Global warming, Greenhouse Effects and Catastrophic impact on our World

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that helps regulate the temperature of Earth's surface. It occurs when certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapors, trap some of the heat that radiates from the planet's surface and prevent it from escaping into space. These gases are called greenhouse gases because they act like a blanket around Earth, keeping it warmer than it would be otherwise. The greenhouse effect is essential for life on Earth, as it maintains a suitable climate for living organisms. However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and causing global warming. Global warming is the rise in average temperature of Earth's surface and oceans due to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Global warming has many negative impacts on the environment, such as melting ice caps, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity, extreme weather events, droughts, floods, heat waves, wildfires, ocean acidification, coral bleaching and infectious diseases. These impacts threaten the health, security and well-being of humans and other living beings. Global warming also exacerbates existing social and environmental problems, such as poverty, inequality, conflict, migration and displacement.

What would be the effects of global warming in the next decade on the world in tangible terms?

Global warming is the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system. It is caused by the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture. Global warming has already affected every region on Earth, in multiple ways, and the changes will become more severe with additional warming.

According to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the authoritative body of scientists who assess the state of knowledge on climate change, unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5°C or even 2°C will be beyond reach. The report shows that emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are responsible for approximately 1.1°C of warming since 1850-1900, and finds that averaged over the next 20 years, global temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5°C of warming.

Why is 1.5°C of warming important? Because it is the threshold that scientists have identified as the limit to avoid the most dangerous and irreversible impacts of climate change. At 1.5°C of warming, scientists have found, the risks of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods and storms, will increase significantly. The impacts will also vary across regions and populations, with some being more vulnerable than others. For example, at 1.5°C of warming, some low-lying islands and coastal areas will face sea level rise that could threaten their existence. Some ecosystems, such as coral reefs and Polar Regions, will face high risks of irreversible loss. Some crops and livestock will face reduced yields and quality, affecting food security and livelihoods. Some diseases and health problems will become more widespread and severe, especially for children, elderly and poor people.

The effects of global warming in the next decade will depend on how much we can reduce our emissions now and in the future. If we can achieve net zero emissions by 2050, which means that we balance the amount of greenhouse gases we emit with the amount we remove from the atmosphere, we can limit warming to 1.5°C or close to it. This would require a rapid and drastic shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydro power. It would also require changes in other sectors, such as transport, industry, agriculture and forestry. It would also require cooperation and solidarity among nations, especially between developed and developing countries.

If we fail to reduce our emissions sufficiently, we could face a much hotter future, with warming reaching 2°C or more by the end of the century. This would have devastating consequences for people and nature, such as more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, floods and storms; more sea level rise and coastal erosion; more loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services; more food insecurity and malnutrition; more water scarcity and conflicts; more displacement and migration; more disease outbreaks and deaths; and more economic losses and social inequalities.

The choice is ours: we can act now to limit global warming to 1.5°C or close to it, or we can face a much hotter and harsher world in the next decade and beyond.

Global warming is one of the most urgent challenges facing humanity and the planet. It refers to the long-term rise of the average temperature near the surface of Earth, which has serious consequences for the environment and human well-being. In this blog post, we will explore what are the main causes of global warming, what are its effects and impacts, and what are some possible solutions to address this problem.

The main cause of global warming is the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly due to human activities. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), trap some of the heat radiated by the Earth and prevent it from escaping to space. This creates a greenhouse effect that warms the planet. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen by about 50% since the pre-industrial era, reaching over 410 parts per million (ppm) in 2021. The main sources of CO2 emissions are burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industry, as well as deforestation and land use change. Methane is another potent greenhouse gas that is emitted by livestock, rice cultivation, landfills, and natural gas production. Nitrous oxide is released by fertilizers, industrial processes, and combustion. CFCs are synthetic chemicals that were widely used in refrigeration, aerosols, and solvents until they were banned due to their harmful effects on the ozone layer.

The effects and impacts of global warming are already visible and will become more severe in the future if no action is taken. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global average surface temperature has increased by 1.07 °C (1.9 °F) between 1850 and 2019, and is projected to rise by 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) or more by 2100 under high emission scenarios. This warming has caused changes in weather patterns, such as more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, floods, storms, and wildfires. It has also affected the cryosphere, melting glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice, and raising sea levels by about 20 cm (8 inches) since 1900. The oceans have also warmed, acidified, and lost oxygen, threatening marine ecosystems and fisheries. Global warming has also impacted biodiversity, causing shifts in species distributions, phenology, and interactions, as well as extinctions. Moreover, global warming has serious implications for human health, food security, water availability, migration, conflict, and economic development.

The solutions to global warming require collective action at local, national, and international levels. The main goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sinks to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2 °C (3.6 °F), preferably 1.5 °C (2.7 °F), above pre-industrial levels. This can be achieved by transitioning to low-carbon energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, and bioenergy; improving energy efficiency and conservation; promoting sustainable transportation modes such as public transit, cycling, electric vehicles; adopting smart land use practices such as reforestation, afforestation, agroforestry; implementing carbon capture and storage technologies; and encouraging behavioral changes such as reducing consumption, waste, and meat intake. Additionally, adaptation measures are needed to cope with the unavoidable impacts of global warming that are already occurring or projected to occur. These include enhancing resilience of infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities; improving disaster risk management; diversifying livelihoods; strengthening social protection; and supporting research and innovation.

Global warming is a complex and multifaceted problem that requires urgent action from all stakeholders: governments, businesses, civil society organizations

Top ten countries contributing towards global warming with % of pollution?

Global warming is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity and the planet today. It is caused by the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which trap heat and raise the average temperature of the Earth. The main sources of greenhouse gases are fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, which are burned for energy and transportation. Other sources include agriculture, deforestation and industrial processes.

According to the Global Carbon Project, which tracks and estimates global carbon emissions, the top ten countries that contributed the most to global warming in 2020 are as under;

1. China: 28% of global emissions

2. United States: 15% of global emissions

3. India: 7% of global emissions

4. Russia: 5% of global emissions

5. Japan: 3% of global emissions

6. Brazil: 2% of global emissions

7. Indonesia: 2% of global emissions

8. Iran: 2% of global emissions

9. Germany: 2% of global emissions

10. Canada: 2% of global emissions

These ten countries accounted for about 73% of the total global emissions in 2020, which was estimated to be around 34 billion tones of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). However, this does not mean that these countries are equally responsible for global warming, as there are other factors to consider, such as:

- The historical emissions of each country, which have accumulated over time and have a long-lasting impact on the climate system.

- The per capita emissions of each country, which reflect the average contribution of each individual to global warming.

- The consumption-based emissions of each country, which account for the emissions embedded in the goods and services that are imported and exported.

For example, while China is the largest emitter in absolute terms, its per capita emissions are still lower than those of the United States and many European countries. On the other hand, while Canada is the tenth largest emitter in absolute terms, its per capita emissions are among the highest in the world. Moreover, while some countries may have low domestic emissions, they may have high consumption-based emissions due to their reliance on imported goods and services from high-emitting countries.

Therefore, to get a more comprehensive and fair picture of each country's contribution to global warming, it is important to look at different metrics and perspectives, and not just focus on one single indicator. It is also crucial that all countries work together to reduce their emissions and limit the rise of global temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, as agreed in the Paris Agreement.