Climate Change

         The climate of the Earth has shifted over time. There have been seven cycles of
glacial advance and retreat in the last 650,000 years, with the abrupt end of the last ice
age marking the start of the contemporary climate era – and of human civilization. The
majority of these climate shifts are due to minute changes in Earth's orbit that alter the
quantity of solar energy received by our planet.

Climate change consequences include not only rising average temperatures, but also
extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising sea levels, and
a variety of other factors. All of these changes are occurring as a result of people
continuing to emit heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, altering the
climate cycles on which all living creatures have grown to rely.

Global Warming Process

         Earth heats up when it absorbs sunlight, which is predominantly visible light. Earth
emits energy, just like the sun, however it emits lower-energy infrared wavelengths due
to its cooler temperature. Greenhouse gases (methane, carbon dioxide, etc.) in the
atmosphere allow visible light to pass through while absorbing infrared light, causing the
atmosphere to heat up. More infrared radiation is emitted by a warmer atmosphere,
which is reabsorbed – possibly multiple times – before returning to space. The extra
time this energy spends on Earth has aided in keeping the planet warm enough to
support life as we know it. (By contrast, the moon has no atmosphere and is, on
average, colder than Earth.)

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased by 40% and methane levels
have climbed by 150 percent since the industrial revolution began around 1750. As a
result of these increases, more infrared radiation is absorbed, raising Earth's
temperature above its normal range (even as energy from the sun stays basically the
same). In other words, energy that reaches Earth has a harder time leaving it, resulting
in an increase in the Earth's average temperature and global climate change.

What is Causing Global Warming?

         Many climate experts think that global average temperatures rising by more than 2
degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in such a short time will cause major societal,
economic, and ecological harm. Increased loss of numerous plant and animal species,
shifts in agricultural patterns, and increasing sea levels are all examples of such
devastation. By 2015, all but a few national governments had started the process of
implementing carbon reduction plans as part of the Paris Agreement, a treaty aimed at
limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above
preindustrial levels in order to avoid the worst of the predicted consequences.

According to the authors of a special study published by the IPCC in 2018, if carbon
emissions continue at their current rate, average near-surface air temperatures would
rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius between 2030 and 2052. According to previous IPCC
assessments, the global average sea level rose 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 inches) between
1901 and 2010, with sea levels rising faster in the second half of the twentieth century
than the first. It also estimated that by 2100, with global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius,
the worldwide average sea level would rise 26–77 cm (10.2–30.3 inches) relative to the
1986–2005 average, depending on a variety of scenarios (3.9 inches) less than what
would be expected if warming rose to 2 °C (3.6 °F) above preindustrial levels.

The above scenarios are primarily based on future quantities of certain trace gases
known as greenhouse gases, which have been pumped into the lower atmosphere in
increasing volumes as a result of the burning of fossil fuels for industry, transportation,
and household purposes. The so-called greenhouse effect, which causes warming of
the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere due to the presence of water vapour, carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and other greenhouse gases, has increased in
magnitude in recent years. The IPCC reported in 2014 that atmospheric concentrations
of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides had surpassed those observed in ice
cores dating back 800,000 years.

Historical Emission

         1851–1935: Industrial Revolutions and Advances

Between 1877 and 1878, there is an evident, early irregularity on the visual that is worth
investigating. Several unexpected climate phenomena occurred during this time,
ranging from a powerful El Nio to extensive droughts. The Great Famine that followed
killed between 19 and 50 million people, outnumbering some of history's deadliest
pandemics. Several economies proceeded into the Second Industrial Revolution (1870–
1914) in the first five rows of the global temperature graph, followed by World War I.
(1914-1918). Over the past 80 years, there has been a focus on steel production and
mass-produced consumer items. Although these technical advancements resulted in
substantial gains, they came at the expense of burning fossil fuels, which resulted in
enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases being released into
the atmosphere. It would take several more decades for scientists to discover the full
amount of their buildup in the atmosphere, as well as the implications for global
warming.

         1936–2020: The Modern World in the Red Zone

World War II (1939-1945) and its aftermath comprise the second half of the global
temperature graph. As the dust settled, nations began to rebuild themselves, and the
Third Industrial Revolution pushed everything into overdrive. People and things began
traveling about more than ever before as globalization and trade expanded after the
1950s. Between 1965 and 1970, population growth reached a high of 2.1 percent per
year. To fulfill the demands of a growing global population and our modern society,
industrialization patterns began to develop even more.

Environmental and Social Impacts of Climate Change

         Climate change, according to future projections, will have a severe impact on

natural ecosystems, plants, and animals, accelerating biodiversity loss in some areas. 
Many towns and sectors that rely on natural resources, such as agriculture, fisheries,
energy, tourism, and water, will be affected by the effects. 

Erosion, loss of organic matter, salinization, soil biodiversity loss, landslides,

desertification, and flooding may all be exacerbated by climate change. Changes in
atmospheric CO2 concentrations, increasing temperatures, and altering precipitation
patterns can all have an impact on soil carbon storage as a result of climate change.
Extreme precipitation, rapid melting of snow or ice, large river discharges, and
increased droughts are all examples of climate-related occurrences that affect soil
degradation. Deforestation, as well as other human activities (agricultural, skiing),
contribute to the problem. 

Changes in the usage of land and other resources are causing indirect affects on
biodiversity as a result of climate change. These include habitat fragmentation and loss,
over-exploitation, pollution of air, water, and soil, and the introduction of invasive
species, which may be more devastating than direct impacts due to their scale, scope,
and speed. They will exacerbate ecosystems' vulnerability to climate change and their
ability to provide important services such as climate regulation, food, clean air and
water, and flood and erosion control.

The physical and biological make-up of the seas will be drastically altered by the effects
of climate change, such as rising sea surface temperatures, ocean acidification, and
alterations in currents and wind patterns. Temperature and ocean circulation changes
have the ability to alter the geographic distribution of fish. A rise in sea temperature may
allow alien organisms to spread into areas where they previously couldn't exist.
Acidification of the ocean, for example, will have an effect on calcium carbonate-
secreting species. These changes will have unavoidable effects for coastal and marine
ecosystems, with huge socioeconomic implications for many places.
Climate change is inextricably linked to global inequality patterns. The most vulnerable
people bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change while contributing the
least to the problem. Millions of vulnerable people are facing growing challenges as the
effects of climate change worsen in terms of extreme events, health implications, food
security, livelihood security, water security, and cultural identity.

References

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/global-warming-overview

https://phys.org/news/2014-01-global-words-seconds.html

https://www.britannica.com/science/global-warming

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/02/global-warming-climate-change-historical-
human-development-industrial-revolution/

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change/how-will-we-be-
affected/environment-challenges_en

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/social-dimensions-of-climate-change#1