Climate Change: A Global Crisis Demanding Urgent Action
Introduction: Climate change is a heightening worldwide threat that presents critical dangers to the climate, biological systems, and human progress overall. The speedy increase of industrialization, deforestation, and the consuming of petroleum derivatives have added to the ascent of ozone harming substance emanations, prompting a climb in worldwide temperatures and a horde of adverse results.
In developed countries, such events cause wide-ranging damage to property and infrastructure, injury and, in some illustrations, loss of life.
The death loop from extreme weather disasters is often greater in developing countries, where events like severe storms, floods or droughts may also destroy housing, threaten food supplies and access to clean water, and deprive people of their livelihoods.
These weather-related disasters are predicted to become more frequent and severe with climate change and have obvious implications for the realization of fundamental human rights.
Rights–Climate Change
We momentarily study the developing worldwide acknowledgment of basic human rights-climate change linkages in the United Nations (UN) common liberties framework and under the global climate change regime.
In any case, affirmation of the potential for climate change to influence the happiness regarding basic liberties doesn’t make an interpretation of promptly into a solid lawful case for rights violation.
Early claims that looked to consider public and private entertainers responsible for rights violations in light of climate change-related hurt have confronted various obstacles that will keep on being relevant for future efforts at privilege-based climate change case.
Recognition of the Human Rights–Climate Change Linkage
It is only relatively recently that the relationship between climate change and human rights has become a sustained focus of international law and policy making. The issue of human rights–climate change linkages was first taken up by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in 2008.
Council Resolution 7/23 expressed the body’s concern that ‘climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world and has implications for the full enjoyment of human rights. At the same time, the HRC commissioned the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a study on human rights and climate change.
Rate of climate change time:
The rate of climate change can be measured by the increase in global temperature over time. According to the search results, the rate of increase in global temperature has been roughly 0.14°F per decade (or 0.08°C per decade) since 1880.
However, the average rate of increase since 1981 has been more than twice as fast, at 0.32°F (or 0.18°C) per decade. The majority of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15 to 0.20°C per decade.
The global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.08°C (or 0.14°F) per decade since 1880 and over twice that rate (0.18°C / 0.32°F) since 1981. Since 1970, the global average temperature has been rising at a rate of 1.7°C per century
Causes of Climate Change: Human activities have intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing an imbalance in the Earth’s climate system. The unnecessary arrival of ozone harming substances traps more heat in the environment, prompting an Earth-wide temperature boost and environmental change. Perceiving these human causes is essential for creating systems to reduce emissions, progress to cleaner energy sources, and mitigate the effects of environmental change.
1.Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, for energy production, transportation (primarily gasoline and diesel), and industrial processes releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat, contributing to the warming of the planet leading to global warming.
2.Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The transportation sector accounts for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to CO2, transportation activities produce other greenhouse gases, such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These emissions result from incomplete fuel combustion, fuel evaporation, and chemical reactions during the fuel production and distribution process.
3.Deforestation: Trees are the environmental buffers. Large-scale deforestation, primarily for housing or industrial purposes results in the loss of trees, which are essential for absorbing CO2 through photosynthesis. As forests are cleared, the carbon stored in trees is released into the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect.
4Industrial Processes: Industrial activities, including manufacturing, mining, and construction, release greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases are emitted during the extraction and production of raw materials, the operation of machinery, and the disposal of waste.
5.Growing Vehicle Fleet: The transportation sector plays a significant role in climate change due to its substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The increasing number of vehicles on the roads globally exacerbates emissions.
As populations grow and economies develop, the demand for personal vehicles and freight transportation rises, leading to more greenhouse gas emissions. Urban sprawl, where cities expand geographically, leads to longer shuttles and increased reliance on private vehicles. This contributes to higher fuel utilization and emissions. inefficient driving examples, with numerous people driving alone in vehicles, further escalate the environmental impact of transportation.
6.Infrastructure Design: The design of transportation framework can impact discharges. Deficient public transportation frameworks, absence of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, and lacking multi-purpose associations lead to a more prominent dependence on private vehicles, bringing about additional emissions.
7.Inefficient Modes of Transport: Some modes of transport are more energy-intensive and emit higher levels of carcinogenic pollutants and poisonous gases than others. For example, air travel is particularly carbon-intensive compared to rail or public transportation. Large cargo ships and heavy-duty trucks also consume significant amounts of fuel, resulting in higher emissions per unit of transport.
8.Agriculture: Agricultural practices contribute to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases. Livestock farming, particularly cattle and sheep, produces methane through enteric fermentation (digestive process) and manure management. Additionally, the use of synthetic fertilizers and certain farming practices, such as rice cultivation and burning crop residues, release nitrous oxide. These chemicals can produce acid rain on condensing with clouds and pour on to the earth causing the ecosystem to be polluted.
9.Land Use Changes: Converting forests, meadows, and other regular biological systems into rural land, metropolitan regions, or foundation adjust the Earth’s surface and releases stored carbon into the atmosphere. Land-use changes likewise upset environments, decreasing their ability to assimilate CO2 and expanding vulnerability to climate impacts.
