Climate Change: Understanding, Effects, and Individual Efforts for a Better Climate Condition [By Ms. Tanaya Rajeev Gajbhiye, (B.Tech. Biotechnology)]

 

Climate Change: Understanding, Effects, and Individual Efforts for a Better Climate Condition

Ms. Tanaya Rajeev Gajbhiye, (B.Tech. Biotechnology)

 The temperature in India has been skyrocketing for a decade now. Growing up during the early 2000s, I thoroughly enjoyed the summer season. The warm weather, ice- creams and staying up late are what made me really look forward for the summer vacations. However, the lovely happy summer has now turned into something unbearable since the last few years due to the tremendous rise in the temperature.

 

India has been experiencing constant heat waves and the temperature in places like Delhi has gone as high as 52.1°C. Everybody needs to ask themselves, why is this happening? who is responsible for these immense rises in temperature levels?  What are the repercussions if this keeps going on? and the most important question what can” I “do to help the situation? The reason behind this all is “climate change”.

What is Climate change?

First and foremost, we need to understand what climate change actually means; According to the United Nations, Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

 

The last decade has been the hottest on record, and the effects of the same has been felt world-wide.

As I mentioned before, climate change can occur from both natural and human activities, but activities of man are for more concerning than those cause by the nature.

The Industrial revolution has always been known to be the rooting cause of global warming and climate change; it also plays a significant part in the exploitation of several natural resources.

According to international risk intelligence company, Verisk Maplecroft in its climate hazard index stated that India is among 13 of 30 high CO₂ emitting countries, responsible for about 90% of the global carbon emission, which could be facing some of the severest impacts of climate change including heat.

 

The driving force of climate change these days is excessive air, water and land pollution. The industrial sector is a key contributor to air and water pollution, and has a huge impact on increasing global warming.

The excessive population of the country and the ever- increasing need for food, clothing and shelter is leading to increase in industrial productions as well as it is the main reason for the rapidly reducing forest covers. Between 2001 and 2020, India lost approximately 19.3 million hectares of tree cover, which represents a 5.3% decrease in tree cover since 2000​ (Down-to-earth) ​​ (Mongabay-India) ​.

 

Another important factor is electricity production using coal; In India about 55% of the total electricity supplied to the entire country of 1.7 billion people is supplied through burning coal.

Burning of fossil fuels like coal on such a large scale is tremendously detrimental for the climate conditions.

 

Current Scenario surrounding climate change:  

The rapidly degrading conditions of the environment is also degrading the quality of life of the Indian population. India reported nearly 25,000 suspected heatstroke cases and 56 deaths due to health-related causes from March to May, Reuters reported, citing local media and government data.

The central state of Madhya Pradesh alone recorded over 5,000 heatstroke cases.

Data from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that May was the worst month, with 46 heat-related deaths and 19,189 suspected heat stroke cases, as reported by The Print.

 

In Sri Lanka, at least 15 people died from flooding and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported on Sunday.

A combination of factors has resulted in an intensely hot summer in South Asia, a trend exacerbated by human-driven climate change.

One of the most visible consequences of a warming world is an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. The National Climate Assessment finds that the number of heat waves, heavy downpours, and major hurricanes has increased, and the strength of these events has increased, too, stated the Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, USA.

Climate change is expected to worsen the frequency, intensity, and impacts of some types of extreme weather events. For example, sea level rise increases the impacts of coastal storms and warming can place more stress on water supplies during droughts.

 

Climate change makes heatwaves hotter and more frequent. This is the case for most land regions, and has been confirmed by the United Nations' global panel of climate scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have heated the planet by about 1.2°C since pre-industrial times. That warmer baseline means higher temperatures can be reached during extreme heat events. The global average temperature is around 1.2°C warmer than in pre-industrial times. That is already driving extreme heat events.

On average on land, heat extremes that would have happened once every 10 years without human influence on the climate are now three times more frequent, according to ETH Zurich climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne.

 

What Can You and I do?

Now let us take a look at what can be done to help the situation at an individual level.

Let’s look over the most common ones, like using your own cloth bag while going shopping or even for going grocery shopping.

 

Replacing disposable plastic ware used in parties and such like plates and cups with partyware made with paper.

 

Always carrying your own water bottle while travelling is also a good way to do your bit to reduce the use of plastic.

 

And last but not the least, SAVE ELECTRICITY as much as you can.

Always switch off lights when not in use, especially charging points. Using LED lamps and lights in your home is an efficient way to save electricity.

 

Walk:

Walking to nearby or even some what distant places and not using a vehicle also helps reduce our personal carbon footprints on the environment. And on the other hand, walking as much as possible will improve your cardiovascular health and increase blood flow! Doing this is literally like killing two birds with a single stone’s throw.

 

Using sustainable products and refills:

Another very small that thing you can do is to use refills of everything you can get, even if it is something as small as a refill for your pen.

Nowadays, there are lifestyle brands that offer refills for their products like skincare, haircare, fragrances and much more. This is a very good way to promote sustainability.

 

Shop from brands that prioritize ethical and sustainable production practices.

There are fashion brands and even some furniture companies that make their products from recycled plastic. Supporting such endeavors if you can also be a helping hand.

 

Seed bombs:

What if I tell you that there is a way that individual effort can help replenish forests. This can be done using something called seed bomb. One man has done just that, Masanobu Fukuoka a Japanese farmer, incorporated his ancestral gardening techniques into his own farming methods and, in doing so, started a revolution. Seed bombs are an ancient Japanese practice called Tsuchi Dango, meaning 'Earth Dumpling' (seed bombs are made from clay earth).

Making seed bombs is very easy, you just need some soil, clay and some seeds.

First, you’ll have to mix soil and the clay and then add water to make get a paste with medium consistency. After that you add seeds to them and form a ball of seeds just like making a Ladoo.

Throwing these seed balls will grow sprouts in only a few months and replenish greenery in barren lands.

 

Plant a tree on your birthday:

On this same note, I think it also a good idea to plant a tree on your birthday and even on the birthdays of your loved ones. This is a small way by which you can do something for your special day while also doing a good deed for the environment.

 

Spreading awareness:

Educating yourself and others around you is a very important part of trying towards better climate conditions. The more aware you are, the more likely you of making conscious choices and making an effort.

The choices we make as individuals and as collective can and will definitely improve the situations; what you do today for the environment will inadvertently affect the tomorrow that our future generations will see.

References:

1.      United Nations - Climate Change: What is Climate Change?

2.      Reuters, The Print - Data on heatstroke cases and heat-related deaths in India.

3.      DownToEarth, Mongabay-India - Information on deforestation in India.

4.      Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, USA - Data on the increase in extreme weather events.

5.       Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - Findings on greenhouse gas emissions and temperature rise.