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Climate Change
Introduction
Climate change is the biggest risk of multiplier facing the world today. Climate change is a long-
term process that occurs over a large area and its measured over a long period of time. Imbalance
of environment is happening through instances of heavy disturbances of climate and it has an
impact on world environment.

This is the greatest threat for the biological environment and specially the human being lives.
Protection of the natural environment is quite impossible if we don’t take the action of how to
minimize rapid rate of climate change.

Definition of Climate Change

❑ Climate simply refers a long-term average weather condition of a region that is measured
by evaluating the patterns of variation in temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind,
precipitation, evaporation and other environmental variables of that particular region over
long periods of time.
❑ Climate change is the global phenomenon of climate transformation characterized by the
are especially caused by human activities.

Causes of Climate Change

There are many reasons behind climate change. We can classify all the causes of climate change
into two major types-

1. Natural causes of Climate change

2. Human causes of Climate change

Below shows the causes of Climate Change:-

Natural Causes of Climate Change Human Causes of Climate change

✓ Natural forest fire ✓ Burning fossil fuels
✓ Greenhouse Gases ✓ Atom bomb throwing
✓ Volcanic Eruption ✓ Temperature Changes
✓ Reflectivity or Absorption of the Sun's ✓ Cutting down forests and farming
Energy livestock
✓ Changes in the Earth's Orbit and ✓ Manufacturing goods
Rotation
✓ Change in the Earth's Reflectivity ✓ Rapid industrialization
✓ Variations in Solar Activity ✓ Generating power
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Effect of Climate Change

The effects of climate change span the impacts on physical environment, ecosystems and human
societies due to ongoing human-caused climate change. Below shows the effect of climate
change:-

Hotter temperature
More severe storms
Increased drought
Rising ocean
Loss of species
More health risks
Increased poverty

More Responsible Country for Climate Change in Different Sector

Actually, the developed countries are responsible for 50 percent of all the planet-warming
greenhouse gases released from fossil fuels and industry over the past 150 years.

There are many different ways to compare national responsibility for climate change. Thus, include
the current emission as well as historical emission and the carbon footprint or even the extraction
of fossil fuels and deforestation.

➢ CO2 Emission

China is the world largest to co2 emission a

trend that steadily rise over this year. This
Co2 Emission
country now produces 10.7 billion metric ton Others, China, 30%
of co2. China, USA, India, Russia, Japan are 30%
most responsible the emission of co2 over the Japan, 4%
USA, 15%
year 2020. Rusia, 5%
India, 7% EU, 9%
China USA EU India Rusia Japan Others

Source: - Center for Global Development

➢ Greenhouse Gas Emission

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, causing climate
change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The most
emitters countries are China 16.4%, USA 15.17%, Brazil 6.5%, Indonesia 4.6% and Russia 4.6%.
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➢ Deforestation

Deforestation is a primary contributor to

climate change. Land use changes, especially 2 Tropical Primary Forest Loss (2021)
in the form of deforestation, are the second 1.5
largest anthropogenic source of atmospheric
1 Million
carbon dioxide emissions, after fossil fuel Hectares
0.5
combustion. Greenhouse gases are emitted
during combustion of forest biomass and 0
decomposition of remaining plant material
and soil carbon. As of 2019, deforestation is
responsible for about 11% of global
Source: - World Resources Institute, Global Forest
greenhouse gas emissions. Review

Most Sufferer Countries of Climate Change

According to The Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) analysis based on the impact of extreme
weather events and the socio-economic losses. Japan, Philippines and Germany are the most
effected places by climate change today.

Despite producing only 0.56% of the global emissions changing our climate, Bangladesh ranks
seventh on the list of countries most vulnerable to climate devastation, according to
Germanwatch’s 2021 Global Climate Risk Index (CRI). India, Bangladesh and South Sudan are
affected by the early monsoon flood cyclone, water flown in the month of the June to September.

Conference on Climate Change

In 1949, The UN Scientific Conference was the first conference on the conservation utilization of
resources.

Earth Summit-1972: - It was held from 5 to 16 July in Stock home Sweden. It focused on –

1. This conference set of a principles for the preservation and enhancement of human
environment.
2. This conference also proposed the establishment of a station to monitor long term trends
in the atmospheric constituents and properties which might cause meteorological properties
including the climate change.

