Our earth is 4.543 billion years old. It was not like the earth we see now. It initially had no life at all. After several years of changes, the gases were produced and other essentials were formed which made earth like what it is like now. However we humans have taken this for granted. The earth which had a normal, gradual climate, which did not have any impact on the living creatures once, now has put all of us on stake. Climate change depends mainly on the earth’s temperature. So if the temperature varies, the climate varies too. Although it is certain that earth has naturally warmed up and got colder during other eras, these cycles have always been much slower and took millions of years, whereas now within a period of just 200 years, we have reached levels that in the past brought about extinctions.
Talking about the impacts and causes it has on this planet, there are many which actually cannot be counted. The main cause of climate change is global warming, which has loads of negative consequences on physical, biological and human systems. Some of the various causes behind global warming are due to increase in greenhouse gases like carbon-di-oxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and HCFCs (chemicals produced from these deplete ozone layer which prevents direct contact from the sun rays. As this is depleting some face diseases like skin cancer, rashes and so on), deforestation which occurs due to cutting of trees, plants for our own roads, destruction of marine ecosystems where the ocean water are basically carbon sinks. These carbons sinks absorbs 50% of carbon-di-oxide and then makes the ocean to acidify causing the death or diseases to marine flora and fauna.
Another cause which in my point of view is the most influential and reasonable cause for global warming- population growth (increase in the population). As every day, every hour, every minute, every second the population keeps increasing all over and in every nook and corner of the world, there is an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from all the productions. Researchers also say that industrial revolution has also bought changes in the climate. Due to increase in population, the demand for production, consumption and many other resources has exploded and is almost on stake. Some say this has also a new “geological era” which is exclusively customized by us (humans) and has caused a major impact on earth and hence the climate change has been seen.
All these causes have led to a lot of consequences for the planet. The global temperature increase brings about disastrous consequences like endangering the survival of the earth’s flora and fauna, including human beings. Several species migrate from region which has a bad climate that is not suitable for its survival to a place that is better and comfortable for it to survive and produce its progeny. Due to this, the species which are already living in that area has another competition and hence this also leads to extinction of species. The worst climate change impacts include the melting of ice mass at poles which has cause the rising in sea level. Climatic change has also caused floods in coastal areas and area which are near the water bodies and is considered as a huge threat to the environment. This in turn has caused in islands disappearing completely. For example- The Indira point which is found in the Indian Ocean was once really close to the land. Due to changes such as the climate change has pushed the Indira point further down the ocean making it invisible for the tourists. Climate change also increases the appearance of more violent weather phenomena, drought, fires, the death of animal and plant species, flooding from rivers and lakes, the creation of “climate refugees” and destruction of the food chain and economic resources, especially in developing countries like our very own country India.
Climate change has also made a huge a huge impact on architecture. I would say that method of planning and constriction has completely evolved due to climate change. This has also caused a competitive world where more of one resource is used while the rest are completely ignored. Many demand for construction of buildings in such a way so that the living humans inside are not harmed has also changed due to this reason. Hence we can even see that there is a huge difference and change in the architecture we see now and of the past. Steps have to be taken to avoid climate changes. We’ll first have to mitigate the effects and adapt to the environment. Climate change is a global challenge that has no borders and to combat it requires coordinated work by all of us.
Nagashree Bhat
4th semester