The Eco Nut - Edition 5

HARA JEEVAN PRESENTS

Climate change - Biggest threat modern humans have ever faced

Edition - V

Jan 24, 2022 www.harajeevan.org

ABOUT US Hara Jeevan is an environment-based non-profit organization established in 2015. Primarily, we work for the betterment of our environment and try to rebuild it. HJ NGO has also helped people realizing the need for the conservation of flora and fauna.

Our Vision Restoration of natural elements and improved human psyche for complimenting the cause.

Our Mission Projects Hara Vidyalaya - Sensitizing our future generation towards nature and initiating effort to make schools as zero waste zones.

Restoration of water bodies - Creating a self sustainable water reservoir by restoring original water source and implement rain water harvesting methods.

Zero waste zones - Creating more and more such zones, and making our earth clean, hygienic, and waste free.

To plant and help sustain 100 million trees by 2040.

To help process waste to its respective roots, an amount equivalent to 50% of Delhi's waste by 2025.

To work practically with youth helps develop their environmental consciousness.

Achievements Planted 10,545 trees and 76K seed balls were spread throughout the region, aiming to increase the green cover.

Work with young minds and create awareness.

Awarded as 2nd best NGO by North Delhi MCD in their Model Ward Segregation Campaign.

Works on waste management.

EDITOR'S NOTE I am Mowrin Jenisha S, editor of "The Eco Nut" Emagazine, launched by Hara Jeevan. Our organization works on creating awareness among the people about the environment and environmental issues. In this edition, our group members researched hard to create awareness about climatic change. We also concentrated on major factors that ct as the threat to humankind. As we all know, the world has already faced mass extinctions in the past. It is saddening to see climate change being the next. The 5th edition of "The Eco Nut" E-magazine discusses the wider aspects based on climate change, demerits caused to the environment, how to overcome climate change, and its precautions. A small step today can be a leap for the survival of mankind.

-Mowrin Jenisha S

OUR TEAM

Manisha Saini, CEO

Mowrin Jenisha S, Editor

Akshara A, Copyeditor & Graphic designer

Husaina S, Associate Editor

Peer Mohammed Mubeen S, Creative Director

Gayathri Nithi, Picture Editor

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Kishore Nithin Jacob A

Harish B

Azif

Dani Deril I

CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS

Akshara A

Saloni Srivastava

Priya Dharshini I

S A Yazhini

Ashick A

Anoop J Kumar

Gavya M B

Husaina S

Angel Shefrine T

Archana Jayalakshmi S V

Aparna D

Divya S

Vidhya S

Ancy M

Varshaa A M

Brenish E S Das

Jerin Ancy N

LET'S GET STARTED

TABLE OF

Climate crisis| Definition, causes, & precautions How does climate affect physical geography?

How does climate change cause coastal flooding?

Does climate change cause coral bleaching?

What is carbon cycle, and how it gets affected by climate change?

How does climate change affect sea level rising?

How does heat affect climate change?

How does climate change cause migration?

How does climate change cause soil degradation?

Does climate change affect energy security?

The Great Barrier Reef is a victim of climate change – Explain How does climate change affect glaciers?

How does the ocean affect climate and weather on land?

How is the Arctic affected by climate change?

How do human activities contribute to climate change?

What are the possible causes of long-term natural climate change?

Solutions to solve climate change – Explain How does greenhouse gases affect the climate change?

How does climate change cause droughts and floods?

Does deforestation contribute to climate change?

How does climate change affect plant biodiversity?

Climate risk management (CRM) – Elaborate How to protect coastal areas from the impacts of climate change?

Does climate change cause mass extinction?

How does climate change cause wildfires?

What is the impact of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation?

One of the major problems in today’s time is climate change. It is the defining crisis of our time. It is the long-term change of temperature and weather patterns in a place.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out in

September, “the climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win.” Climate change causes rising temperatures that are natural disasters, weather extremes, food and water insecurity, economic disruption, conflict, terrorism, environmental degradation, etc.

Climate crisis| Definition, causes, & precautions -SALONI SRIVASTAVA

Causes of Climate Change Oil and gas- Mostly used in vehicles, buildings, production and to produce electricity. When we burn coal, oil, and gases then it becomes the main cause of climate change.

Deforestation- It means the clearance of woods or forests. Cutting down trees for the wood or to create space for farms or ranches. When the trees are cleared, then the stored Carbon Dioxide is released into the environment leading the climate change.

Waste- Humans create more waste because of the amount of packaging used daily. A lot of items and waste cannot be recycled which means they end up in landfills. When landfills decompose thereby release harmful gases into the environment which leads to global warming.

Power Plants- To operate power plants, burning fossil fuels is necessary which produces a variety of pollutants. This largely contributes to global warming.

Oil Drilling- It is responsible for 30% of methane pollution. Used to collect petroleum in this process, other gases are released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Transport and Vehicles- Transportation is done through cars, planes, trains, and boats. Vehicles depend on fossil fuels to run. The burning of fossil fuels releases pollutants thereby making it responsible for greenhouse gases.

