CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO 21ST CENTURY

KANISHQ SAJWAN

After more than 10,000 years of relative stability Earth’s temperature has risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius. Global atmospheric carbon dioxide was 409.8 ± 0.1 ppm in 2019, a new record high. That is an increase of 2.5 ± 0.1 ppm from 2018, the same as the increase between 2017 and 2018. In the 1960s, the global growth rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide was roughly 0.6 ± 0.1 ppm per year.


This adds enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to those naturally occurring in the atmosphere. Climate change and pollution are affecting everyone according to the World Health Organisation climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. Wildlife is also facing new challenges for survival since more frequent and intense droughts, storms, heatwaves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and warming oceans destroy their habitat and create wreak havoc on animals’ livelihood. Climate change is currently affecting 19% of species listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, increasing the likelihood of their extinction.


Large corporations and industries have a great role in changing climate. A recently published report identified that 100 energy companies have been responsible for 71% of all industrial emissions since human-driven climate change was officially recognized.


Carbon dioxide is the climate's worst enemy. By using less of it, we can curb our own contribution to climate change while also saving money. By voicing their concerns to the elected government to enact new laws that limit carbon emissions and require polluters to pay for the emissions they produce. As we all know industrial pollution in Europe is decreasing, thank a blend of regulations, development in manufacturing and environmental initiatives, this need to be done worldwide if we want to save our ozone layer. The concept of Electric vehicles (EV’s) is the deal-breaker in the market with low maintenance cost and service it serves a pocket-friendly service to all its consumers with environmental benefits. TGeSI and Deloitte's Digital with Purpose report suggests that digital technologies can help combat climate change by reducing emissions, strengthening resilience to climate-related natural hazards, and improving our capacity to act. Non-conventional sources of energy like wind, solar, small hydro, tides, geothermal heat and biomass, these are all renewable source of energy which do not cause any environmental pollution. The use of Thermocol and Plastic should have been banned a long while ago but it is still in the market. We the people can make a change. I would request everybody to raise their voice and be a part of this chain by contributing their full efforts in saving our environment.