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The quest and strive of mankind for better living and corresponding advent of industrialization, during last 200 years by international system has simultaneously posed serious challenges to the environment and eco system. The issue of climate change has occurred due to global warming and the trend is continuing, rather it has witnessed an upward surge during the last fifty years and the global impacts are becoming increasingly intense and visible. Main cause of global warming is greenhouse effect, wherein the carbon dioxide and other pollutants, produced on earth, trap the returning solar radiation from earth and thus stop heat from dispersing and hence contribute in raising global temperature.
Burning of fossil fuel and coal for electricity and use of petro carbon in transport sector, are the main sources of these pollutants.
Growth in population and rapid industrialization are also contributing negatively. In USA alone, more than four billion tons of carbondioxide pollutants are caused by these sectors.
Lately China has taken the lead and has become the leading country of all CO2 emission, followed by USA, EU and India.
A large number of scientific studies and surveys are indicating that due to climate change, the availability of clean water is increasingly decreasing, as water stored in glaciers is declining due to their melting and steady change caused by hydrological cycle.
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It is feared that changing precipitation pattern will result into more rainfall and flooding in high latitude areas and less water in lower areas. This change in water availability will directly affect the current cropping pattern creating serious food security issues.
Data gathered by UN shows that already half of world’s population is facing some kind of water crisis and by 2025; around 2 billion people will be living in water starved countries.
UN is doing its efforts to handle the climate change problem and in 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was produced.
More than 197 countries have ratified the convention to prevent the dangerous greenhouse gas emission. Negotiations on the subject are regularly held and subsequently Kyoto Protocol, duly binding the developed countries to emission control targets, was adopted in 1997. First commitment period of protocol started in 2008 and ended in 2012, while second period began on 1st January 2013 and will end in 2020. Through the framework of UNFCCC, a landmark agreement known as Paris Agreement was signed in April 2016, to keep the global temperature rise, well below 2 degrees Celsius, at pre industrial level, during this century.
Similarly in 2019, a summit will be convened, wherein the world leaders will share information pertaining to achieving targets, set for their countries. Similarly, EU has embarked upon a plan for reducing greenhouse gases and has set salient targets in its 2020 climate and energy package and 2030 climate and energy framework initiatives. Through this plan, a low carbon economy to cut greenhouse gas emission to 80% below 1990 level by 2050 has been envisaged. All major sectors i.e. Power Generation, Industry, Transportation; Agriculture etc. have been included in this plan. It is important to highlight that all sectors specific mitigation measures do have contrasting effects on water, as CO2 capture and storage process adopted in industries, energy and transport sectors may react and contaminate underground water. Similarly bio-energy crops used to displace fossil fuel use may create bio-diversity effects, due to prolonged use of fertilizers and pesticides. Hydro power plants, though, do provide environment friendly electricity, but they may also cause ecological impacts on river eco-system and fisheries.
Similarly agro-forestry and aforestation used to provide energy and multiple benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation may cause negative impact on water conservation, as forest may use more water than crop or short vegetation. Therefore reduced deforestation may be a better choice to conserve water then afforestation. The consequences of environmental degradation are global and unified approach with pertinent actions is required from across the world. Piecemeal actions by individual countries, like Pakistan planting one billion trees may contribute in local conditions, but would remain short of improving global environment.
Prevailing economic disparities between developed and developing/poor countries is responsible for receiving lukewarm response from poor countries as they contend that developed countries have completed their infrastructure/industries, by using affordable energy, largely produced from cheap coal and now stringent environment conditions are posing more challenges to their development. They also view that existing environment challenges are largely caused by developed countries and they should accordingly contribute for its remedy. NGOs have played fair role in plugging the gap, by conducting surveys and research for finalizing environment related policy and action plans.
Environmental NGOs like WWF, Greenpeace, Conservation international, Friends of earth and Nature conservancy are actively busy in agitating environmental concerns. Similarly some renowned international organizations, like, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nation Environment Program (UNEP), European Environment Agency (EEA) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) are also busy protecting environment.
Observation and Analysis of the Causes of Environmental Changes. (2021, Dec 01). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/observation-and-analysis-of-the-causes-of-environmental-changes-essay
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