Consumerism- Due to the manufacturing of more and more products, consumers can purchase any product at any time. Most items aren’t very sustainable which creates more waste thereby causing climate change.

Farming- To create space for farming, local environments can be destroyed.

Factory farming is responsible for climate change.

Industrialization- The industries release more chemicals and materials which pollute the environment which leads to climate change.

Overfishing- Fish is one of the main sources of protein. There is a reduced amount of marine life, due to the number of people buying and consuming fish. This leads to climate change.

Precautions Urge the government to take bold climate action.

Turn off the lights and pull out the plug of computers, TVs, and other electronic devices when not in use.

Change to energy-efficient light bulbs.

Eat meat-free meals especially fish.

Buy organic whenever possible.

Take public transport or prefer walking till where it’s possible.

Consume less, waste less.

Educate yourself and others and make people aware of the increasing climate crisis.

Use renewable energy.

Don’t use plastics.

Encourage people to plant more and more trees.

Avoid products with a lot of packaging.

18

HOW DOES CLIMATE AFFECT PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY?

-SALONI SRIVASTAVA

The effects include melting of glaciers, rising sea levels due to thermal expansion, and warming of the ocean surface. These effects have a great impact on the Earth’s air currents, Earth’s reflectivity, and rate of evaporation. Melting of ice sheets and glaciers refers to the rising of sea levels. Global warming causes climate change, which poses a serious threat to life on Earth in the form of flooding. Social and economic systems get affected due to some of the physical impacts. Climate change is brought about by the use of fossil fuels which leads to greenhouse gases. The blanket stratosphere of the Earth gets affected by the interference of the greenhouse gases that is also responsible for repelling heat rays from the sun. There is overwhelming evidence from research institutions indicating that climate change is real and is caused by humans. If there’s little change in the Earth’s temperature then it can have adverse effects on the environment. There are more storms due to the warming ocean temperatures. Additional rainfalls can lead to damaging floods.

Some geographical events which are happening nowShrinking Island Nations- Islands are the tip of the mountain ranges on the seafloor. They are not meant to float. Rising seas levels could erode some of the popular islands we know.

Disappearing of snow from the top of the mountains- 90% of the Ice on Africa’s tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro has just disappeared somewhere. The rate of disappearance of ice has been doubled since 1970 and is still going on.

Retreating Glaciers on National ParksMontana’s Glacier National Park is known as a great hiking destination. However, these glaciers are in full retreat.

Climate Change is increasing day by day and becoming a cancerous growth to the atmosphere. Kindly do follow preventive measures to fight the climatic changes in the environment!

...

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSE COASTAL FLOODING?

...

-Ashick A

Climate change can influence coastal regions in a variety of manners. Coasts are susceptible to sea-level elevation, shifts in the frequency and vigor of cyclones, expansions in precipitation, and warmer ocean temperatures.

Furthermore, increasing atmospheric concentrations of CO2 are provoking the seas to soak more of the gas and evolve more acidic. This rising acidity can have consequential influences on the shore and aquatic ecosystems. The consequences of climate change are assumable to exacerbate troubles that coastal areas already encounter. Encountering existing challenges that impact man-made infrastructure and nearshore ecosystems, such as shoreline corrosion, nearshore flooding, and water contamination, it is obvious that we already have problems in multiple zones.

Discoursing the extra strain of climate change may demand renewed strategies to address land, water, debris, and ecosystems.

Coastal zones are also vulnerable to expansions in the vigor of cyclone overflow and heavy precipitation. Cyclone surges deluge low-lying regions, harm possessions, disrupt transport systems, eliminate habitat, and endanger human health and protection.

Climate change is presumably to get more serious rainfall to some coastal provinces, which would also boost runoff and flooding.

Further, enlargements in spring runoff caused by to rise in temperature may also jeopardize the health and rate of coastal waters.

DOES CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSE CORAL BLEACHING? -Ashick A Yes, the ultimate reason for coral bleaching is climate change!

Coral bleaching happens when corals are feared by a shift in environmental circumstances, like unusual rise in ocean temperature, sea-level rise, and so on.

Corals majorly respond by bouncing the symbiotic algae, which live in their tissues, and then pivot to complete white. The symbiotic algae, called zooxanthellae, are photosynthetic and nourish their host coral with nutrition in return for safeness. Their existence provides the corals with a unique brown shade, and fluorescent colorants produced by the host add resonant colors that depict corals.

Sensitive or protracted stressful environmental circumstances like unusual weather changes, climatic changes leading to the fluctuation in ocean temperature, and others, compel

a

symbiotic

meltdown

in

relationship,

this sooner

exposing the fluorescent pigments and then exiting the white calcium carbonate

frame

observable

through the coral tissue. Bleached corals

can

no

longer

acquire

energy from photosynthesis, and if bleaching

continues

comprehensive

for

duration,

a

corals

will starve and perish. For those that endure, bleaching can weaken the

corals’

dimensions

energy that

aid

to

the

corals

do

not

multiply for one or two years. The hazard to corals enlarges, as the bleaching more

occurrences

systematic

become

because

have no period to recuperate.

they

What is carbon cycle, and how it gets affected by climate change?

