Climate Change

Have you heard of people talking about climate change? It is one of the serious problems our world is facing right now. What is it, though, and why shall we care?

What is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to a change in the normal patterns of weather that occur on Earth. Normally, the weather can change from day to day or even from season to season. In the case of climate change, the planet is gradually getting warmer with time. Scientists refer to this process as “global warming.”

Why Is the Earth Getting Warmer?

The leading cause of climate change is human activities. Some of the most significant causes include:

• Burning Fossil Fuels: Most carbon dioxide is produced by the burning of oil, coal, or gas for various purposes such as transport and electric power. Carbon dioxide is released into the air. It is so-called because it keeps heat in the atmosphere and, therefore, raises the Earth's temperature.
• Cutting Down Trees: Trees absorb some of the carbon dioxide. If forests are destroyed, this gas stays longer in the atmosphere, raising the temperature.
• Factories and Pollution: The factories, especially situated in the industrial areas, emit a quantity of harmful gases. It simply adds to pollution and makes the air unbreathable and impure.

What Are the Effects of Climate Change?

Climate change doesn't just mean warmer weather. It can cause a lot of problems:

• Extreme Weather: We can notice that hurricanes are getting more frequent; floods, wildfires, and droughts too. These weather events also get stronger and hazardous.
• Melting Ice and Rising Seas: Places like the Arctic and Antarctica have caused ice to melt. That makes sea levels rise, which in turn can flood cities and homes near the coast.
• Animals in Danger: Due to the very fast change in environments, many animals are losing their homes. Polar bears, for example, have trouble finding ice to live on.

We are also seeing the impact on people. Farmers are working harder and harder because of alterations in weather patterns. Some communities even have to relocate since their homes either get flooded or become too hot to stay in.

What Can We Do About It?

Although climate change is such a big issue, there are things we can do to help:

• Using Renewable Energy: We can replace the use of fossil fuels with clean energy resources, such as solar and wind. These do not emit harmful gases.
• Save Energy: Switch off lights and gadgets when not in use. This lessens the amount of energy required, which in turn reduces pollution.

• Plant Trees: Trees absorb all the CO2 and clean the air. We must plant more trees to contribute to slowing down climate change.
• Use less plastic: Plastic is made from fossil fuels. It takes centuries to decompose. The habit of carrying reusable bags, bottles, and containers would reduce plastic waste.

Why It Matters

It is something that, in one form or another, affects us all. And unless we act to curtail it, Earth will continue heating up, and the problems will get worse and worse. In contrast, with the contribution of all of us together, we can save our planet for the future. That means changing something in our daily life, making bigger changes in how we produce energy, and treat the environment depends on each one of us.