Climate change? Global warming? What do we call it? Both are accurate, but they mean different things. You can think of global warming as one type of climate change. The broader term covers changes beyond warmer temperatures, such as shifting rainfall patterns.

As of early 2017, the Earth had warmed by roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (more than 1 degree Celsius) since 1880, when records began at a global scale. The number may sound low, but as an average over the surface of an entire planet, it is actually high, which explains why much of the world’s land ice is starting to melt and the oceans are rising at an accelerating pace. If greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, scientists say, the global warming could ultimately exceed 8 degrees Fahrenheit, which would undermine the planet’s capacity to support a large human population.

In the 19th century, scientists discovered that certain gases in the air trap and slow down heat that would otherwise escape to space. Carbon dioxide is a major player; without any of it in the air, the Earth would be a frozen wasteland. The first prediction that the planet would warm as humans released more of the gas was made in 1896. The gas has increased 43 percent above the pre-industrial level so far, and the Earth has warmed by roughly the amount that scientists predicted it would.

Hard evidence, including studies that use radioactivity to distinguish industrial emissions from natural emissions, shows that the extra gas is coming from human activity. Carbon dioxide levels rose and fell naturally in the long-ago past, but those changes took thousands of years. Geologists say that humans are now pumping the gas into the air much faster than nature has ever done.

Why people deny the science of climate change is mostly because of ideology. Instead of negotiating over climate change policies and trying to make them more market-oriented, some political conservatives have taken the approach of blocking them by trying to undermine the science. President Trump has sometimes claimed that scientists are engaged in a worldwide hoax to fool the public, or that global warming was invented by China to disable American industry. The climate denialists arguments have become so strained that even oil and coal companies have distanced themselves publicly, though some still help to finance the campaigns of politicians who espouse such views.

Over the coming 25 or 30 years, scientists say, the climate is likely to gradually warm, with more extreme weather. Coral reefs and other sensitive habitats are already starting to die. Longer term, if emissions rise unchecked, scientists fear climate effects so severe that they might destabilize governments, produce waves of refugees, precipitate the sixth mass extinction of plants and animals in the Earth’s history, and melt the polar ice caps, causing the seas to rise high enough to flood most of the world’s coastal cities. The emissions that create those risks are happening now, raising deep moral questions for our generation.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/climate/what-is-climate-change.html

Climate change is impacting human lives and health in a variety of ways. It threatens the essential ingredients of good health - clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe shelter - and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health.

Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress alone. The direct damage costs to health is estimated to be between USD 2-4 billion per year by 2030.

Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond. WHO supports countries in building climate-resilient health systems and tracking national progress in protecting health from climate change.

Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport, food and energy-use choices results in improved health, particularly through reduced air pollution. The Paris Agreement on climate change is therefore potentially the strongest health agreement of this century. WHO supports countries in assessing the health gains that would result from the implementation of the existing Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, and the potential for larger gains from more ambitious climate action.

https://www.who.int/health-topics/climate-change#tab=tab_1

Paris Agreement anniversary: What needs to happen in the next five years to tackle the climate crisis?

This week marks five years since countries reached a deal for the Paris Agreement, a historic treaty aimed at keeping global warming to “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels, with the aspiration of keeping temperatures to 1.5C.

To mark the anniversary, The Independent has asked scientists, politicians and activists from across the world to describe what they would like to see happen within the next five years to see the world shift to be in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Oladosu Adenike, young climate activist, Nigeria:

As young people, we have been raising awareness of our demand for emissions targets to be met.

The Paris Agreement is the roadmap towards building a sustainable pathway for all. It is one thing to set the track and it is another thing to be on the track in meeting it. This next five years is a crucial point in turning things around for the good of the people.

The climate crisis is leading humanity into more crises that can hamper development. As we begin the decade of restoration, it is important that no degraded landscape is left behind because our landscape is a determinant of development and strong institution.

In the next five years, our advocacy on the restoration of Lake Chad should have been met due to the fact that the restoration of Lake Chad is key toward tackling the regional instability. We have had enough of the negotiations and agreements signed, it is time we make those commitments attainable.

To make the Paris Agreement work, there must be a means of transparency and accountability within the framework, as well as legal action attached as a fine for not meeting up such commitments within the time interval.

Because the Paris Agreement is still flexible that any country can opt out and at any point in time, there is still no major progress recorded so far. If we could continue this way, we will not be able to save the world from climate destruction. And where there are no rules and regulations, there are no forbidden actions. No wonder the US left the Paris Agreement because there is no rule to stop such an action.

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/paris-agreement-anniversary-climate-change-b1770243.html

Is recent crazy weather tied to climate change? Answer is yes, some of it is. Now let's do away from the scientific publications, evidence from other parts of the world and look at what is currently happening in Nigeria. Am sure some people if not many would have noticed there hasn't been much harmattan this year in many parts of the country, now that's not all. For about 2-3 years now, i have been noticing the change in pattern of harmattan seasons, and it is very clear that climate change among other things is the reason for this change in pattern, which has become less predictable over the years.

Climate change is having a large impact on Nigeria. Sharp increases in extreme heat are affecting the many millions of people without access to air conditioning or electricity and changes to precipitation threaten Nigeria's largely rain-fed agricultural sector.

Reason for creating this thread is just to let us know that maybe it's time to wake up from our slumber and start realizing the effect of climate change and possible ways we can tackle it.

Before and after photos of melting glaciers below, and also picture of wildfires which are being linked to climate change in many parts of the world.


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Mynd44

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