- Jerin Ancy N (The carbon cycle depicts the process in which carbon atoms continuously transit from the atmosphere to the Earth and then back into the atmosphere. Since our globe and its surroundings create a sealed environment, the quantity of carbon in this system does not modify.)

Historically, our planet’s land and oceans have served as principal ‘sinks’ in the global carbon cycle, jointly with soaking about half of the global carbon emissions. Unfortunately, their carbon sequestering significance is rapidly declining as temperatures increase, to the period that carbon residues on the ground may become net greenhouse gas emitters by mid-century if climate guidelines stay unaltered.

Most carbon on the ground is sealed up in tropical rainforests, peatlands, and permafrost. While higher CO2 concentrations originally encourage vegetation development by stimulating photosynthesis.

However,

these

advantages

are

rapidly

overpowered by declining soil dampness amid advancing temperatures, provoking plants to exhaust and die. Comprehensive reforestation or carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) are generally suggested as alleviation techniques to neutralize our carbon footprint, however, neither path can serve as a silver bullet for anthropogenic climate change by itself, unless the root causes of human-induced carbon emissions are fundamentally addressed.

How does climate change affect sea level rising?

Angel Shefrine T

A warming climate will cause H2O to expand and frost over the land to soften, each of which might cause an increase in water level. Global warming is creating a huge impact everywhere throughout the world. First, glaciers and ice sheets worldwide will melt, adding water to the ocean. Second, due to the previously discussed melting stuff, the sea level keeps elevating. A third, abundant but smaller contributor to water level rise may be a declining quantity of liquid water on land—aquifers, lakes and reservoirs, rivers, soil wetness. This shift of liquid water from land to ocean is essential because of groundwater pumping. From the earlier centuries up through the last decade, approximately, melting and warmth level growth was causative roughly equally to determining water level rise. However, the melting of mountain glaciers and ice sheets has accelerated. Antarctic ice lost nearly quadrupled from fifty-one billion tons per annum between 1992 and 2001 to 199 billion tons per annum from 20122016. As a result, the water level raised exceedingly.

Sea level is measured by two main methods: tide gauges and satellite altimeters. Tide gauge stations from around the world have measured the daily high and low tides for over a century, employing a sort of manual and automatic sensors. For the past four decades, the water level has been measured from tide gauges, which confirm the peak of the ocean surface by measuring the comeback speed and intensity of a radiolocation pulse directed at the ocean.

How does heat affect climate change?

-Aparna D Across the world, hot days are getting hotter and more systematic, while we’re encountering fewer cold days. If greenhouse gas emissions are not significantly trimmed, daily high and low temperatures will increase by at least 5 degrees F in most areas by mid-century, rising to 10 degrees F by the late century. The National Climate Assessment estimates 20-30 more days over 90 degrees F in most zones by mid-century. Heatwaves are more frightening when incorporated with high humidity. The combination of temperature and humidity is measured by the heat index. A recent study projects that the annual number of days with a heat index above 100 degrees F will double, and days with a heat index above 105 degrees F will triple, worldwide, when compared to the end of the 20th century.

Threats of climate change Extreme heat can boost the crapshoot of other sorts of disasters. Heat can worsen drought; hot and dry conditions can in turn create wildfire conditions. Buildings, roads, and infrastructures engross heat, leading to temperatures that can be 1 to 7 degrees F hotter in urban zones than remote sites – a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. This impact is most intense during the day, but the slow release of heat from the infrastructure (or an atmospheric heat island) overnight can keep cities much hotter than surrounding areas. Rising temperatures across the country pose a hazard to people, ecosystems, and the economy.

Effects of climate change Human health - Heat stress occurs in humans when the body is unable to cool itself effectively. Normally, the body can cool itself through sweating, but when humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, potentially leading to heatstroke. High humidity and elevated nighttime temperatures are likely key ingredients in causing heat-related illness and mortality. When there’s no break from the heat at night, it can cause discomfort and lead to health problems, especially for those who lack access to cooling, which are often with people who have low incomes. Other groups that are particularly vulnerable to heat stress include older adults, infants and children, people with chronic health conditions, and outdoor workers. Hot days are also associated with an increase in heat-related illnesses, including cardiovascular and respiratory complications

and

kidney

disease.

During

disproportionate

temperatures, air quality is also influenced. Hot and sunny days can increase the production of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant that is the main component of smog, which can damage the respiratory system and is particularly harmful to those with asthma.

In addition, greater use of air conditioning requires more electricity which, depending on the electricity source, emits other types of pollution, including particulates that have an impact on air quality too.

Agriculture - Elevated temperatures can be a damaging factor to agriculture. Plant growth is negatively impacted by high daytime temperatures and some crops require cool night temperatures.

Heatwaves also increase the chances of livestock experiencing heat stress, especially when nighttime temperatures stay elevated and animals are unable to cool off. Heat-stressed cattle can encounter reductions in milk production, sluggisher growth, and reduced conception rates. Heatwaves can worsen droughts and wildfires, which can lead to pessimistic effects on the agriculture sector.

