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Our Planet under attack

Climate change is now accepted as a major threat to humanity. The world is experiencing major upheavals in weather, agricultural production, and fresh water availability, as well as a significant rise in sea levels from unrestrained carbon emissions. The impact of climate change once thought of as unimaginable and farfetched is now occurring. Earth Day is an occasion to celebrate the gains, contemplate the losses and create new visions to save the environment.

By: Pallavi Sharma

Climate change is now accepted as a major threat to humanity. The world is experiencing major upheavals in weather, agricultural production, and fresh water availability, as well as a significant rise in sea levels from unrestrained carbon emissions. The impact of climate change once thought of as unimaginable and farfetched is now occurring. Earth Day is an occasion to celebrate the gains, contemplate the losses and create new visions to save the environment. The Day has been marked to call attention to environmental stewardship and ecological challenges facing our planet. The Day’s roots grow back to April 22, 1970 when John McConnell envisioned a day to celebrate and honour the Earth. Each year many events serve to educate the public about environmental issues and ways to save the planet.Climatic change/Global warming

Global warming is a term used to describe the trend of increases in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans that has been observed in recent decades.

The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, and other human activities, are the primary sources of human-induced component of warming.

As per the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth’s surface temperature has risen by about one degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. Who is to blame?

The climatic changes have been happening at a much faster and devastating rate in recent years. Science indicates that this acceleration is due to human activity.

In the past, natural processes could handle the amounts of greenhouse gases generated, and the system remained in balance. In recent decades, however, human activity through increased use of fossil fuels and cutting down of forests has been overloading the natural processes.

Greenhouse gases are now being generated by the burning of fossil fuels to run cars and factories and heat buildings, as well as by industrial processes. These releases of greenhouse gases have shifted the atmosphere’s natural balance. Deforestation

A major cause of concern is the depleting natural cover on the Earth. Large tracts of the Earth’s forests are being cut down for wood or for farming and for cities and towns leaving fewer trees to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The balance of gases in the atmosphere has changed significantly. The result: more heat is being trapped in the atmosphere. The more heat trapped, the warmer the Earth becomes and more the climate across the globe will change. Global changes

The increase in global temperatures is expected to result in other climate changes including rise in sea levels and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. Hurricanes are likely to be more severe and devastating, as witnessed recently by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Earth is currently caught in a vicious cycle, as temperature rises. The ice caps are melting due to use of fossil fuels and other activities.

Even as the melting of ice caps leads to rise in water levels, it also releases carbon dioxide trapped in ice for millions of years. This carbon dioxide further adds to the warming of the planet. Effect on humanity The impact cannot only be seen in the physical environment, but also in health, jobs, economies, cultures and communities of the people living on the planet.

Most developing countries do not contribute as many emissions to the atmosphere as industrialised, developed countries do. The developing countries are likely to face greatest hardships due to climate change, as they do not have the money, the organisations or the technologies to help them adapt to current and future changes. Finally...

While there is consensus among most scientists, corporate leaders, government officials, NGOs, and international bodies that global warming must be halted, there is also consensus that for several reasons public demand for immediate action lags far behind the need.

Uncertainties exist regarding how much climate change should be expected in the future, and a hotly-contested political and public debate exists over what, if anything, should be done to save Mother Earth.