quality and numerous diseases. If temperature remains persistently high throughout the day for a
prolonged period, it can be killer. In 1995, death by heat wave overruled all the other causes of death in
Chicago. During the 2003 European heatwave, there were 75,000 etra premature deaths in Europe,
including 2000 in the UK. Worsened air quality, accompanied by heat waves and wildfires, can lead to
breathing problems and gives rise to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The spread of infectious
diseases such as meningitis is often linked with climate change especially in Sub-Sahara and West Africa.
Increase in rainfall and temperature can cause diseases like dengue and malaria. Not only physical but
also the mental health is also affected by the consequences of global warming. These vary from minimal
stress and distress symptoms to clinical disorders such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic diseases
stress and suicidal thoughts.

The direct impact of changing climate is evident from the need of migration within and across countries.
The reasons include conflicts over resources, degraded ecosystems, unavailability of fertile land or fresh
water or disasters such as floods, hurricanes and droughts. Coastal settlements and low lying areas are
particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as sea level rise, erosions and extreme storms.
Coastal habitats such as barrier islands, wetlands, deltas and estuaries are destroyed.

Global threat is emerging as a top threat to wild life round the globe. In Africa, it could cause some
animals to decline by as much as 50% by the end of century and the last male Rhino has also died a few
months ago. There are a few species that are particularly affect by rapid change in climate. The species
prone to change is orange-spotted filefish dwells in coral reef habitats, on which it is totally dependent
and which themselves are declining. Polar bears are progressively disappearing from Artic sea. Adelie
penguins, that live on the tiny crustaceans called krill, are less successful at breeding and raising young,
due to melting of ice. Aquatic animals are also extinction at due to pollution in water. Up to 90% of coral
reefs in the Pacific Oceans may bleach or degrade by 2050

Glaciers in Asia are faster than ever documented in historical records. Some glaciers cover only 20% of
the land as they used to cover a century ago. As a result, the risks of flooding and rock avalanches from
destabilized slopes have increased. Freshwater is expected to decrease especially in central and
Southeast Asia that will affect more than a billion people by 2050. Increase flooding from the sea and, in
some cases, from rivers threatens coastal areas, especially heavily populated delta regions in south and
south East Asia. Sickness and death due to diarrheal disease will likely increase in east, south, and south
East Asia due to projected changes in the hydrological cycle associated with climate change.

Africa is seemingly the most vulnerable continent to climate variability and change because of multiple
existing stresses and low adaptive capacity. Existing stresses include poverty, food insecurity, political
conflicts, and ecosystem degradation. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency, by
2050, almost 350-600 million people will face water stress. With an estimated rise of urban population
by 800 million, they will be faced with poverty and lack of basic facilities. The rise in temperature will
also damage agricultural produce resulting in shortage of food supplies to African countries. Towards
the end of twenty first century, sea level rise will likely affect low-lying coastal areas with large
populations including Senegal, Liberia and Mozambique. Existing epidemic and infectious diseases such
ebola virus, malnutrition, malaria and vector borne diseases can be exacerbated.
According to Germanwatch, Pakistan is seventh most vulnerable country to climate change. between
1997 and 2016, Pakistan has suffered 141 extreme weather events and has lost an average of 523.1 lives
per year. In the last 50 years, annual temperature has risen by 0.5 degree Celsius and the number of
deaths by heatwave has increased fivefold. In june 2015, the Karachi has increased by nearly increased
by nearly 1200 people. 2010 super flood killed 1600 people, inundated an area of 38600 sq. km. and
caused damage worth $10 billion.As per the reports of WHO, air pollution has cause 60,000 deaths
during 2015. Pakistani city Nawabshah has faced earth’s highest temperature of 50 degree Cent during
April and many areas have observed over 50 degrees during May. By 2100, the annual mean
temperature in Pakistan is expected to rise by 3C to 5C for a central global emission scenario; while
higher global emmisions may yield a rise of 4C to 5C. to overcome the threats of climate change,
Pakistan needs $7 billion to $14 billion annually.

Current: Pakistan signs 2 financial agreements worth $400 m with the world bank for accelerating the
climate resilience development project-Punjab cities Programme and Punjab Green Development
Programme in Punjab

In a bid to overcome drought in some districts of the province, the Balochistan government decides to
use cloud seeding and artificial rain technology to cater to the needs of an area of 10,000 sq.km. in
Gwadar district.

International community has been putting efforts to control emission of greenhouse gases to control
global warming. First initiative in this regard was Kyoto Protocol that was signed in Dec 1997.According
to this protocol, every country will decrease CO2 production by 1 percent. But, USA, the biggest
producer of CO2 refused to follow it that resulted in failure of this agreement. Another summit called in
2009 name as Copenhagen Summit. This also failed because the largest emmitor of CO2, India and China
refused decrease greenhouse gases due to their rapid industrialization. Montreal Protocol was also
initiated to decrease CFCs that is the main ozone depletion substance.

After so many failed efforts, recently the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
sponsored an agreement called as Paris Agreement, that went into effect on Nov 4, 2016. The
agreement seeks to limit temperature increase in the 21st century to below 2C and encourage initiatives
that bring the increase down to 1.5C. When all the countries signed this agreement and everything
seemed fine, Donald Trump won presidency and declared to withdraw from Paris Agreement. This is a
major setback for global environment given the fact that USA is the major contributor of greenhouse
gases.

Whether global agreements work effectively or not, it is the responsibility of every individual to prevent
his surrounding from pollution. For that purpose, one can take several steps. First, one should start using
using renewable energy that is less harmful for environment. Only energy efficient appliance should be
used at homes. One should use public transport instead of private vehicles. Water is an importance
resource, and it should be used carefully. One should refrain from wasting things and throwing garbage
including disposable bags and bottles. When not in use, switches should be unplugged. Plantation is an
important factor that will protect our environment from harmful carbon emissions.

The rising temperature has been disturbing the ecosystem resulting in melting of glaciers and rising of
sea levels. As a result the human as well as wildlife has been suffered. To protect the globe from risks of
climate change,all individuals should take preventive measures and the international community should
take serious steps.