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSE MIGRATION? Akshara A

Climate change is certainly provoking drastic weather occurrences, directing to unheard catastrophes across the world. Yes, climate change is a hazard multiplier!

Henceforward, it can deepen financial insecurity or political fluctuation, which, in turn, may direct migration. In current years, climate change has pushed harsh weather occurrences stronger and more recurring, which may contribute to migration decisions. Not only humans, but some species may also haul readily across geographies or habitats, as warming temperatures and varying ecological states transform their habitat. Less migratory species will vary their disbandment more gradually. Some, such as trees and other plants, will only be able to emigrate through reproduction and seed dispersal. Further, animals and birds that are into both migration and hibernation are susceptible to temperature and other environmental conditions, and with no doubt, climate change poses a challenge to migrating and hibernating species.

Researchers acknowledge that by 2050, more than 200 million individuals will be forced to exit their residences due to drastic and uncontrollable climate change. And those people are referred to as climate migrants or climate refugees. Though many urge for immediate action from common people to governments, still, not everyone is serious about climate change. It is the peak time to act for a cause and find an immediate solution.

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSE SOIL DEGRADATION?

-Anoop J Kumar (Soil degradation is the biological, chemical, and physical deterioration in soil grade. It can be the loss of organic matter, reduction in soil fertility, alteration in the structural state, and others.)

Climate change can have an extremely prominent influence on soils and the processes that soil enacts.

Augmenting corrosion to the land due to climate change will appear in the condition of soil deterioration, desertification, salinization, or thrashing of peat soils,

additionally affecting the ability of soils to sustain the demands of agriculture. Persisting reductions in soil moisture can improve the demand for irrigation in agriculture and direct to more diminutive harvests and even desertification, with potentially dramatic consequences on food production. Shifts in seasonal temperatures can also vary the annual rotations of plants and animals, resulting in more downward yields.

Yet possibly the most significant climate crisis related to soil is the carbon dioxide and methane accumulated in permafrost in boreal areas, especially in Siberia. As the global temperatures advance, the permafrost dissolves.

This thawing provokes the organic material entrapped in the frigid soil to deteriorate, which can direct to the liberation of huge quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which could hence guide to the acceleration of global warming far beyond people’s control.

Does climate change affect energy security?

- Akshara A

Yes, climate change does affect energy security! Climate change could influence

the

quantity

of

water

obtainable to produce electricity. In sites

where

water

is

already

insufficient, a rival for water between energy production and other purposes could rise. Sea level elevation and extreme windstorms could disrupt energy production and delivery by vandalizing electricity infrastructure, fuel

delivery

infrastructure,

and

supplies, power plants, or warehouse structures. Furthermore, skyrocketing worldwide need for energy keeps provoking greenhouse

climategas

transforming emissions

to

dangerously more elevated. Climate change

can

modify

the

energy

production possibility and vitality in terms of demands. For description, modifications to the water cycle have

Warming is likely to rise summer apex electricity need in most parts of the world. Meeting this prime need could demand acquisitions in fresh energy production and allocation infrastructure, and directs to regulate system dependability, which can be more pricey than moderate need

levels.

Increasing

temperatures,

improved

evaporation, and drought may raise the demand for energy-intensive techniques of supplying drinking and irrigation water. For example, desalinization factories can flip saltwater into freshwater, whereas consumes plenty of energy. Climate change may even demand irrigation water to get pumped over long distances, especially in arid

an impact on hydropower, and hotter

areas. Henceforth, excess usage of energy in most cases

temperatures improve the energy

will undoubtedly cause insecurity, which can be overseen

need for chilling in the summer while

by finding newer technologies. If humankind is unable to

declining the need for heating in

encounter a solution, this can be a life-threatening

the winter.

annoyance to the present and future generations!

The Great Barrier Reef is a victim of climate change – Explain -Gavya M B The Great Barrier Reef is the complex of coral reefs, shoals,

Due to climate change, the number of

and islets in the Pacific Ocean. It extends to approximately

tropical cyclones has increased. It is said

a northwest-southeast direction for more than 1,250

that the coral reefs can soften the

miles. Its area is 135,000 square miles. And, it gets evaluated to be the most extensive structure constructed with living creatures. The Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half of its corals as a consequence of increasing ocean temperature due to global warming. Recent research says that there is an approach to unstoppable climate change.

A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that 70 to 90 percent of warm water coral reefs will vanish at 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is also a great destruction to marine ecosystems and the ocean. The planet's largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef, has been damaged by marine heatwaves. A healthy coral reef lies at the heart of the ocean biodiversity.

ocean's fury up to 97 percent. A research study said that coral reef restoration can be a cost-effective way to reduce the hazards due to the combination of storms and sea-level rise.

How does climate change affect glaciers?

-Brenish E S Das Climate change is happening due to natural changes in the earth. Climate change cannot be controlled by humans using devices. But it can be predicted. Climate may affect glaciers for many reasons. Glaciers melt at heat temperature. Heat temperature occurs in the summer season. Glaciers are formed in low-temperature places like mountains, oceans, Antarctica, etc. When glaciers broke into pieces it makes a large vibration. At this time, a large number of glaciers broke down from higher altitudes to lower areas. The lower area is hot from the higher area. So, the broken glaciers would melt and it will transfer into liquid form and join the river or any water bodies. And climate can affect glaciers in this way also. And it will take time to form glaciers again. If there are no glaciers on this whole earth, then the earth’s climate condition would be worse. Because glaciers produce coolness.

