Unit 5 – Global Environmental

issues and Politics

Dr. Sharfaa Hussain

Climate Change

The causing factor:

Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas are by far the largest contributor to global climate
change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and
nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun’s heat. This leads to
global warming and climate change. The world is now warming faster than at any
point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather
patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature. This poses many risks to human
beings and all other forms of life on Earth.
Causes of climate change (According to UN Report)

1. Generating power : Generating

electricity and heat by burning
fossil fuels causes a large chunk
of global emissions. Most
electricity is still generated by
burning coal, oil, or gas, which
produces carbon dioxide and
nitrous oxide – powerful
greenhouse gases that blanket the
Earth and trap the sun’s
heat. Clean alternative - Globally,
a bit more than a quarter of
electricity comes from wind, solar
and other renewable sources
which, as opposed to fossil fuels,
emit little to no greenhouse gases
or pollutants into the air.
 2. Manufacturing
goods

• Manufacturing industries produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to

produce energy for making things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics,
clothes, and other goods.
• Mining and other industrial processes also release gases, as does the
construction industry.
• Machines used in the manufacturing process often run on coal, oil, or gas; and
some materials, like plastics, are made from chemicals sourced from fossil
fuels.
• The manufacturing industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas
emissions worldwide.
 3.Cutting down forests

• Cutting down forests to create farms or

pastures, or for other reasons, causes
emissions, since trees, when they are
cut, release the carbon they have been
storing.
• Each year approximately 12 million
hectares of forest are destroyed.
• Since forests absorb carbon dioxide,
destroying them also limits nature’s
ability to keep emissions out of the
atmosphere.
• Deforestation, together with agriculture
and other land use changes, is
responsible for roughly a quarter of
global greenhouse gas emissions.
 4. Using transportation

• Most cars, trucks, ships, and planes run on fossil fuels. That makes
transportation a major contributor of greenhouse gases, especially
carbon-dioxide emissions.
• Road vehicles account for the largest part, due to the combustion of
petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in internal combustion
engines.
• Transport accounts for nearly one quarter of global energy-related
carbon-dioxide emissions. And trends point to a significant increase
in energy use for transport over the coming years.
 5. Producing food

Producing food causes emissions of carbon

dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse
gases in various ways including:

• through deforestation and clearing of

land for agriculture
• the production and use of fertilizers and
manure for growing crops,
• and the use of energy to run farm
equipment or fishing boats, usually with
fossil fuels.
• greenhouse gas emissions also come
from packaging and distributing food

All this makes food production a major

contributor to climate change
6. Powering buildings

• Globally, residential and

commercial buildings consume
over half of all electricity. As they
continue to draw on coal, oil, and
natural gas for heating and
cooling, they emit significant
quantities of greenhouse gas
emissions.
• Growing energy demand for
heating and cooling, with rising air-
conditioner ownership, as well as
increased electricity consumption
for lighting, appliances, and
connected devices, has
contributed to a rise in energy-
related carbon-dioxide emissions
from buildings in recent years.
 7. Consuming too much (Lifestyle choices)

• Your home and use of power, how you move around,

what you eat and how much you throw away all
contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Consumption of goods such as clothing, electronics, and
plastics. A large chunk of global greenhouse gas
emissions are linked to private households.
• Our lifestyles have a profound impact on our planet. The
wealthiest bear the greatest responsibility: the richest 1
per cent of the global population combined account for
more greenhouse gas emissions than the poorest 50 per
cent.
 Global Warming
Throughout its long history, Earth has
warmed and cooled time and again.
Climate has changed when the planet
received more or less sunlight due to
subtle shifts in its orbit.
But in the past century, another force
has started to influence Earth’s
climate: humanity.

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth’s average surface
temperature over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases
released by people burning fossil fuels.

Why Do Scientists Think Current Warming Isn’t Natural?

In Earth’s history before the Industrial Revolution, Earth’s climate changed
due to natural causes unrelated to human activity. These natural causes are
still in play today, but their influence is too small or they occur too slowly
to explain the rapid warming seen in recent decades.
Based on plausible emission scenarios, average surface temperatures could rise
between 2°C and 6°C by the end of the 21st century. Some of this warming will
occur even if future greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, because the Earth
system has not yet fully adjusted to environmental changes we have already
made.
 Earth’s natural greenhouse effect and its importance

• Earth’s temperature begins with the Sun. Roughly 30 percent of

incoming sunlight is reflected back into space by bright surfaces
like clouds and ice. Of the remaining 70 percent, most is absorbed
by the land and ocean, and the rest is absorbed by the atmosphere.

