- Pollution is characterized by the introduction of harmful substances into the natural environment, leading to detrimental alterations.
- According to the Environment Protection Act (EPA) of 1986, “Environmental Pollution” is identified by the presence of pollutants, defined as solid, liquid, or gaseous substances existing in concentrations that have the potential to be harmful to the environment.
- Pollutants, whether physical, chemical, or biological in nature, are agents intentionally or unintentionally released into the environment, posing direct or indirect harm to humans and other living organisms.
CLIMATE CHANGE
- Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature and weather patterns, and these changes can be either natural, such as variations in the solar cycle, or anthropogenic, caused by human activities.
- Since the 1800s, human actions, particularly the utilization of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, have been the primary contributors to climate change.
- The combustion of these fossil fuels releases greenhouse gas emissions, acting as a metaphorical blanket around the Earth, trapping solar heat and leading to temperature increases.
- Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane are key culprits behind climate change, originating from activities such as driving a car using gasoline, heating buildings with coal, clearing land, and even waste disposal in landfills.
- Major sectors contributing to emissions include energy, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and land use.
- Contrary to the perception that climate change solely involves higher temperatures, it encompasses a broader spectrum of impacts.
- The interconnected nature of the Earth’s systems means that changes in one area can have ripple effects across others.
- Climate change manifests as severe droughts, water scarcity, intense fires, rising sea levels, floods, polar ice melting, destructive storms, and a decline in biodiversity.
- It is a multifaceted challenge with far-reaching consequences for the planet’s ecosystems.
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Rising Temperatures
- The escalation of greenhouse gas concentrations corresponds to an increase in global surface temperatures, with the last decade (2011-2020) marking the warmest on record.
- Each successive decade since the 1980s has surpassed the previous one in warmth, leading to a proliferation of hot days and heatwaves across almost all land areas.
- Elevated temperatures contribute to heat-related illnesses, hinder outdoor work, and expedite the spread of wildfires.
- The Arctic, in particular, has warmed at a rate at least twice that of the global average.
Intensification of Severe Storms
- Destructive storms have witnessed a surge in both intensity and frequency in numerous regions.
- As temperatures rise, heightened evaporation increases extreme rainfall and flooding, contributing to the escalation of destructive storms.
- The warming ocean further influences the occurrence and size of tropical storms, including cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons, posing threats to coastal communities, resulting in fatalities, and causing substantial economic losses.
Growing Impact of Drought
- Climate change is reshaping water availability, exacerbating scarcity in various regions.
- Global warming compounds water scarcity in already stressed areas, escalating the risk of agricultural droughts affecting crops and ecological droughts that heighten ecosystem vulnerability.
- Droughts can also trigger damaging sand and dust storms, transporting massive amounts of sand across continents.
- Deserts are expanding, diminishing available farmland, and communities face recurring threats of insufficient water.
Oceans: Warming, Rising, and Acidification
- The ocean absorbs the majority of heat stemming from global warming, experiencing a dramatic increase in warming rates at all depths over the last two decades.
- As water expands with warming, the volume of the ocean grows, contributing to rising sea levels.
- Melting ice sheets further elevate sea levels, jeopardizing coastal and island communities.
- Additionally, oceanic absorption of carbon dioxide, while preventing its release into the atmosphere, leads to increased acidity, endangering marine life and coral reefs.
Transformations in Landscape
- Changes in land use contribute to ongoing shifts in land mass positioning, prompting flora and fauna to migrate toward polar regions in search of cooler environments.
- Conversely, global warming threatens the habitats of polar species through melting ice.
Sea Level Rise
- Global warming-induced glacier melting raises sea levels significantly, heightening the risk of natural disasters such as floods in coastal areas.
- These disasters erode coastlines and devastate surrounding ecosystems and wetlands.
Ocean Acidification
- Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels result in increased absorption by the ocean, leading to ocean acidification.
- This phenomenon adversely affects aquatic species like plankton, mollusks, and corals, disrupting their habitats.
Ecosystem Imbalance
- Alterations in weather patterns disrupt local environments, negatively impacting ecological conditions and the survival of indigenous species.
- This disruption causes widespread devastation to ecosystems and the natural environment.
Increased Frequency of Natural Disasters
- Droughts in various regions, caused by insufficient rainfall and high solar radiation, lead to the depletion of local species.
- Climate change-induced sea-level rise contributes to flooding, hurricanes, and storms, posing significant threats to communities and ecosystems.
Species Extinction
- The rising temperature associated with climate change poses a severe threat to species on land and in the sea.
- The ongoing loss of species, now occurring at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other recorded period in human history, places one million species at the brink of extinction in the coming decades.
- Climate change-related challenges include forest fires, extreme weather events, and the proliferation of invasive pests and diseases. While some species may adapt and thrive, others face extinction.
Food Insecurity
- Climate change, coupled with an increase in extreme weather events, contributes to a global rise in hunger and malnutrition.
- Fisheries, crops, and livestock are vulnerable to destruction or depletion, and marine resources supporting billions of people are under threat due to ocean acidification.
- Changes in snow and ice cover disrupt food supplies in many Arctic regions, affecting herding, hunting, and fishing.
Health Risks
- Climate change emerges as the most significant health threat, leading to issues such as air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement, mental health strains, and heightened hunger and malnutrition in areas where food is scarce.
- Environmental factors claim the lives of approximately 13 million people annually, with changing weather patterns facilitating the spread of diseases and increasing mortality rates.
Poverty and Displacement
- Climate change exacerbates factors sustaining poverty, with floods washing away urban slums, destroying homes and livelihoods.
- Outdoor work becomes challenging due to rising temperatures, and water scarcity affects crop yields.
- Weather-related events displace an average of 23.1 million people annually (2010-2019), leaving many vulnerable to poverty.
- Most refugees originate from countries least prepared to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
FAQs – POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE
1. What is pollution?
Pollution is characterized by the introduction of harmful substances into the natural environment, leading to detrimental alterations.
2. How is environmental pollution defined?
As per the Environment Protection Act (EPA) of 1986, “Environmental Pollution” is identified by the presence of pollutants, defined as solid, liquid, or gaseous substances existing in concentrations that have the potential to be harmful to the environment.
3. What are pollutants?
Pollutants, whether physical, chemical, or biological in nature, are agents intentionally or unintentionally released into the environment, posing direct or indirect harm to humans and other living organisms.
4. What are some examples of pollutants?
Examples of pollutants include solid waste, liquid industrial effluents, and gaseous emissions from vehicles and industries.
5. How does pollution impact the environment?
Pollution can have detrimental effects on air, water, and soil quality, as well as negatively impact biodiversity and human health.
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