What’s really the noise about Global warming, Climate Change and Green House effect, many people ignorant of these burning issues may ask. Yet others must have heard this severally on the news.

There is no doubt that the effects of global warming and Climate change on our planet have been talked about for long and its effects are already visible even in our country Nigeria. In the last century the average temperature has risen around 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.6 Celsius) – but the greatest single danger, scientists warn, is that global warming will cause a dramatic rise in sea levels, flooding the world’s most powerful cities under a catastrophic level, something that can only be imagined.

The real question facing us all is: Can all the international talks and conferences have a positive impact on climate change? But before we get to that question, let’s look more closely at this three most talked environmental issues facing us globally: Global warming, Climate change and Green House effect and how it affects us all.

Global warming is the gradual heating of Earth’s surface, oceans and atmosphere, while Wikipedia defines it as the rising average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans and its related effects. In the last 100 years, Earth’s average surface temperature increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F) with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades, and scientists are more than 90% certain most of it is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as deforestation and burning fossil fuel.

Part of the sunlight from the sun to the earth atmosphere is absorbed, others are reflected back, a small part of the reflected radiation is sent back to the earth. The amount of pollution is causing most of the radiated heat not to escape thereby causing temperature to rise in our planet leading to Global warming.

While Climate change, refers to the rise in average surface temperatures on Earth. An scientists have generally maintained that climate change is caused primarily by the human use of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. The gases trap heat within the atmosphere, which has a range of effects on ecosystems, including rising sea levels, severe weather events, and droughts that render most landscapes vulnerable to wildfires.

And lastly, Greenhouse gas effect (sometimes abbreviated GHG) is the trapping of the long wave radiation from entering space by the atmosphere. This exchange of long wave radiation between earth and atmosphere produces a warmer effect on earth. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere include water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and ozone which forms a layer around the earth.

Effects of climate change (ECOSYSTEM) include:

– Precipitation rising over the earth

– Sea level increasing above its threshold,

– Ice is melting in the north and south poles,

– Occurrences of Drought, Hurricanes and Tornados

– Ozone layer is being destroyed gradually



How can we stop and perhaps reduce it to the barest minimum

– Replace a regular incandescent light build with a compact fluorescent light bulb

– Cover your pot while cooking

– Use energy/electric/fuel-free vehicles

– Use less hot water

– Recycle/reduce/reuse at your homes and offices.

– Off your lights, television set when not in use

– Buy fresh foods instead of frozen, frozen conserves more energy

– Have a cold shower instead of a hot bath.

– Buy car that will use less fuel or better still electric cars if within your reach.

– Trekking or take a bike instead of driving.

– Plant a flower or tree in your home rather than destroy existing ones

– Use energy efficient appliances

– Use programmable thermometer

– The use of solar power and wind generation capabilities should also be encouraged.

The time we have to cut global emissions, to avoid the worst consequences of climate change is running short. It’s time for world leaders, negotiators and companies to increase their intensity, to develop better strategies in delivering more emission reductions. But above all, we the general public also has a key role to play to reduce global warming with its attendant effects.

We need more Environmental activists, the likes of Pope Francis, Al Gore, Robert Redford, Leonardo Di Caprio, Jennifer Morgan, Nigerian born Nnimmo Bassey and other Environmentalist, who in their unique ways and professions are working relentlessly with governments, business corporations and other Global figures to sustain our environment and also promote a low-carbon future for us.


- See more news and photos on Global warming and Climate change below at: http://www.naijasilvergold.com/blog/2016/02/06/how-global-warming-climate-change-and-green-house-effect-affects-us-all/#sthash.tNzzUBxU.dpuf