Climate Change: The Second Pandemic
Our planet is suffering from anthropogenic climate change, which can be defined as human-induced change in global or regional climate patterns largely attributed to carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels. This began in the 19th century as a result of the Industrial Revolution where an overwhelming amount of fossil fuels were burnt.
Brief History and Today
19th century Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius made explicit of the global influence carbon dioxide has on temperature, having stated:
“By the influence of the increasing percentage of carbonic acid in the atmosphere, we may hope to enjoy ages with more equable and better climates, especially as regards the colder regions of the earth, ages when the earth will bring forth much more abundant crops than at present, for the benefit of rapidly propagating mankind.”
Exercising this statement would result in more crop failures than successes, especially to the ambience surrounding today’s knowledge of global warming. The term ‘climate change’ is seemingly more appropriate, since changes can also occur, for example, to precipitation patterns and extreme weather events, not only temperature. This can cause a staggering amount of crop failures, leading to famine.
According to NASA, scientists predict that emissions could add 15 inches to the sea level by 2100. This would drown cities such as New York, Jakarta and Venice, with the United Nations predicting up to 1 billion environmental migrants by 2050.
Is it too late?
Despite calls for action, NASA believes: “Even if we stop emitting greenhouse gases today, global warming would continue to happen for at least several more decades, if not centuries.”
The conclusion would be discouraging for individuals hoping to improve their lives, yet if we continue emitting, the impacts felt would be greatly magnified. Last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report, where “extreme sea level events that occur once per century in the recent past are projected to occur at least once per year at many locations by 2050 in all scenarios.”
However, scientists predict rise greater than two metres by the end of this century in the worst-case scenario.
The importance of inhibiting our emissions becomes apparent: we want to lessen the inevitable.
What is the solution?
There is a plethora of solutions already, but the determining factor for making these successful, lies in people’s motivation to act. According to the charity Keep Britain Tidy, more than two million pieces of litter are dropped in the UK per day. With this commitment, it is difficult to predict how people will support climate change.
People will need to be vigilant towards climate change as it will happen sooner, with effects worsening if we do not. Climate change is a pandemic in its own entirety, which will kill millions from extreme weather, famine and new diseases.
How many people should we sacrifice?
Hopefully, this week’s Climate Week will serve as a notable reminder for the uncertain intensity of the challenges ahead. It is not “too late”.
Cover image by © Cameron Strandberg