outline:
- Introduction
- Causes
- Effects
- Remedies
- Conclusion
Global
warming is the greatest challenge facing our planet. It is, in fact,
the increase in the temperature of the earth’s neon- surface air. It is
one of the most current and widely discussed factors. It has
far-reaching impact on biodiversity and climatic conditions of the
planet. Several current trends clearly demonstrate that global warming
is directly impacting on rising sea levels, the melting of ice caps and
significant worldwide climate changes. In short, global warming
represents a fundamental threat to all living things on earth.Ca
Global average temperature rose significantly during the past
century. The prevailing scientific view is that most of the temperature
increases since mid-20th century has been caused by increases in
atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations produced by human activity.
Most scientists agree that planet’s temperature has risen 0.5 degree
Celsius since 1900 and will continue to increase at an increasing rate.
As a result, the world is getting warmer. The year 1990 was the hottest
year in the last century.
Together with 1991, the years of 1983, 1987, 1988 and 1989 have been
measured to be the warmest six years in the last hundred years. The year
1991 was the second warmest year of the past century. The consequences
of the rise in temperature is being felt all over the globe the findings
of scientific research done in this field reveal that the temperature
of the earth is likely to rise from 1.4°C to 5.8°C within a period of
100 years.
Unfortunately, the imbalance which we have created between our life
and earth is already showing the signs disasters in the form of flood,
cyclones, landslides, tsunami, drought, etc. If the imbalance continues
to rise, one day this will pose a question mark on the existence of this
planet. Carbon dioxide (C02) which is an important constituent of
environment is causing a warming effect on the earth’s surface.
It increases the evaporation of water into the atmosphere. Since
water vapor itself is a greenhouse gas, this causes still more warming.
The warming causes more water vapor to be evaporated. The C02 level is
expected to rise in future due to ongoing burning of fossil fuels and land use change. The rate of rise will depend largely on uncertain
economic, sociological, technological and natural developments. Other
gases such as methane, CFCs, nitrous oxide, tropospheric ozone are also
responsible for global warming. Increases in all these gases are due to
explosive population growth, increased industrial expansion,
technological advancement, deforestation and growing urbanization, etc.
Trees play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. They are
the largest land-based mechanism for removing carbon dioxide from the
air. Deforestation is checking these positive processes. It is the
second principle cause of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Deforestation is
responsible for 25 per cent of all carbon emissions entering the
atmosphere, by the burning and cutting of 34 million acres of trees each
year. Everyday over 5500 acres of rainforest are destroyed. As a
consequence of massive loss of forests, global CO, levels rise
approximately 0.4 per cent each year, the levels not experienced on this
planet for millions of years. As we know the forests are the great
absorbers of CO,,.
There is a close relation between global warming and population growth. Today the large population on earth is using the technologies
which are destructive for the earth. Approximately, 80 per cent of
atmospheric C02 increases are due to man’s use of fossil fuels either in
the form of coal, gas or oil. A large portion of carbon emission is
attributed to the burning of gasoline in internal-combustion engine of
vehicles. Vehicles with poor gas mileage contribute the most to global
warming. Besides, the sulfur group gas is the most harmful for this.
Its contribution is 30 per cent in global warming. This gas is also
emitted from the burning of fossil fuels.
Increase in global temperatures will cause rise in sea level.
It will lead to melting of glaciers, changes in rainfall patterns,
increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather. As per the latest
survey report the rate of melting of glaciers has seen sharp increase in
recent times. Even those glaciers are affected from global warming
which have been considered permanent. The shrinking of glaciers is going
to pose a major problem of drinking water.
The sea levels as a result of melting of glaciers have risen from
0.35 mm to 0.4 mm. Scientists have warned in their reports that most of
the glaciers will disappear within a period of 15 to 25 years. It will
create problems of drinking water and food grains in most of the North
American countries. India is not unaffected from it. The Himalayan
glaciers have shrunk about 30 per cent after 1970.
The rise in sea levels is a major cause of concern. A large number of
cities located in coastal areas will submerge in the sea. Besides, many
island countries will ultimately “lose their existence and will be
washed away from the surface of the earth. The damage of rising sea
levels is diverse. Buildings and roads close to the water could be
flooded and they could suffer damage from hurricanes and tropical
storms. Experts believe that global warming could increase the intensity
of hurricanes by over 50 per cent. In addition, as the sea rises, beach
erosion takes place, particularly on steep banks.
Wetlands are lost as the level rises. Rise in atmospheric temperature
will lead to the outbreak of air¬borne and water-borne diseases. It
would also contribute to the rise in death caused by heat. The problem
of drought would be frequent. Consequently, malnutrition and starvation
will pose serious challenge before humanity.
Global warming is a great threat to the flora and fauna of the earth. A large number of species of them may become extinct.
The expanse of desert would increase. Low rainfall and rising
temperature could add to the intensity and frequency of dusty storm.
This in turn will immensely affect the quality of agricultural land,
ultimately causing adverse effect on agricultural produce. It would have
far-reaching sociology-economic impact.
In Indian context, the impact of global warming is a matter of grave
concern. As is well known, India is mainly an agricultural country and
agriculture here is gamble of the monsoon, e.g. largely depending on
rainfall. Though it is to affect the whole country, the worst likely
impact would be on central and northern India which is high-yielding
parts of the country. These are the regions which produce the largest
agricultural yield. The rise in atmospheric temperature and fall in rain
would naturally result in decline in crop production. Moreover, it
would have great effect on biodiversity as well.
The growing concerns over global temperatures have led to the
nations, states, corporations and individuals to draw out a plan of
action to avert the situation. As a result the world’s primary
international agreement on combating global warming was reached in Kyoto
in 1997 which came to be known as Kyoto Protocol. However, ten years
have passed; the situation does not appear to be very changed. It seems
that the member countries are not very serious about its devastating
effects.
In addition, forestation can be of great help in this regard.
Planting more trees and reducing timber cuts worldwide will help restore
the imbalance. Secondly, we must follow on environmental policy of
‘reduce, reuse, recycle’, i.e. promoting the reuse of anything. Thirdly,
the use of fuel-efficient vehicles should be promoted as these vehicles
have lower emissions of harmful gases. Fourthly, every individual
should be aware of the importance of the protecting environment.
Besides, Eco- friendly technologies must be promoted, and must be
substituted with the technologies which cause great emission of global warming gases. Public awareness campaign can be of great help in this
regard because unless each and every individual is aware only
governments’ effect cannot bring desired difference.
