Global warming vs Climate Change
Introduction
Many people usually confuse the concepts of climate change and global warming. These concepts are closely related, but they have an important difference. Global warming is the cause of climate change, that is, the increase in global temperature of the planet caused by human activity, which results in sudden changes in the climate that would not occur in such a way due to natural causes. There is no doubt that it is not the first time that there hashumans and their activity, extreme levels are being achieved.
Developing
Causes of global warming
Climate change is a phenomenon that currently affects the entire planet and in which many factors intervene, whose consequences can cause sudden changes in each of the world’s ecosystems. Its main cause is global warming.
Global warming is produced by the increase in the average temperature of the oceans and the terrestrial atmosphere, caused by the increase in the emission of the greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, derived from the activities of the human being.
In addition to artificial causes, that is, those derived from the action of human beings, it should also be noted that there are natural causes, but these are insufficient to understand the current global warming, since the main problem of its appearance is derivedof humans’ activities.
The increase in greenhouse gases is the main cause of global warming. The greenhouse effect is a natural process by which the retention of heat that comes from the sun in the atmosphere thanks to the greenhouse gas layer (GHG) occurs. These gases maintain the temperature of the planet at approximately 33ºC more than the planet would have if they did not exist, however, it is an essential layer for the development of life on the planet because without its presence this would have too low temperatures. The main problem is in the increase in the emission of these gases due to the contribution of the human being in pollution.
The largest gas responsible for global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2), since it is the most detrimental to population health. It is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity, transport, heating, industry, etc. Or it can also be caused by the production of cement and other goods, in addition to being the consequence of deforestation.
Methane, another cause, is caused by agriculture, livestock, wastewater treatment etc. While halogenated compounds, which also cause global warming, are gases of anthropogenic origin and increase the greenhouse effect. In addition, the tropospheric ozone, a reaction between gases emitted in the use of fuels, and nitrogen oxide caused by excess in the use of fertilizers or the use of fuels or the use of fuels are also responsible.
On the other hand, there is deforestation. The trees play a very important role in the environmental balance, since they are responsible for converting carbon dioxide into oxygen to return it to the atmosphere. If the number of trees descends, as occurs in the Amazon, CO2 levels in the atmosphere increase and favor the deterioration of the ozone layer.
In addition to these two, the destruction of marine ecosystems is also a cause of global warming, since the oceans absorb 50% of the CO2 generated. In addition to their destruction, the problem is that when they reach their limit, a very high number of animals and marine plants are acidified and given.
Finally, the population increase is also a cause, since as it increases, more resources are needed and therefore an acceleration of greenhouse gases emission occurs.
Effects on the health of change in temperatures
Climate change manifests very negative global effects on people’s health. Extreme temperatures contribute to deaths due to different types of diseases, for example, cardiovascular and respiratory and, above all, in elderly people. These diseases are caused by the increase in ozone levels and other pollutants, as well as the rise in temperatures, which in turn increase pollen levels and other allergens that can affect those who suffer from asthma in a very significant way, it isSay, about 300 million people.
The population does not pay the necessary attention to the phenomenon of heat waves, and its consequences are devastating since, for example, in the summer of 2003, there was a heat wave in Europe that left 70.000 dead. Therefore it is necessary to keep in mind that it is a truly dangerous phenomenon because but as the consequences progress, the consequences will worsen.
A data taken from the World Health Organization (WHO) says that ‘as expected, between 2030 and 2050 climate change will cause about 250.000 additional deaths every year, due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and caloric stress.’
CORONAVIRUS EFFECTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
A question that everyone is asked today is whether pandemic has any effect on climate change. Due to the confinement situation we are living, it is true that a decrease in emissions has been achieved, that is, a global reduction of greenhouse gases but it cannot be thought that this virus will significantly reduce the dangers of climate change, andthat emissions will increase again how much the economy recovers and operates again normally.
How did Lars Peter Riishojgaard, from the OMM Infrastructure Department, a United Nations -based Nations Agency in Geneva: ‘Pandemia will end at some point and the world will begin to work and with that, CO2 emissions will return toincrease, perhaps or maybe not at the same level ‘.