If there are no glaciers then the heat from under the earth will be produced in the earth's higher layer of earth. So, it will be too hot in the winter season also. In present days, glaciers melt due to chemical gases which are released from factories, etc.

Not only that these chemical gases travel to a fresh aired place like Antarctica, mountains, etc. And these gases produce a hole in the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

Because of this, the direct sunray produces more heat in this ice-cold area and melts these glaciers in minutes. Henceforth, it is evident that these chemical climate changes can also affect glaciers. Climate change affects glaciers but another time it brings new glaciers in its climate.

HOW DOES THE OCEAN AFFECT CLIMATE AND WEATHER ON LAND? -Anoop J Kumar

The ocean impacts weather and climate by reserving solar radiation, dispersing heat and moisture around the world, and propelling weather systems. Ground zones also engross some sunlight, and the atmosphere permits possessing heat that would otherwise quickly emit into space after nightfall. The oceans exploit climate for overextended and brief time scales.

On the most extended time-scale of the geologic period, the spot of the mainlands helps to specify the oceans' circulation patterns. Since continental plates glide at about five centimeters per year and mountain ranges elevate by about one millimeter, it usually takes millions of years for new land formations to alter the oceans. Patterns of ocean circulation and up-welling can also alter much more rapidly, resulting in climate divagations and oscillations on a human time scale. Histories of global and, in distinct, regional climate show courses prevailing from years to centuries during which the weather was systematically distinguishable from earlier and belated times. Scientists acknowledge that this demeanor is corresponding to modifications in the path that lets the oceans store and transport heat, although the meticulous reasons for these transformations are not always clear.

HOW IS THE ARCTIC AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE? -Gavya M B

The Arctic is three times warmer because melting snow exposes a darker surface and increases the amount of solar energy. The Arctic is characterized by the components consisting of water in the form of glaciers, snow, and ice water. These components form the cryosphere. They are very sensitive to climate change, and it plays an important role in the global climate system.

The change in the Arctic climate is important because it helps in cooling the planet. So it affects the climate of the entire world.

Researchers say that the change in climate leads to further warming. It is difficult to predict the Arctic climate. The effect of this climate change reduces the amount of warming.

Scientists use satellites and computer models to collect data to learn about climate change.

The effects of a warming atmosphere on physical, chemical, biological, and human components of the Arctic ecosystem are accelerating. The warming has caused physical changes from direct effects such as the melting of sea ice to secondary effects such as decreased albedo and coastal erosion, to tertiary effects such as the accelerated warming of the ocean due to feedback loops between different climate factors. The effects of climate change are expected to vary regionally across the Arctic in the degree of seaice loss. Sea-ice loss has already been more extensive in the Pacific sector of the Arctic, leading to concern that ice-obligate species there may decline in number and be forced to adapt as coastal habitats disappear.

How do human activities contribute to climate change?

- S A Yazhini

Human Activities:

Result:

Humans cause climate change by emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. Today, there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there ever has been in at least the past 2 million years. There are so many facts that humans are being the reason for climatic changes - majorly due to CO2 emission, burning fossil fuels, and so on.

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and various chlorofluorocarbons are all human-emitted heat-trapping gases. Among these, carbon dioxide is of greatest concern to scientists because it exerts a larger overall warming influence than the other gases combined can cause and change the climatic resources

Deforestation : Forests release and hold carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Clipping them down means that carbon dioxide builds up instantaneously since there are no trees to absorb it. Not only that, trees release the carbon they stored when we burn them.

The ultimate reason for climate change is human activity and the liberation of greenhouse gases.

Nonetheless, there are lots of natural causes that also direct to differences in the climate system.

Burning fossil fuel: Fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal contain carbon dioxide that has been 'locked away in the ground for thousands of years. When we take these out of the land and burn them, we release the stored carbon dioxide into the air.

What are the possible causes of long-term natural climate change?

-Archana Jayalakshmi S V Climate change is typically described as a variation of moderate weather conditions.

The Earth's climate has altered innately over so considerable years. International researchers and experts confirmed that over 90% of climate change is caused by human beings. The Earth's climate is influenced and changed through natural causes like volcanic eruptions, ocean currents, the Earth's orbital changes, solar variations, and internal variability. Volcanic eruptions pull out lava, carbon dioxide (CO2), ash, and particles, causing a huge variation

in

the

Earth's

temperature.

Studying climate change helps us know how much rain the next winter brings or

Causes

how the sea levels will rise. Definitely,

Burning coal, oil, and gas produced carbon dioxide and

drastic changes in weather and climate can

nitrous oxide.

put lives at risk. Climate change refers to

Cutting down forests (Deforestation).

long-term

Fertilizers containing nitrogen produces and nitrous

shifts

in

temperature

and

weather. It causes many diseases like

oxide emissions

cholera, tuberculosis, bird flu, and so on.

