Tackling Climate Change requires change in human attitude

“The time is past when humankind thought it could selfishly draw on exhaustible resources. We know now that the world is not a commodity.” Francois Hollande

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.” Native American Proverb

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

#Anecdote Based

The forest fires have become a recurrent phenomenon in the many states of India. They are growing larger, spreading faster and reaching higher, scaling mountain elevations that previously were too wet and cool to have supported fires this fierce. They are also getting more intense, killing a greater number of trees and eliminating entire patches of forest. One such event led the people of a small hamlet in Uttarakhand to come together and pick up the left over cones, burnt matches, cigarette butts and other flammable materials from the forest patches. The next season saw relatively less intensive fire season. The story here highlights how with the right attitude any problem as large as climate change can be addressed.

Body Content

Climate change describes a change in the average conditions, such as rainfall and temperature in a region over a long period of time. Global climate change refers to overall change in the average conditions of earth. Earth’s climate has changed throughout the history, but the current warming trend is of particular significance because of the pace at which it is taking place. Human actions, beginning with the industrial revolution, have played a significant part in this. Since then, the planet’s temperature has climbed by more than 1 degree Celsius. The previous decade (2011-20) was the warmest on record, with the warmest years being 2016 and 2020.

The oceans, which operate as a carbon sink and play a critical role in controlling the earth’s energy balance, are warming. Ice sheets are shrinking, with ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica witnessing large decrease; and Glaciers are retreating almost everywhere around the world (the Alps, the Himalayas etc.). There is fast melting of snow, with various scientific evidences revealing the decrease of snow cover in Northern Hemisphere in the last 5 decades.

Sea level is witnessing a rising trend in recent years, and the thickness and extent of Arctic sea ice is showing a declining trend. Extreme weather events are becoming a common occurrence. According to a study, average United States temperatures have increased since the late 19th century. Presently, U.S. and Canada are witnessing heat waves, which has led to many deaths.

Due to climate change: many species are facing the threats of extinction; shrinking ice sheets are threatening the Snow bears; warming of sea and rising level will lead to extensive damage to coral reefs, the tropical rainforests of the sea. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half of its corals since 1995 due to warmer seas driven by climate change, a study has found.

According to the world economic forum’s Global risks report, around 90% of all coastal areas will be affected by the rising sea levels. Forest fires are showing an increasing trend; global temperature rise is also seen as a reason behind Australian bushfire (2020). Tropical region diseases like Dengue etc. may witness a rising occurrence. Water stress will increase and crop yields will witness a change.

Climate change needs to be tackled, otherwise it will have devastating impacts for the environment. Corona virus and imposition of lockdown in various parts of the world last year shown the role of human activities in climate change. The Earth Overshoot Day (The day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in that year) which was observed on 29th July in 2019 shifted to 22nd August in 2020, change witnessed because of low human activities.

Therefore, human attitude needs a change. We have a tendency to wait till things start impacting us. At present major impact of climate change is being witnessed by Small Island Nations, so many of the people from developed economies are not even accepting the evidences about climate change, these attitude needs a definite change.

Increased use of fossil fuels is held responsible for increase in Greenhouse gas (C02 etc.) emissions, which is leading to Global warming. There is a need to move towards cleaner sources of fuel like CNG (compressed natural gas). There is a need to promote the increased use of ride sharing and public transport in place of personal vehicles. Public transport should be made fast, efficient and affordable with last mile connectivity. City infrastructure need to be upgraded in a way that the distances can be covered by walking and using bicycles only resulting in decreased carbon footprint.

There is a need to minimise food loss and wastage throughout the food supply chain from harvest to consumption. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that one-third of global food produced for human consumption does not reach end consumers.

Using efficient cook stoves and fuels in place of traditional cook stoves. There are around three billion people who rely on cook stoves and biomass fuels. This leads to emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) not only because of cooking process but also through harvesting fuels from forests, the combination of which contributes 2-5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Urban areas produces huge amount of waste, which is composed of high organic matter. Anaerobic decomposition at landfill produces methane (GHG). Composting enables the conversion of organic waste into stable soil carbon without generating methane, which can then be used as fertilizer to improve soil health.

Planting of trees along with annual crops increases the carbon content of soil as well as improves the land productivity. Intensive use of fertilizers, high amount of water usage, sowing of water intensive crops like Rice etc. year after year has led to declining soil quality and poor water availability. Increasing aridity is witnessed in many parts of the world including India. We need to move towards crop rotation, reduced or no tillage and green manures. Paddy cultivation is known for high GHG emissions, system of rice intensification technique which leads to low methane emission is to be used.

Agriculture consumes 70 percent of the world’s freshwater resources. Irrigation systems require high energy inputs to pump and distribute water, making irrigation a source of carbon emissions. Improved irrigation technologies, like drip and sprinkler methods, help farmers use water more precisely and efficiently. Rainwater harvesting and proper water management practices need to be adopted.

Shifting agriculture practiced in many parts of the world including India’s Northeast led to deforestation, it needs to be controlled. Household efforts like use of LEDs in place of normal lights, saving of waters, rooftop solar water heaters and construction of houses in way that natural light covers most of the area etc. are required.

Cities have become urban heat islands because of high concretization, lack of green vegetation, increased use of air conditioners etc. Use of light coloured concrete in construction, planting of trees etc. can help. Green building codes like GRIHA need to be properly implemented. One thing that needs a change is looking development and environment separately. Development needs to be made sustainable.

Conclusion

Climate change is a reality and we need to tackle it, otherwise it is already becoming a threat for the environment and human survival. Various international climatic agreements are signed (Paris Climate deal, Kyoto Protocol and one of the most successful Montreal protocol) and domestic policies are being framed and they are giving increased emphasis on individual contributions. Initiatives like International Solar Alliance, assistance from developed to developing and poor economies etc. are in the right direction.

Various studies have shown that even if every country fulfil its commitments under Paris climate deal, we cannot limit the temperature rise, so more efforts are required. India is also promoting the increased use of renewable sources of energy, electric and hybrid vehicles through various policy initiatives. People need to be made more aware about climate change and various climate friendly techniques. Small effort from each one of us can help tackle the impact of climate change.

Physical science has made clear what actions we must take to fight climate change, but it is high time that we tuned our mind and soul towards nature to bring about the large-scale change we need to save the planet.

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