Many of you may have heard about climate change, maybe sometimes through television news, talking to your parents or people around you. Ever wondered what it is and why we care so much about it? Today in News 18’s class, we will simplify climate change for you, explain the hype around it and why it is important to know about it.
Let us first understand what climate is and how it differs from weather. So the season is only temporary. For example, a blizzard can turn into a flood after a few warm spring days. On the other hand, climate is more than just a few hot or cold days. Climate describes the typical weather conditions in an entire region over a very long period of time – 30 years or more.
What is climate change?
Climate change is described as a change in a region’s typical weather—such as high and low temperatures and the amount of precipitation—over a long period of time.
The Earth has been under scientific observation for a very long time. Scientists collect a wide variety of data about Earth’s land, atmosphere, oceans and ice using NASA satellites and other instruments. According to this knowledge, the climate on Earth is getting warmer. Scientists have observed that, overall, the Earth is warming. In fact, many of the warmest years on record have occurred in the last 20 years. This increase in global temperature is sometimes referred to as global warming.
Now you must be wondering what is global warming and how does it happen? Like the glass walls and roof of a greenhouse, certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere act as heat-trapping agents. These greenhouse gases maintain a comfortable temperature on Earth. However, human activities such as deforestation and burning of fossil fuels increase greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the Earth heats up, which traps more heat from the Sun.
However, this time is different. Over millions of years, Earth’s climate has warmed and cooled many times. In the past, the Earth often warmed when the Sun was very active. But nowadays, we can carefully measure the Sun’s activity. We know that the Earth is warming now even though the Sun is less active. Today, the planet is warming much faster than in human history.
Over the past century, the average air temperature close to Earth’s surface has increased by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit. In a century, a few degrees may not seem like much. However, this change could have a significant impact on the health of plants and animals on Earth.
What does climate change do to the ocean?
NASA has noted that sea levels are rising as the Earth warms. Melting of ice is also responsible for this to some extent. Large icebergs resting on land are called glaciers and ice sheets. As our world warms, this ice melts and flows into the oceans. Due to the filling of more water in the oceans, the sea level rises. Additionally, water expands when heated. As a result, warmer water occupies more space in our oceans, causing sea level to rise. It is not just limited to rising water levels, as the effects of global warming and subsequent climate change are also causing ocean acidification.
Scientists have observed that ocean acidity is increasing as a result of water’s absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
In short, climate change is changing lives, environmental patterns and the future, and it will have the worst impact on the lives of the next generation. This is why it is important to know about it and work towards reducing it.
What is COP27?
For nearly three decades, the United Nations has been bringing together almost every country on Earth for a global climate summit – known as the COP – which means ‘Conference of the Parties’. In that time climate change has gone from a minor issue to a global priority. This year was the 27th annual summit – named COP27, which was held in Egypt.
Interestingly, this year, the COP27 agreement set out financial requirements for climate action for the first time. It states that if the net zero target of 2050 is to be achieved, around $4 trillion will need to be invested every year in the renewable energy sector by 2030.
Developed countries have said that starting in 2023, they will guarantee the flow of $100 billion. Additionally, to make it easier for developing countries to access funding for climate action, the COP27 agreement urged international financial institutions to streamline their processes and objectives.
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