Transport and vehicles.

Increasing the global surface temperature

Humans are increasing the climate and the Earth's

causes more droughts and increases the

temperature by burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests,

intensity of storms. More water vapors

and farming livestock. Both nature and humans influence

evaporate into the atmosphere, and it

the Earth's climatic system. Human activities have

becomes fuel for more powerful storms to

released a large amount of carbon dioxide and other

develop.

changes

greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which has changed

transform global ecosystems. It affects

the Earth's climate. Other possibilities of climate change

everything from the place we live to the

were a warmer & more acidic ocean, elevated sea levels,

water we drink to the air we breathe.

increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks that have

Humans and wild animals face new

increased wildfires.

Further,

climate

challenges because of climate change.

Solutions to solve climate change – Explain -Husaina S

Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather. Climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gas.

The rise of sea level also leads to climatic change. In 2018, the sea level rose nearly 2 inches. The rise of sea level leads to danger in the coastal areas.

The climatic change also increases due to heavy heat. Nowadays, Delhi is facing it because of extreme climatic change.

Ways to solve climatic change

Ways to reduce climate change Global Carbon Project reported that carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuels raised high during 2019.

Compared to the 2018th report, it has increased nearly 0.6%.

Research says that we will face an emission gap of 32 GtCO2e in 2030.

In 2010, the global average temperature was 0.88°C. In 2019 it increased 1.1°C. If the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises, the temperature also rises.

Between 2010 and 2018, it grew to 2.4ppm/yr.

Electricity and heat are powered by coal and gas. Instead of using high electricity, we have to use fewer volt lights such as LED. Vehicles lead to overpollution. We must reduce using high wheel vehicles. Instead of polluting the environment, we can walk, which is a good exercise. Also, we can use bicycles that do not require any type of coal, petroleum.

We have to start consuming more vegetables.

Avoiding non-veg leads to a healthy environment.

We have to avoid traveling by Aeroplane and start traveling by ships. Because Aeroplane releases lots of fossil fuels and also contributes to noise pollution.

We should avoid using plastics. We have to train our minds to implement R3 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) By implementing all the above-mentioned, we can control the drastic climatic change.

How does greenhouse gases affect the climate change?

-Priya Dharshini I By entrapping heat from the sun, greenhouse gases have maintained Earth's climate inhabitable for humans and millions of other species. But those gases are currently out of balance and terrorize to alter drastically in which living things surviving on this planet are at risk. Atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, the most treacherous and predominant greenhouse gas are at the highest levels ever documented. Greenhouse gas levels are so high, primarily, because humans have emitted them into the air by burning fossil fuels. The gases absorb solar energy and keep heat close to Earth's surface, rather than letting it escape into space.

That trapping of heat is known as the greenhouse effect.

The sources of the greenhouse effect idea lie in the 19th century when French mathematician Joseph Fourier estimated in 1824 that the Earth would be much colder if it had no atmosphere. In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius was the first to connect the rise in carbon dioxide gas from burning fossil fuels with a warming effect.

Practically a century later, American climate scientist James E. Hansen testified to Congress that “The greenhouse effect has been noticed and is altering our climate now."

Today, climate change is the term scientists use to describe the complex shifts, driven by greenhouse gas concentrations, that are now affecting our planet’s weather and climate systems.

How does climate change cause droughts and floods?

Priya Dharshini I

Like all living organisms, human beings require

OverfloThese natural catastrophes are frequently

water to survive. It is utilized for washing,

made more destructive by human action. Paved roads

drinking, watering crops, and so on. The quantity

and cities full of asphalt prevent water from sinking

of water that is available usually relies on the

into the ground. As it builds upon the surface, the

amount

of

rain

and

snow

that

falls.

Unfortunately, precipitation is not distributed equally around the globe. Some places scarcely witness rain, while others get more than their allocation. Over time, most people in an area get habituated to too little or too much. The problems start when dramatic changes occur when they are least expected. Droughts occur when an abnormally long dry period uses up

water ends up causing across-the-board damage. wing rivers, long periods of rain, obstreperous sea storms, or a break in a dam can all induce flooding.

Among these, overflowing rivers cause the most floods. Plentiful rains and rapidly melting ice may raise water levels in rivers until they overflow their banks. Storms sometimes cause unexpected flooding, along with the extremely heavy rains that accompany cyclones and hurricanes. Droughts occur when an abnormally long dry period uses up available water

available water resources. Floods happen when

resources. Floods happen when watercourses or rain

water sources or rain swallow up land that is

swallow up land that is usually uncovered. These

usually uncovered.

natural disasters are often made worse by human action. As it builds upon the surface, the water ends up provoking overall damage.

Does deforestation contribute to climate change?

-DIvya S Deforestation means destroying forests.

We can expect more changes in the

Deforestation

change.

climate of our planet in the future.

Forests and trees store carbon. When they

Forests absorb water from the soil

are destroyed, that process is known as

through their roots and release it into

deforestation. The stored carbon has the

the air as moisture, which contains a

potential to be released back into the

cooling effect on the air.

causes

climate

atmosphere as carbon dioxide and becomes a contributor to climate change. Burning fossil fuels due to deforestation and other activities have contributed to building up more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This build-up of carbon dioxide causes global warming. These days carbon dioxide has reached its highest level in human history.