The First World Climate Conference: -It was held on 12–23 February 1979 in Geneva. The
conference organized four working groups to look into climate data, the identification of climate
topics, integrated impact studies, and research on climate variability and change. The Conference
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led to the establishment of the World Climate Programme and the World Climate Research
Programme. It also led to the creation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
by WMO and UNEP in 1988.

The Second Climate Conference: - It was held on 29 October to 7 November 1990, again in
Geneva. The main task of the conference was to review the World Climate Programme set up by
the first conference. The first IPCC assessment report had been completed in time for this
conference.

Kyoto Protocol: - In 1997, the most influential climate change action so far taken. It aimed to
reduce the industrialized countries overall emission of Carbon-di-oxide and other greenhouse
gasses by at least 5 percent.

Paris Agreement: -At the 2015 Paris climate change conference, Nation decided to make efforts
to keep future temperature increased well 2 Celsius with goal of 1.5-degree cost.

COP-26: -The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) was held at the SEC
Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from 31 October to 13 November 2021. COP26
brought together world leaders to act together to limit temperature rises and climate change.

The main objectives of the COP26 meeting were to:

➢ Commit to more ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

➢ Discuss measures to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change
➢ Increase funding for climate action, in particular for developing countries

Maldives Cabinet Meeting Under Water: -The Republic of Maldives is an island nation in the
Indian Ocean with an average elevation of 7 feet above sea level. The President Mohamed Nasheed
held a cabinet meeting about global carbon emissions underwater to highlight how pressing the
issue is for the sea-level nation.

Impact of Climate Change on Bangladesh

➢ Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the most sensitive sectors to climate change, particularly changes in
temperature, rainfall patterns, and increased likelihood of extreme events such as droughts and
floods. On average during the period 1962-1988, Bangladesh lost about 0.5 million tonnes of rice
annually as a result of floods, which accounts for nearly 30% of the country’s average annual food
grain imports.

➢ Coastal Area

Coastal areas will also be affected by salinity intrusion. Saltwater from the Bay of Bengal
already penetrates 100 kilometers inland during the dry season, and climate change is
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likely to exacerbate this. 30 districts were damaged by clone Sidr for example, with the 11 districts
closest to the coast damaged most severely. In these areas, agriculture, industry, infrastructure,
livelihoods, marine resources, forestry and biodiversity, human health, and utility services will all
suffer.

➢ Forestry/ Biodiversity

The Sundarbans of Bangladesh is the single largest mangrove area in the world. A total of 425
species have been identified there, the most notable of which is the Bengal tiger, which is endemic
to the area. Climate change will have a detrimental impact on all of the forest ecosystems in
Bangladesh, and the Sundarbans are likely to be the worst affected. The Sundarbans also offer
subsistence to around 3.5 million inhabitants who live within and around the forest boundary.

➢ Human Health

The most direct impacts of climate change on human health occur through extreme events, for
example the floods in Bangladesh in 2004 caused 800 deaths, while the recent cyclone affected
more than 8.5 million people, causing more than 3,500 deaths. Malaria is a frequently cited
example, because of warmer wetter climates that are anticipated with climate change. Incidences
of malaria have increased dramatically in Bangladesh over the last 30 years and with 14.7 million
people in Bangladesh classified as high risk for catching the disease.

Ideas to Mitigate the Effect of Climate Change

 Increase use of renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydro power.
 Educate school-going children about climate change and its effects.
 Small rivers can be cross dammed in suitable places to store water for irrigation.
 Recharge sub-surface water level.
 To reduce deforestation and to increase tree plantation.
 To reduce Greenhouse Gasses from manufacturing industry.
 Implement climate-smart agriculture and natural forest landscape.
 To remove fossil fuel subsidies.

Conclusion
Climate change is widely accepted that the climate is changing in an accelerating pace. Climate
change is affecting every aspect of life. It is recognized as a serious threat to ecosystem,
biodiversity, and health. Adaptation to health consequences of climate change and prevention of
aggravation of climate change are key challenges for the society. The health sector should promote
research, education (for health personnel), and information (for public and policymakers) on
climate change and its consequences.
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Reference
1. Center for Global Development
2. World Resources Institute, Global Forest Review
3. www.un.org
4. Academia edu.com
5. Report on Climate Risk Index (CRI)
6. www.worldbank.org
7. Report on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)