climate

photo from istockphoto.com

All living organisms have to adapt to their environment to survive and make a living. The weather is one of these forces that affects our lives, and it’s also affected by many other factors apart from us. In this article, we look at some important aspects of climate change that need attention. It’s also important to note what causes global warming. This includes everything from the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, to the effects they have on earth’s climate. There are various things in this article like the impacts of carbon dioxide, as well as how human activities are contributing to climate change.

Our Environment and Our Health

Scientists often use two terms to describe climate change: climate variability and climate crisis. While both terms have different meanings and implications for nature. Let’s take a closer look at each term separately.

Climate Variability

Climate change is described as an average increase in temperature or changes in precipitation. However, when it comes to understanding its impact on the planet and people’s health, it can be even more complicated. Some studies may argue that we haven’t seen “climate change” because of the lack of natural variations. But some scientists dispute this. They claim that our current rate of climate change has been happening ever since the industrial revolution.

photo from freepik.com

So far, the world doesn’t see any signs of a major variation in weather patterns. And although there have been fluctuations to some extent, the observed decrease in temperature is quite small. As we might know, temperature rise in the past century or so has been around 30°C (86.2°F). With more extreme heatwaves, the risk of death from heatstroke could reach up to 40%. So with regard to future temperatures, we cannot simply say that there will not be any temperature change. On the contrary, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, between now and 2050, average atmospheric temperatures will be at least 2°C cooler than those of 1850.

What does all this mean? Well, as it turns out, the world is very comfortable in terms of global warming. If you compare it with pre-industrial times, life expectancy increased by approximately 3.5 years. That’s a lot of time saved on your lifespan. And thanks to science’s great progress, people can live longer for longer.

But what about mortality? Do you think there will be fewer deaths due to heat? Not necessarily. Extreme heat could kill thousands. According to a study performed by University of Cambridge researchers in Scotland, people who died from hyperthermia were less likely to die under normal conditions (a normal temperature is 38°C). Therefore, if the rising temperatures will result in more deaths, it could be due to another reason.

And lastly, it’s worth noting that the increasing level of pollution is likely to put more strain on our ecosystems, which are already becoming less tolerant to climate change. Many creatures and plants are beginning to pay the price for this increase in air pollution. Air pollution, in particular, increases the number of illnesses associated with high levels of chemical compounds in the blood (like cancer and heart disease). A large percentage of these pollutants originate from cars, factories, and other sources. Now, scientists all over the globe agree that we must reduce air pollution. But this seems to be a non-negotiable demand.

What Causes Global Warming?

The most common explanation of why the Earth experiences such a rapid increase in surface temperatures is due to human activity. This means that human activities release numerous toxic materials into the atmosphere in form of fossil fuels and industrial emissions. These toxic substances enter the Earth’s atmosphere through burning fossil fuels, cutting down trees, clearing forests, etc. Unfortunately, human activities do not stop here. For example, modern agricultural practices, including fertilizers and pesticides, cause a lot of damage to the soil and water cycle. Since there are no laws to control production or supply of chemicals, the problem grows bigger and bigger every year. People depend on crops for survival, but the abundance of chemicals, whether synthetic or organic, harms them.

photo from ResearchGate

As a result, there is more accumulation of harmful chemical compounds in the soil and air, making them more toxic and more dangerous for everyone. We know this is happening, as we can find several examples and stories in history: farmers used herbicides to protect crop yields, and farmers have always known the consequences of using nitrogen-based fertilizers. When the farmers became aware of the dangers, they stopped doing it. Another example is the story of Bangladesh whose air gets poisoned by acid rain every day after drinking green tea. Green tea contains caffeine, which in large amounts contributes to acid rain. Obviously, people consume tea to stay awake, and, ironically enough, tea was banned in India in 2005 because it’s causing problems with digestion and preventing oxygen to reach cells, leading to acidosis. Yet it was available every day, and people consumed it every day.

So, why are these processes taking place? And what can we do about it?

If we want to prevent the further contamination of the environment, we need to create good environmental policies and regulations for companies and individuals alike. First, companies should create products that produce zero harmful chemicals. Second, consumers should limit their intake of these chemicals and substitute them with natural ones if necessary. Most importantly, public transportation should start to have lower fuel consumption and reduced emission of pollutants. To make the biggest contribution towards solving this issue, governments should implement stricter rules on plastic usage and ban the utilization of gas vehicles (especially in big cities where traffic congestion is more severe). Finally, people should also avoid driving motorbikes or motorcycles, especially during rush hours. You probably know the feeling of being stuck in a terrible situation when you’re trying to rush somewhere. But before going away from home to escape, don’t forget the little details too: wear a seatbelt, get help if needed, and give yourself space to breathe.

In conclusion, just as with anything else, climate change has a direct influence on human health, animals, flora, fauna, etc. The sooner we realize that, the better off we’ll all be.