Climate change refers to long term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human activities are a major cause of climate change, especially the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
The burning of fossil fuels releases a number of greenhouse gases such as; carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and hydrofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat within the earth’s atmosphere and are gradually increasing the earth’s temperature as emissions continue to rise. As a result, the Earth is now about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s. Although this might seem like just a slight change in temperature, the earth is a system in which everything is connected. These temperature rises are affecting the balance of nature and life on the planet. I am going to be discussing what is causing climate change, as well the effects on the environment and the solutions that international bodies have come up with to combat climate change.
The Causes
Power generation is one of the major causes of climate change, as only about 29% of electricity comes from renewable sources. Leaving about 71% of power generation to fossil fuels which produce a large amount of greenhouse gases. China is the leading country in power generation and it is reflected in their carbon emissions.
Manufacturing is another major cause of climate change. Countries such as China which account for 28.7% of the global manufacturing output and the USA which accounts for 16.8% of the global manufacturing output are ranked at the top of the table for countries with the highest carbon emissions. China, with an astonishing 10,668 million metric tons emitted in 2020 and the USA with 4,713 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide emissions in 2020. This goes to show how much manufacturing affects global carbon emissions.
Deforestation is also a major cause of climate change. About 15 billion trees are cut down annually. It not only destroys ecosystems and habitats but also accelerates the process of global warming. Forests are very helpful in absorbing carbon dioxide, deforestation causes these GHGs to be released and increases the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
The Effects
I have discussed some of the cause of global warming, but now I am going to be discussing on its effects. Global warming has had a number of effects on the environment, including an increase in surface temperature. These higher temperatures have increased the likelihood of wildfires and the number of heat-related illnesses. Climate impacts are harming the health of individuals through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement and pressures in mental health. There has also been an increase in poor nutrition especially in rural areas where people cannot find sufficient food. Changing weather patterns are widening the scope of diseases and out of the ordinary weather events increase deaths and make it diffciult for healthcare systems to keep up with these changes..
Temperatures in the Arctic have warmed more than twice as fast as the global average. This poses as a problem to the wildlife in these regions, as many of them require cold temperatures to survive. Many of the animas in these regions are also being displaced from their habitats.
Just like in the arctic other animals in other parts of the world are struggling to survive due to global warming. This is leading to a lack of biodiversity and the endangerment and extinction of a number of species. A good example of this is the Adiele Penguin which is facing endangerment because its main source of nutrition, Krill, is unable to survive without sea ice. This loss of ice has lead to a dramatic decline in the Krill as well as the Adiele Penguin. This goes to show just how much global warming can affect wildlife, food chains and ecosystems.
Climate change has also increased drought in several regions, making water scarce and affecting the agricultural produce within those regions. These droughts can stir up destructive sand and dust storms which cam move billions of tons of sand across the continents, creating deserts and reducing the available land for crop production. Global warming also increases the frequency of cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons which can cause death and displacements of large communities.
To combat climate change, international bodies have come up with two notable agreements. The Kyoto protocol was first developed in December 1997 but entered into full force in 2005 and currently has 192 parties in agreement with the treaty. It is the first legally binding climate treaty and was developed to reduce the emissions of developed countries by an average of 5%. However, it was not compelling to a number of developed countries as it made them liable for the bulk of the work. Countries such as the USA, Canada and Russia did not sign the Kyoto protocol.
The second agreement is known as the Paris agreement which was first implemented in 2015 and is regarded ad the most important climate change treaty. Unlike The Kyoto Protocol, the Paris agreement requires all countries to set emissions-reduction targets. These targets are known as the nationally determined contribution (NDCs). It strives to reduce global emissions and combat global warming while adapting to the changes caused by climate change.
Nigeria is a member of the Kyoto protocol and the Paris agreement. In 2015, under the Paris agreement, Nigeria committed to a 20% decrease in carbon emissions without international aid and a 45% decrease in carbon emissions with international support. In 2021, Nigeria maintained their commitment of 20% without international assistance and increased their conditional target to 47%. However, by 2021 the NDC report does not indicate this target is practical. Research suggests that there will be a 31% increase in GHG emissions between 2018 and 2030. The Nigerian government remains optimistic and is working tirelessly in an attempt to fulfill their NDC targets.
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