• In the atmosphere energy is absorbed by water vapor and long-

lived greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.

• This absorption and radiation of heat by the atmosphere—the

natural greenhouse effect—is beneficial for life on Earth. If there
were no greenhouse effect, the Earth’s average surface
temperature would be a very chilly -18°C (0°F) instead of the
comfortable 15°C (59°F) that it is today.
 The enhanced greenhouse effect

• What has scientists concerned now is that over the past 250
years, humans have been artificially raising the concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at an ever-increasing rate
• Prime reason - by burning fossil fuels, but also from cutting
down carbon-absorbing forests.
• Since the Industrial Revolution began in about 1750, carbon
dioxide levels have increased nearly 38 percent as of 2009 and
methane levels have increased 148 percent.
• The main greenhouse gases whose concentrations are
rising are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
and ozone
How Will Earth Respond to Warming Temperatures?

The impact of global warming is far greater than just

increasing temperatures. Warming modifies:

 rainfall patterns
 amplifies coastal erosion
 lengthens the growing season in some regions
 melts ice caps and glaciers
 alters the ranges of some infectious diseases.
•When chlorine atoms come into
contact with ozone in the stratosphere,
they destroy ozone molecules. One
chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000
ozone molecules before it is removed
from the stratosphere. Ozone can be
destroyed more quickly than it is
naturally created.

•In the 1970s scientists discovered that

chemicals called CFCs posed a threat to
ozone layer. The CFCs are virtually
indestructible until they reach the
stratosphere
 Status of ozone hole

• The largest historical extent of the ozone hole — 28.4 million km² — occurred
in September 2000.

• In late September 2022, the Antarctic ozone hole reached its maximum area of
24.5 million km².

• Up until early November 2022, the Antarctic ozone hole has been similarly
large and long-lasting to the ones recorded in 2021 and 2020.
 What is Acid Rain?
 Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation
with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the
atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that
is acidic.

Forms of Acid Deposition

1. Wet Deposition
Wet deposition is what we most commonly think of as acid rain. The sulfuric and nitric
acids formed in the atmosphere fall to the ground mixed with rain, snow, fog, or hail.
2. Dry Deposition
• Acidic particles and gases can also deposit from the atmosphere in the absence of
moisture as dry deposition. The acidic particles and gases may deposit to surfaces
(water bodies, vegetation, buildings) quickly or may react during atmospheric
transport to form larger particles that can be harmful to human health. When the
accumulated acids are washed off a surface by the next rain, this acidic water flows
over and through the ground, and can harm plants and wildlife, such as insects and
fish.
• The amount of acidity in the atmosphere that deposits to earth through dry deposition
depends on the amount of rainfall an area receives. For example, in desert areas the
ratio of dry to wet deposition is higher than an area that receives several inches of rain
each year.
 EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

• Acid rain alters chemical characteristics of ground and water and endangers the
balance of the ecosystems. This is known as acidification of the environment, a
phenomenon that has serious effects.
• Oceans can lose biodiversity and productivity. The lowering of the pH of marine
waters harms phytoplankton, a food source for different organisms and animals,
which can modify the food chain and lead to the extinction of different marine
species.
• Inland waters are also acidifying at a very rapid rate. This acidification increases the
concentration of metal ions which could lead to the death of many fish,
amphibians and aquatic plants in acidified lakes. In addition, heavy metals are
transported to underground waters, which become unsuitable for consumption.
• In forests, the low pH level of the soil and the concentration of metals prevent
vegetation from properly absorbing the water and nutrients it needs. This damages
roots, slows growth and makes plants weaker and more vulnerable to diseases
and pests.
• Acid rain also affects artistic, historical and cultural heritage. In addition
to corroding metallic elements of buildings and infrastructures, it deteriorates the
external appearance of monuments. The greatest damage occurs to calcareous
constructions, such as marble, which gradually dissolve due to the effect of acids
and water.
 How to mitigate acid rain?
• Filter and detoxify the water used by the factories before
returning it to the rivers.
• Reduce the emission of pollutant gases by industry.
• Encourage the production and use of renewable energy instead
of fossil fuels.
• Reduce the energy consumption of factories and companies.
• Promote innovation and new technologies aimed at optimising
energy consumption and developing renewable energy.
• Plant trees to absorb polluted air.
• Make the population aware of the importance of reducing
household energy consumption.
• Encourage the use of the electric vehicles and other non-
polluting vehicles, such as bicycles.
 Impact of climate change on human communities

• The effects of climate change worsen many

existing illnesses, diseases and conditions,
by increasing exposure to increased
temperatures, introducing new pests and
pathogens, and impairing air quality and
water resources.
• As the planet warms, oceans expand and
sea level rises, floods and droughts become
more frequent and intense, and heat waves
and hurricanes become more severe.
• Certain populations— including children,
the elderly, the poor, and those with
underlying health conditions—are at
increased risk for health impacts from
climate change.
• Climate-related events can also stress health care
infrastructure and delivery systems.

