Climate change

The science of global warming is very clear and the current situation is urgent. Human activities are filling our atmosphere with gases that trap heat. The changes in the climate system of our planet is already having serious impacts. Heat waves, forest fires and heavy downpours are intensifying every day. The level of the sea rises and will continue for many years. We are facing a fight to significantly reduce global emissions in order to reduce the risk of exceeding critical thresholds in the climate system that could have profound consequences.and irreversible . The actions we take now will affect all life on Earth for thousands of years. If we do not act quickly, we risk leaving our children a problem that they will not be able to solve.

What is climate change?

When we talk about climate change, it is very important to define two concepts that are closely related to each other, the first one is climate change and the other is global warming.  The main difference lies in the fact that it is global warming that causes climate change, in other words, the increase in the temperature of the planet caused by emissions into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases that come from human activity, the Which produce variations in the climate that would not occur naturally.

Climate change is a change that occurs in the way in which the statistical distribution of weather patterns occurs over a long period of time . The term can also be used to refer to a change in average weather conditions or the temporal change in long-term average conditions .

features

The main characteristics of climate change are the following:

• Climate change is a global change that affects all beings that inhabit the planet.
• It cannot be easily predicted .
• It has a high percentage of inertia so its effects will last for years.
• It is scientifically proven and is considered a cumulative phenomenon .
• Its effects are irreversible .

Evidence of climate change

The main evidence we have of climate change is the increase that has occurred in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. There is also some evidence related to sea ​​level , with the intensity with which meteorological phenomena occur and there have also been some changes in ecosystems .

Causes

Natural causes

• Movement of tectonic plates : produces the birth of mountains and moves the earth influencing temperature, rainfall and climate.
• Changes in the inclination of the axis of the Earth: the Earth ‘s axis is responsible for determining regions receiving more or less radiation during the seasons.
• Volcanic eruptions : they spew gases such as sulfur dioxide, which causes the lower atmosphere to cool; the CO2 released is known as a greenhouse gas.
• Variations in solar radiation : radiation can heat or cool the planet.

Anthropogenic causes

These causes are all having the ability to release huge amounts of gases effect gases due to human activities . When these gases accumulate in the atmosphere, they prevent solar radiation from leaving it, trapping heat producing the greenhouse effect , which produces climate change.

Consequences

Some of the consequences that occur with climate change are the following:

• Thaw production and sea ​​level rise .
• Melting of ice sheets at the poles and glaciers causing flooding and erosion along the coasts.
• Conditions weather extreme causing flooding and deteriorating water quality.
• Increased number of heat waves , forest fires and droughts .
• In northern Europe it is becoming more humid and there could be more floods in winter.
• In developing countries there are fewer resources to cope with climate change.
• Deaths due to high temperatures and in others, due to cold .
• Changes are observed in the distribution of some waterborne diseases .
• High costs for society and the economy .
• The agriculture , the forestry , the energy and tourism are hurt.
• Risks to nature , flora and fauna . Several terrestrial, marine and freshwater species have moved to other habitats.

Prevention

The preventive measures to prevent climate change should be at international level and must be a commitment to reduce emissions in all countries, especially those that are developed as are the greater amount of gases produced. Several agreements have been created between countries to combat climate change, such as the Kyoto protocol , the Paris Summit and others. Countries have proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions , use renewable energy , reduce energy consumption in buildings and houses.

Adaptation to climate change

There are some adaptation measures for climate change that consist of a group of actions that help reduce vulnerability to its consequences. Among them we can mention the following:

• Construction of facilities and infrastructure works that are safer.
• Landscape restoration and forest reforestation .
• Creation of crops that are more flexible and varied to prepare for natural disasters.
• Research and development on possible catastrophes, study on temperature behavior, etc.
• Preparation of prevention and precautionary measures .

Future

As time passes, it is more common to see the effects of climate change in the world. More waves of heat and intense tropical storms cause more and more damage with the passage of time. According to scientific studies, natural disasters are increasing, waves of cold , heat , forest fires , droughts and floods are daily bread. The climate change is one of the major threats to the health of man in this century and if not taken measures of prevention effective and adequate, the world will be in danger in a very few years.