Consequences of climate change
As already stated above, climate change affects all countries of the world and brings negative consequences on physical, biological and human systems, among other multiple effects. These consequences are disastrous for the fauna and the flora of the earth.
Among the impacts of climate change are the thaw and increased sea level, that is, as the terrestrial temperature increases, the volume of water increases, and in turn, the increase in temperature caused by the different factors of global warmingcause thawing in poles and glaciers. This combination is what causes erosion and floods.
Extreme weather conditions are also a consequence of this and causes climatic phenomena.
Climate change can also cause health effects, which will be said later. In many places there has already been an increase in the number of deaths due to high temperatures.
The costs for society and the economy, that is, the sectors that depend on the temperature and the level of rainfall, as well as agriculture or tourism, are seriously harmed. In addition, the damages caused by global warming, whether to infrastructure or health, suppose too high expenses for the economy and society.
In addition to all this, nature also is in danger of climate change, since the variation of living conditions is taking place so fast that some animals fail to adapt to the different changes in ecosystems as to desertification, which carriesthat several species have moved to other habitats or even the extinction of certain animals or plants if global average temperatures continue to rise so precipitated. The number of deaths of different species, due to the increase in temperatures is between 10.000 and 50.000 every year.
In turn, the absorption of too much CO2, for example, causes acidification in the oceans, which entails death and disease of fish, algae, corals, and many other organisms.
Finally, it should be noted that in the center and south of the European panorama, high heat waves are suffered, causing numerous fires and droughts. In turn, the Mediterranean area is becoming a drier area, which causes several fires. On the contrary, the north is characterized by being transformed into a more humid area, so the floods in winter would be more frequent. In addition, urban areas, inhabited by the vast majority of the population, are subjected to heat waves, fires or sea level increases.
Climate refugees
Although the term used is not contemplated in international law, there is talk of climatic refugees to refer to all those who have been forced to move from place due to climate change or natural disasters that it has caused,
A very high number of displacements that currently take place in the world have to do with climate change and natural disasters. Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are examples of countries that suffer these displacements of people every day, because of the consequences derived from climate change, either the rise in temperatures, the increase in sea level, floods, the floods, the floods, thedrought or desertification. These last three cause croping and abandonment of households from people around the world. Somalia must be highlighted by the large number of people who had to necessarily move, around 7.000 people, for drought.
According to the internal displacement monitoring center, in 2017 17.2 million new displacements related to natural disasters were registered.
Development cities are the most affected since due to these forced displacements they must house 84% of refugees around the world.
How to avoid climate change?
After everything explained and seeing all the causes and consequences of climate change, it is obvious that it cannot be avoided, but what can be done is to reduce its effects and adapt to its consequences, that is, fight against him of differentways, to get it slowly stop. The actions that are undertaken with the objective of stopping it are called: mitigation and adaptation measures.
Mitigation measures focus on the causes of climate change, that is, in prevention. This consists of actions to reduce and limit greenhouse gas emissions with the consequent objective that the global temperature of the world stops. They consist of a greater investment in renewable energies, promote energy efficiency, etc.
On the other hand, adaptation measures are focused on acting on the impacts of climate change that have already occurred, such as improving more safe infrastructure and facilities, water treatment and purification, reforestation and landscape restoration,flexible and varied culture, etc. In addition to these measures, in the day to day there are many things that we can improve and reduce climate change on our planet such as recycling, shower instead of bathing, using public transport or, even better, using theBicycle so that you also stay in shape, buy low consumption bulbs, unplug the charger or any appliance when it is not being used, and like these, many more that cost nothing and whose impact can be essential for the survival of the planet.
conclusion
You can’t deny the obvious, and the weather is changing. The increase in the concentration of atmospheric CO2 currently reflects its consequences;The increase in the average global temperature, the thaw in the poles and glaciers, the increase in sea level and the adaptations that animal species must make in the face of changes in ecosystems. The reality is that there is no immediate remedy to this problem, and the consequences that it has cannot be avoided. However, if these effects can be reduced so that excessively abrupt changes in the future are not produced.
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