Waste Management: Improper waste management, such as inadequate landfill practices and the decomposition of organic waste in anaerobic conditions, produces methane emissions. Landfills and wastewater treatment facilities are significant sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
10.Industrial and Residential Emissions: The use of fossil fuel-based energy for heating, cooling, and electricity in industries, homes, and commercial buildings contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Inefficient energy consumption and reliance on non-renewable energy sources exacerbate the problem.
The Chloro- Floro Carbons (CFCs) which are emitted by refrigerators and air conditioners contribute in the ozone depletion and thus allow radiations od sun to come to the Earth and cause various issues.
Impacts of Climate Change: The consequences of climate change are far-reaching and pose threats to various aspects of life on Earth.
Ecosystems: The loss of biodiversity is another critical impact of climate change, as ecosystems struggle to adapt to rapid changes in temperature and habitat loss. Climate change affects ecosystems and biodiversity. It can cause habitat loss, species extinction, and changes in the timing of seasonal events such as migration and flowering
Extreme weather events: Climate change can cause more frequent and severe heat waves, droughts, floods, and storms. These events can result in property damage, loss of life, and displacement of people.
Wildfire: Intense heat waves can initiate fire in the forests. Wildfires are huge disaster to the ecosystem, natural habitat, food chain and economy of a country.
Human health: Climate change can impact human health by worsening air and water quality, increasing the spread of certain diseases, and altering the frequency or intensity of extreme weather events. Warmer temperatures increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves, which can pose health risks, particularly for young children and the elderly
Agriculture: Climate change can affect food production by reducing crop yields, changing the timing of planting, flowering and harvesting, and increasing the risk of pests and diseases
Water resources: Climate change can cause changes in precipitation patterns, leading to more frequent and severe droughts and floods. This can impact water availability for drinking, irrigation, and other uses.
Sea level rise: Climate change is causing sea levels to rise, which can lead to flooding and erosion of coastal areas, loss of wetlands, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources. The melting of polar ice caps and glaciers contributes to rising sea levels, posing a significant threat to coastal cities and low-lying regions. Climate change has caused increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks, which have made wildfires more numerous and severe
Infrastructure: Climate change can damage infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings, leading to economic losses and disruptions in daily life. For Example the acid rain due to climate change deteriorate the marble of buildings, i.e; Taj Mehal is losing its exterior due to acid rain.
Efforts to transition towards more sustainable alternatives: Addressing climate change requires collective and immediate action from governments, corporate sectors, and individuals.
1.Alternative Fuels and Energy Sources: Investing in the development and adoption of low-carbon and renewable fuels, such as biofuels, hydrogen, and advanced supportable aviation fuels, can help reduce emissions from different modes of transportation. This helps in transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2.Agricultural practices: Embracing maintainable agricultural practices, for example, accuracy cultivating and agroforestry, can assist with relieving climate change by decreasing discharges from the horticulture area and advancing carbon sequestration in soils. Saving and restoring forests are crucial in absorbing carbon dioxide from the climate and protecting biodiversity.
3.Worldwide participation and arrangements, similar to the Paris Agreement, are critical in tending to climate change on a worldwide scale. Governments should cooperate to set aggressive discharge decrease targets and offer help to agricultural countries in their progress to low-carbon economies.
4.Behavioral Changes: Promoting carpooling, ride-sharing, and telecommuting options can help decrease the number of vehicles on the road and reduce emissions from transportation.
5.Policy and Regulations: Implementing policies and regulations that encourage fuel efficiency, emissions standards, and the use of sustainable transportation can provide incentives for individuals and industries to adopt greener practices.
6.Sustainable Urban Planning: Designing cities and communities with compact, mixed-use development, prioritizing public transportation networks, and integrating cycling and pedestrian infrastructure can promote efficient and sustainable transportation options.
7.Improved Public Transportation: Enhancing public transportation systems, expanding their reach, and increasing their affordability can encourage more people to use them, reducing the number of private vehicles on the road and lowering emissions.
8.Waste management: Industrial waste of household waste gases must be managed properly before exposing in the air. There should be chimneys or filters which filter out the poisonous gases before letting them in the air.
9.Active Transportation and Non-Motorized Modes: Encouraging walking, cycling, and the use of other non-motorized transportation modes can reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based vehicles for short-distance trips and help decrease emissions.
Conclusion: Climate change is an existential danger that requires quick and deliberate activity at all levels. By progressing to environment friendly power, carrying out economical practices, and advancing global participation, we can relieve the impacts of climate change and protect our planet for people in the future.
However, there isn’t a moment to spare, and earnest measures should be taken to check ozone harming substance and greenhouse gases discharges in order to adapt to the changing climate.
It’s our aggregate responsibility to focus on the battle against climate change and make an economical and strong future for all. Diminishing carbon impressions through way of life changes, like utilizing public transportation, decreasing waste, and consuming reasonably, can add to a greener future.
References
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2047102517000292
