Climate Changes & Its Impact on Global World

Introduction

Climate is a weather condition of the place or area; conditions of temperature, rainfall, wind, etc. The term ‘climate’ describes the general average pattern of the weather in a place over a period of years. Climatologists usually considers a period of 30 years to assess the climate of any place. Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and name. It is characterized by parameters such as the temperature, humidity, wind and rain. Climate is the long-run pattern of weather conditions for a given area.

Until the middle of the twentieth century, the earth’s climate was generally regarded an unchanging, but it is now known to be in a continuous and delicate state of flux. Change is a fundamental characteristic of the environment. As the climate has been changing, accordingly, minor changes in the climate would have a massive effect on the basic resources like food, water, etc. The factors that influence the global climate are the amount of solar energy the earth receives, the condition of the atmosphere, the shape and rotation of the earth, and the currents and other processes of the ocean. The atmosphere is warming, and this trend will continue. By the year of 2050, the scientists predicted that the world will be warmer by an average of between 1.5ºC and 4.5ºC. A Task Group set up by WHO had warned that climatic change may have serious impact on human health. Climatic change will increase various current health problems, and may also bring new and unexpected ones.

Meaning of climatic change

Average weather of an area is called climate. Climate is the average of general weather conditions, seasonal variations and extremes of weather in a region over a long period, at least 30 years. Since the beginning of this century, it is evidenced that there has been a rise in global mean temperatures of about 0.5ºC. The enhancement of temperature on earth is called “Global Warming”. If the warming is allowed to rise, there shall be several adverse effects upon the earth. In the year 1998, the average temperature of the world was recorded as 58ºF which is the highest in the century. 

Definition of climatic change

The Convention on Climatic Change, 1992 defines “Adverse effects on climatic change” under Article 1(1); “Climate Change” has been defined under Article 1(2). And Article 1(3) of the Convention deals about “Climate System”.

Legal instruments on climatic change

The important legal instruments relating to climatic changes are as follows:

The United Nations Legal Instruments

1. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change (UNFCC) / UN Climate Convention
2. Paris Agreement
3. Kyoto Protocol

Other International Fora

1. Inter-Governmental Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC)
2. G8 and G20
3. Forum of Major Economies on Climate and Energy (MEF)
4. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
5. International Energy Agency (IEA)

Indian legislations regulating the climate change

The Indian legislations combating the change of climate can be categorised under two heads, namely:

1. During the British Regime
2. During the Post-Independence Era

During the British regime

The following enactments were came into force in order to regulate the climatic changes:

1. The Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act, 1912
2. The Factories Act, 1897
3. The Shore Nuisance (Bombay and Kolkata) Act, 1853
4. The Bengal Smoke Nuisance Act, 1905
5. The Fisheries Act, 1897
6. The Indian Penal Code, 1860
7. The Bombay Smoke Nuisance Act, 1912
8. The Indian Easements Act, 1882

During the post-independence era

 The following statutes were enacted after the independence for the regulation of climatic changes:

1. The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972
2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
3. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
4. The Forest Conservation Act, 1980
5. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
6. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
7. The Atomic Energy Act, 1982
8. The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997
9. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
10. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notifications

Causes of climatic change

The main cause of the recent climatic change is release of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon-di-oxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere and it includes the human activities such as change of land use and combustion of fossil fuel. The adverse impact of climate change in the form of decline in rainfall and rise in temperature has resulted in increased severity of livelihood issues in the country. The change of climate exemplifies the systems that are already under tremendous pressure due to rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and economic development. Climatic change is one of the most important global environmental challenges facing humanity with implications for food production, natural ecosystems, freshwater supply, health, etc.

 The most important cause of the change of climate is 

1. Global Warming
2. Acid Rain
3. Ozone Depletion / Ozone Hole

Global Warming

Global warming: meaning

The increase in the global mean temperature is called “global warming”. The global warming is due to increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Air Pollution traps more heat in the atmosphere, rendering the earth more-warmer. This effect is called as “global warming”.

Global warming: causes

The Deforestation is one of the main reasons of global warming. Cutting and burning of about 34 million acres of trees every year results in urbanisation and the land for factories timber lead to deforestation. In addition to the deforestation, the below mentioned GHG’s contributes to the global warming. 

SL.NO.	GREEN-HOUSE GASES	EMISSION OF GREEN-HOUSE GASES
1.	Carbon-di-oxide (CO2)	Power Plants (Burning of fossil fuels, Coal for electricity generation). Cars and Vehicles (20% burning of gasoline in the engines of vehicles). Buildings (The structures of Commercial & Residential buildings require a lot of fuel to be burnt) which emits more CO2.
2.	Methane (MH4) (20 times effectual than CO2)	Rice Paddies: When rice fields are flooded, anaerobic situation of the organic matter in the soil decays releasing methane. Bovine Flatulence. Bacteria in flogs. Manufacture of Fossil Fuels.
3.	Nitrous Oxide (N2O)	Nylon and Nitric acid production. Cars with Catalytic Converters. Use of Fertilizers in agriculture. Burning of organic matter.

Green-house effect: meaning

A green-house means a special house in which delicate plants are grown with controlled temperature inside than outside but with less radiation. This is called as green-house effect which is due to glass walls, high Carbon-di-oxide (CO2) content and high water vapour in the greenhouse. The green house allows short wave radiations inside but prevent the long wave, that is, infrared radiations from the earth’s surface. That is the reason why the green house is warmer inside than outside. 

In the same way, green-house effect occurs in our environment. Some atmospheric gases allow short wave radiations through them but absorb long wave radiations from the earth and reflect the heat to the earth. These gases are called green-house gases.

