The COP26 conference is a sign and a declaration to us that climate change is real. The sea level has been rising constantly for the last two to three decades. The global sea level has been above average since the 1990s. The Atmospheric CO2 concentration is increasing since the start of the Industrial Revolution. We have already crossed 400 ppm of atmospheric CO2, which is really dangerous.
The most important evidence and effect of climate change is the increase in the global surface temperature from the pre-industrial levels. The threshold is 1.5°C and we are already on 1.1°C. We need to stop this soon because if we cross the 2℃ mark, the situation will be completely irreversible and out of our control.
The main cause of this dreadful change is the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels need to be phased out and energy production should completely depend upon renewable sources.
The industrial revolution began in the 18th century, and since then the GHG emissions are increasing, the surface temperature is rising and the ice is melting. Not only the industries but also the agricultural sector contributes 18.4% to GHG emissions into the atmosphere. Another contributor to GHG emissions is the transport sector which is responsible for 16.2% of the global GHG emissions.
All of these issues come under one major cause, i.e. Capitalism. It drives the need for energy production using fossil fuels as it is cheap and easy. Human greed for money has reached such an extent that we think money can fulfil our every need.
But as the Cree Indian Prophecy says, “Only when the last tree is cut down, the last fish caught, and the last stream poisoned will we realise that we cannot eat money.”
The Impact Of The Rise In Temperature
If we do not take the right action at the right time we will soon reach 2°C of warming, which will be pernicious. At 2°C, the ice sheets will begin their collapse, 400 million more people will suffer from water scarcity, major cities in the equatorial region of the planet will become uninhabitable. Even in the northern latitudes, heat waves will kill thousands each summer.
These effects can be severe if we do not take the right actions.
Tackling Climate Change
All these effects are disastrous, but the good thing is that we have solutions for each and every problem related to climate change. The biggest factor in our favour is the climate activism that we see nowadays. It spreads awareness among people and also pressures leaders to take the right actions.
There are many solutions to tackle climate change, including recycling, reuse, reducing, using bicycles or walking short distances, etc. Afforestation and conservation are also very important solutions.
Another set of solutions includes energy generation from renewable sources, sustainable development, providing better agricultural equipment, electric or hybrid vehicles, artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies.
We can also contribute to climate action by changing our day-to-day lifestyle. Using EVs or bicycles for transportation, eating a plant-based diet, using renewable sources of energy in our houses, planting trees in our backyards, buying recycled products, using less plastic, making sure that all the waste from your house is treated properly, etc.
We know that capitalism is one of the major causes of climate change, but if done in the right way, it can be our biggest solution to this disaster.
Each and every solution mentioned above drives us to one big change, i.e. phasing out fossil fuels. Fossil fuels should be replaced by renewable energy sources. By doing this, we can focus on sustainable development. Government policies play a very important role in this.
Vish Dhar, a young environmentalist says, “Young people are the solution to climate change.” This statement has proven itself to be true. Youth Action has proved vital to us in tackling climate change. One of the famous climate activists, Greta Thunberg, who has inspired millions to take climate action also belongs to the young generation.
As it is rightly said, “The youth must solve this problem because they are the first generation to face its effects and they are the last generation which has the ability, energy, time and responsibility to solve this.”
A beautiful song on climate change says, “Three million years of human evolution, two hundred years of the industrial pollution, one last chance for a green revolution.”
We need to get up and act on this. The climate is changing and so should we. We cannot just sit and wait for something good or extremely bad to happen.