Protecting natural ecosystems and forests are important ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as they reduce temperature rise and helps to reduce the level of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We must also reduce global greenhouse gas emissions levels from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.

If we are not responsible, there are more possibilities for transforming more of our carbon sinks into carbon sources as climate change progresses.

When these

trees are cut down, this cooling effect vanishes.

Deforestation

plays

an

important role in giving the hottest day temperatures. It also leads to global temperatures such as greenhouse gas emissions,

aerosols,

and

volcanic

eruptions. Deforestation increases the temperature levels and causes changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall. Ultimately, it creates a drier climate.

How does climate change affect plant biodiversity?

-Divya S

Climate change is any significant long-term shift in the expected pattern, whether due to natural variability or human activity. Environmental conditions play a key part in defining the function and distribution of plants, in combination with other

factors.

Changes

in

long-term

environmental conditions that can be collectively coined climate change are known to have had enormous impacts on current plant diversity patterns. It is predicted that climate change will remain one of the major drivers of biodiversity patterns in the future. Human actions are presently activating the sixth major mass extinction our Earth has seen, altering the distribution and plenitude of many plants. Rising temperatures are likely to result in widespread ecological change. Many animal and plant species are likely to become extinct as ecosystems adjust to climate change. While adaptable species will survive, and others migrate, the result will be lost biodiversity.

Climate

change

causes

warmer

summer

temperatures and inconsistent precipitation patterns. This environmental alteration affects the flowering periods of plants globally. As the global temperature increases, plants will flower this year in the season. Earlier bloom times reduce the plant's ability to withstand the entire season. As precipitation decreases, flowers may bloom later in the season. This affects the species which rely on this bloom for food, shade, and more.

Consequences of climate change on the specific component of biodiversity include: Changes in distribution, Increased extinction rates, Changes in reproduction timings, and Changes in length of growing seasons for plants.

Climate risk management (CRM) – Elaborate

-Vidhya S

Climate risk management (CRM) is a term used for bridging the climate change adaptation, disaster management, and its development sectors, amongst many others. Climate risk management is a generic term referring to an approach to climate-sensitive decision-making. The approach seeks to promote sustainable development by reducing the vulnerability associated with climate risk. Climate risk management involves strategies aimed at maximizing positive and minimizing negative outcomes for communities in fields such as agriculture, food security, water resources, and health. Climate Risk Management also describes the strategies involved in mitigating climate risk, through the work of various fields including climate change adaptation, disaster management, and sustainable development. Climate risk management covers a broad range of potential actions, including early-response

systems,

strategic

diversification,

Why manage climate risks?

Agriculture is the most affected sector by natural hazards and disasters. The negative impacts of climate change are threatening the

financial

food security of the world’s poorest and most

insurance),

vulnerable, almost 80% of which live in rural

infrastructure design, and capacity building. But in

areas. These populations, including family

dynamic

resource-allocation

instruments

(such

as

practices,

climate

risk

addition to dodging unfavorable results, a climate risk management

strategy

also

aims

to

maximize

opportunities in climate-sensitive economic sectors-for example, farmers who use favorable seasonal forecasts to maximize their crop productivity. Climate

farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, and community foresters, are highly dependent on natural resources and are the first to suffer from weather-related shocks. Risk exists when there

and

is uncertainty about the future outcomes of

implementing uncertainty through informed decision-

ongoing processes or the occurrence of future

making. CRM means programming for a range of

events. FAO works to reduce uncertainty by

risk

management

comprises

designing

possible future climate scenarios and building in flexibility to adjust and adapt to a changing climate during the time frame over which a strategy, project, or activity is expected to confer benefits.

improving the information base and devising innovative schemes for insuring against climate change hazards.

How to protect coastal areas from the impacts of climate change?

-Vidhya S Climate change can impact coastal areas in a variety of ways. Coasts are susceptible to sea-level rise, transformations in the frequency and intensity of storms, growths in precipitation, and warmer ocean temperatures. In addition, rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) are causing the oceans to absorb more of the gas and become more acidic. This rising acidity can have significant impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems. The impacts of climate change are likely to worsen situations that coastal areas already face. Confronting existing challenges that affect man-made infrastructure and coastal ecosystems, such as shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and water pollution is already a concern in many areas. Addressing the additional strain of climate change may demand new strategies to handle land, water, waste, and ecosystems.

Climate change threatens coastal areas, which are already stressed by human activity, pollution, invasive species, and storms.

Sea level rise could erode and inundate coastal ecosystems and eliminate wetlands.

Warmer and more acidic oceans are likely to disrupt coastal and marine ecosystems Coastal development reduces the ability of natural systems to respond to climate changes.

The last 10 to 20 years have seen a significant increase in coastal hazards such as storms, tsunamis, typhoons, flooding. Their impact is more serious now than it would have been 50 years ago, not only because the events are bigger than before, but also because more people are living in the coastal zones.

