A Changing Climate: Causes, Effects, and What Can Be Done to Stop It
greenhouse gases and climate mitigation.
It’s common knowledge that our climate is changing, and not for the better. But what exactly does this mean? What is causing these changes and what can be done to stop them in their tracks (if that is a possibility)?
Climate Change is a broad umbrella that often considers a wide number of elements, from the destruction of nature (e.g., cutting down trees) to the mounting piles of human waste. But scientists agree that, by far, the biggest contributors to climate change are fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) and the industries that utilize these resources on a regular basis. Fossil fuels create an atmospheric barrier, trapping the sun’s heat and rapidly warming air and water temperatures. The consequences, as we’re finding, are quite devastating—melting ice caps, rising water levels, changing and unpredictable weather patterns, and food insecurity just to name a few.
So, what’s next?
Understanding Greenhouse Gases
“Greenhouse gases” can refer to any number of heat-trapping compounds, such as methane and nitrous oxide, but most frequently is used to refer to the harmful gas most present in the atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide (CO2). About 90% of all CO2 emissions come from fossil fuel use in the transportation, electric power, and industrial and manufacturing industries. Other key contributors include commercial and residential use and agriculture.
- Transportation (27%)
- Electric Power (25%)
- Natural gas, petroleum, coal, renewable energy, nuclear power
- Industry (24%)
- Manufacturers, mining, construction
- Commercial/Residential (13%)
- Individual homes and businesses
- Agriculture (11%)
- Farming, livestock, land use and forestry
Scientists have tracked carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere since the early 20th century, and the top five country contributors by percentage of total CO2 output, year-to-date, are:
- China (30.64%)
- United States (13.53%)
- India (7.02%)
- Russia (4.53%)
- Japan (2.96%)
While scientists estimate that carbon dioxide levels will level out over the next several years, the remaining greenhouse gas levels are expected to rise—increasing by nearly 30% over the next 30 years.
Climate Mitigation
As you can probably guess, something desperately needs to be done about the output of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide especially) in the atmosphere. To do that, we need to take an approach called climate mitigation. By reducing our electricity usage and switching to clean energy sources, shrinking our “food” footprint, utilizing forms of travel that don’t create emissions, and actively addressing the way industrial and manufacturing companies operate, we can start to make a real difference quickly.
Other nature-focused methods for reducing CO2 include planting more trees, encouraging sustainable agriculture (particularly as it relates to soil health), and pursuing innovative new processes to physically pull carbon from the air.
There is a lot of opportunity to make positive change, particularly in the sectors already mentioned that are leading the contributors list right now. However, in order to make progress, we must unite and be a kind, positive voice for our planet. Check back into the Climate Teams platform monthly for new solutions, suggestions, tips, and tricks to help you become a better environmental advocate.
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