Green-house gases: meaning

The green houses gases include Carbon-di-oxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Chlorofluoro Carbons (CFC), water vapour and Hydro Fluorocarbons (HFC). The predominant gases are CO2 and water vapour. About 70 million tons of CO2 per day are dumped into the earth’s atmosphere.

Effects of green-house gases

The following are the serious effects of green-house gases:

1. The average global temperature is 15ºC.
2. If there are no green-house gases, the temperature would be -18ºC.
3. The green-house gases increase the temperature to 33ºC.
4. The moderate heat trapped by mainly CO2 and water vapour keeps planet warm enough to allow species exist.
5. The level of H2O vapour is constant but CO2 is increased.
6. The human beings contribute to the increase of methane, N2O and CFC’s. This leads to enhanced green-house effect.
7. CO2 level increases due to deforestation.
8. The wrong sort of radio adds to CO2 emissions to atmosphere. The digital broadcasting is a threat of global warming by pumping more CO2 in the atmosphere. 

Fig: Image Depicting Global Warming

Acid rain

Acid rain : meaning

Acid forming gases (SO2, N2O) from industries and fossil fuel combustion, are oxidised after travelling thousands of kilometre in the atmosphere to form acid rain. 

Sulphur-di-oxide (SO2) → Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) →; Nitrous oxide (N2O) → Nitric acid (HNO3) ; HCI → Hydrochloric Acid (HCI ACID); CO2 →Carbonic acid.

Acid rain: effects

1. Deterioration of buildings (Taj Mahal with marble).
2. Damage of statues, metals, fishes and leaves of trees.
3. Sufferings of aquatic animals.
4. Damage to trees by insects and fungi which are tolerant to acid rain.

Acid rain: causes

1. To reduce emission of SO2 and N2O from the industries and power plants by installing modern equipment.
2. To add lime in the lakes and soils to neutralise acid rain.
3. To use natural gas instead of fossil fuels.
4. To use sulphur scrubbers to control the addition of sulphur in the air during combustion of fossil fuels.

                               Fig: Image Depicting Acid Rain

Ozone depletion or ozone hole

Ozone layer: meaning

Ozone Layer is in Stratosphere. It is a natural sun screen, filtering Ultraviolet rays (UV) from sunlight, protecting living organisms for the past 450 million years. The thinning of stratospheric layer is referred to as ozone hole.

Ozone layer depletion: causes

The Anthropogenic emissions of CFC’s are the main cause of worrying seasonal ozone losses in both the hemispheres of our earth. Long-lived chloride compounds of CFC’s are mainly responsible for ozone losses. In 1985, researchers discovered that a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctica, after atmospheric chloride levels built up. The Montreal Protocol (1987) stopped the production and consumption of most ozone-destroying chemicals. But many of the chemicals will linger on in the atmosphere for several decades in future. 

The rapid photolysis of Cl2O2 is a key reaction in the chemical model of ozone destruction developed 20 years ago. At least 60% of ozone destruction at the poles points only to an unknown mechanism.

Ozone depletion: effects

• More UV rays (particularly, UV – B) reaching earth and affecting DNA and photosynthetic chemicals resulting in mutation and cancer.

• In man, skin cancer (including melanoma, cataract and a decline in immunity.

• Phytoplanktons are decreased so that at Zooplankton and fishes are also decreased affecting the whole food chain.

• Crop yield will increase.
• Degradation of plants and plastics take place.

                     

              

                        Fig: Image Depicting Ozone Layer Depletion

Impacts of climate change in environment

The impacts of the change of climate is clearly depicted under the following heads:

1. Increase of Human Diseases
2. Rise in Sea Level
3. Effects on Living Organisms
4. Effects on Agriculture
5. Rising of East Antarctica

Effects of climate change on the Indian environment

The latest report submitted by scientists of various environmental organisations (2007) like Green Peace and Action Aid envisages the following effects of climate change, especially relating to India:

1. Acute water scarcity throughout India.
2. The global warming is the most important reason for the change of climate. If global warming is not checked immediately, socio-economic development in India will be reflected.
3. The forty crores of people living near the river Ganges will get affected due to water scarcity, irregular seasonal rain pattern, floods and droughts would occur in east and south east India.
4. The low lying areas near seahorses would be inundated by sea water in Orissa and Sundarben. Four islands in the Sunderban area have already been inundated by sea water and six thousand people have been evacuated. This condition would worsen further in future.
5. Agricultural operations which form the backbone of rural India would be affected by climate change.

Conclusion

Climate change had actually helped in the evolution of earliest human ancestors. This is the finding of a leading researcher, Mark Maslin. Climate change or climate swings may be a threat to human beings’ long-term future on planet, but it has helped to bring us into existence in the first place. The evolution of the earliest human ancestors was driven by wild swings in Eastern Africa’s ancient climate, millions of years ago. The Researchers identified several extreme changes in climate dating back to millions of years when humans were first emerging on the continent. There were three greatest periods of climate change around 2.5 million, 1.5 million, and one million years ago respectively. These roughly coincide with the appearance of Homo habilis, the first human species, Australopithecus afrarensis, a study primitive ape and the later human species, Homo erectus, which became adapt in using stone tools and hunting.

Recommendations and suggestions

The mitigation of climate change shall be achieved by following the below-mentioned measures: 

1. To cut down the use of fossil fuels and Chlorofluoro Carbons (CFC).
2. To use energy more efficiently without wasting it.
3. To increase the forest cover and tree plantations to utilize more CO2 from the atmosphere.
4. To follow the sustainable agriculture.
5. To Kyoto Protocol must be followed sincerely by all the countries including U.S.A to reduce CO2 emission by 5.2%.

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