According to the United Nations, about 40% of the world's population lives within 100 kilometers of a coast. Climate Change impacts and Coastal Risk at the UNESCO Institute for Water Education is an ambitious 10-year research program that aims at a better understanding of the physics that govern coastline recession, to understand how exactly climate change may affect the look of our coastlines.

This new knowledge allows for simplified, faster-to-calculate models to quantify climate change impacts, which in turn can be applied to create innovative quantitative coastal risk assessment methods. The model produces concrete risk information that can be directly used by coastal zone managers and planners for risk-informed decision-making.

Does climate change cause mass extinction?

-Ancy M Mass extinctions happen due to climate change and

Because

also due to asteroid impacts, massive volcanic

diseases rise in humans and the animal

eruptions, or a combination of these causes. It is also caused due to extreme temperature changes, rising or falling sea levels. Sixty-five million years ago, there was a notable mass extinction event that led to the extinction of dinosaurs. Climate change causes changes in species which threaten their survival. It also leads to local extinctions and food loss. Climate

of

mass

extinction,

infectious

kingdom, so extinctions directly affect our health.

Preventive measures to mass extinctions on climate change Buy products from the companies that limited deforestation by using sustainably produced

change also played a part of the role in the collapse of

palm oil which is a major ingredient in food,

the past human civilization. It significantly correlated

soap, and cosmetics. Eat fish from healthy

with the extinction rate of marine animals.

fisheries. Spread the word "The extinction

Effects of mass extinction of climate change It leads to less access to food and the living areas which reduces their possibility of survival. Many forms of coastal wildlife, such as seabirds also have fewer available breeding sites due to the mass extinction of climate change.

crisis is real." to your family, friends, neighbors, and through social media circle.

Never buy things made from ivory or any other product derived from feared species.

How does climate change cause wildfires?

-Ancy M Wildfire may cause by several factors, like temperature, soil moisture, and the presence of shrubs, trees. All these factors have direct or indirect relation to climate change. Climate change enhances the drying of organic matter in forests. Climate change causes warmer and drier situations. Overheating, changes in the pattern of snow and rain, and other climate-based changes cause wildfires. Some human activities like lighting campfires and throwing down lit cigarettes are responsible for starting the fires. Hotter weather makes the forests drier and causes wildfires. Rising temperatures are an important reason for climate change. It evaporates more moisture from the ground, drying up the soil, and making vegetation more burnable. If the drought and heat continue with rising greenhouse gas emissions, we can expect more wildfires in the future. If the winter snowpacks are melting about a month before means that the forests are drier for a longer period. Wildfire increases the level of air pollution in the surroundings and can affect the quality of air. The effects of smoke from wildfires can cause eye and respiratory irritation leading to more serious disorders like exacerbation of asthma, heart failure, and premature death. Accidents, burning of debris, and fireworks are some other causes of wildfires.

If the wildfires burn in residential areas, it leads to the melting of plastic water pipes and causes contamination of water systems with a known carcinogen. Wildfires can also disturb transportation, communications, power and gas services, and water supply.

What is the impact of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation?

-Varshaa A M

DRR

means

managing

disasters

which

requires managing the above risks with different tools. These tools are of a border initiative to make communities more resilient by ensuring they have more capacity to cope with a range of threats from environmental to socio-economic. The approach taken to address one disaster may unexpectedly lead to further disasters. For example, you may grow more rice to alleviate malnutrition, but rice requires heavy irrigation, and mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Hundreds of disasters occur every year, still, we can

always

prevent

some

of

them

from

happening.

From 2001 to 2010 alone, disasters caused nearly a trillion dollars’ worth of damage that’s more than of value of Google, Walmart, and Toyota combined. A staggering number of people lost their homes, which is 28 million that’s the entire population of Australia.

Natural disasters are only natural hazards like floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis, or manmade hazards like riots and conflicts.

More deaths and more economic losses will likely occur than when it hits a rich country and, in any country, hit by a disaster the most vulnerable and excluded suffer most.

Climate Change Adaptation It means that climate has always determined how we live and when it changed in the past, we adapted. So, what’s new about adapting to climate change today? Shouldn’t we focus on other challenges such as education unemployment, and economic development?

Sure enough, the climate has always been changing, but the recent change caused by the emission of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that increase the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere has happened in a much shorter time frame as a result, the earth is warming.

CREDITS Team lead - Akshara A Cover picture - Gayathri Nithi M Cover page designer - Peer Mohammad Mubeen S Topics Assignment - Mowrin Jenisha S Theme Selection - Mowrin Jenisha S

CONTACT US Hara Jeevan is open to the partnership for the betterment of the environment. We design and implement CSR activities, collaborate with Communities, schools, colleges for ecological restoration and waste management If you have a question about our work, are interested in partnering or just want to say hello, Please feel free to contact us.

Address C-17, Bali Nagar, New Delhi-110015, India

You can Contact us for undertaking your CSR. Contact us to volunteer.

Contact us to intern with us Contact us for workshops and events

Contact number +91-9824004859 / +91-8800255190

Email ID trees@harajeevan.org

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