• Climate change may lead to more outdoor air pollutants,

including particulate matter and ground-level ozone. These
pollutants can affect some socially vulnerable people, such as
those living in cities with high air pollution levels or those
with limited access to measures to reduce their exposure.

• In addition, climate change can increase allergens like pollen

that can trigger or worsen asthma
Impact of climate change on agriculture
 Impact of climate change on agriculture
• Agriculture relies heavily on land, water, and
other natural resources that climate affects.
• While climate changes (such as in
temperature, precipitation, and frost timing)
could lengthen the growing season or allow
different crops to be grown in some regions, it
will also make agricultural practices more
difficult in others.
• Climate-related hazards—especially
floods, wildfires, and droughts—could affect
food production and distribution. These
issues, in turn, could impact food quality and
availability.
• Some communities of color and low-income
populations already struggle to get nutritious
food due to limited finances and access to
grocery stores with good-quality, affordable
options.
• Climate-related food shortages and supply
chain issues could make it even more difficult
Study of Climate change impact on agriculture
production in chicago
An overview:
 Some impacts of climate change on biodiversity

• Rising global temperatures also have the potential to alter ecosystems over longer periods by
changing what can grow and live within them
• Rising temperatures in the oceans affect marine organisms. Corals are particularly vulnerable to
rising temperatures and ocean acidification can make it harder for shellfish and corals in the
upper ocean to form shells and hard skeletons.
• Mangroves are significant sinks for carbon and the Amazon is one of the most biologically
diverse places on the planet and is an enormous store of carbon – up to 100 billion tons,
although a recent study has suggested the Amazon may now be emitting more carbon than it
absorbs.
• Species extinction
 Examples of impact on economy
• Climate change-induced loss and damage is projected
to cost South Asia USD 518 billion by 2050,
according to a 2019 study. By 2070, this number
could jump to USD 997 billion.

• Another study from 2018 estimated that, with 3

degrees Celsius of warming, India’s gross domestic
product (GDP) would fall by 2.09% by 2037, and by
5.53% by 2067.
 Climate change scenario of India- as per IPCC report 2023

• Since the 20th century, entire Asia has witnessed a consistent rise in surface air
temperatures, resulting in significant concerns for social and economic stability.
These triggers an increased likelihood of heat waves, alterations of the monsoon
patterns, frequent flood occurrences in regions experiencing monsoons, and the
melting of glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya area.
• In India, the hotter summer climate has led to a surge in demand for cooling,
compounding the situation due to rapid population growth. The danger of
irreversible loss extends to vital marine and coastal ecosystems, such as coral
reefs, tidal marshes, seagrass meadows, and plankton communities. These risks
intensify particularly as global warming reaches or exceed a 2°C temperature rise.
• Mangroves in India remain under continuous threat from pollution, conversion
for aquaculture and agriculture, as well as climate-related challenges like sea level
rise and coastal erosion.
• These climatic factors have introduced water stress conditions affecting both
water supply and demand. Scarce precipitation further impacts water supply
demands demand, prompting the increased use of energy-intensive techniques
like desalination and underground water pumping.
 Climate change scenario of India- as per IPCC report 2023

• By the mid-21st century, transboundary river basins like the Indus and
Ganges are predicted to face severe water scarcity. India, in particular,
faces an elevated risk of experiencing increased drought conditions
ranging from 5% to 20% by the close of this century. Additionally, the
security of local and downstream communities is threatened by glacier
lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
• The persistence of rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns,
and extreme climate events like heatwaves, droughts, and typhoons
will maintain their role as pivotal vulnerability factors, significantly
shaping agricultural productivity in Asia.
• Projections for the agricultural and food sectors include notable
declines in fisheries, aquaculture, and crop production, particularly in
South Asia. In India, rice production may decline by 10% to 30% and
maize production by 25% to 70%, considering a temperature increase
range of 1°C to 4°C.