Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change

Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change

• Greenhouse effect: A natural process where gases in the atmosphere trap heat, warming the Earth. Human activity intensifies this effect, causing global warming.
• Climate change: Long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and other climate elements, primarily driven by human actions.
• Global warming: The observed rise in Earth's average surface temperature due to increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
• Carbon sequestration: Capturing and storing atmospheric CO2 to reduce its concentration.
• Climate mitigation: Actions to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, limiting future climate change.
• Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual, organization, event, or product.

Causes of Climate Change

• Human activities:
  • Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) is a significant contributor.
  • Deforestation reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb carbon.
  • Industrial processes release greenhouse gases.
• Natural factors:
  • Volcanic eruptions release CO2.
  • Variations in solar energy output.

Consequences of Climate Change

• Environmental impacts:
  • Increased global temperatures.
  • Melting glaciers and polar ice caps.
  • Sea-level rise, causing coastal flooding.
• Social impacts:
  • More frequent extreme weather events.
  • Threats to food and water availability.
  • Population displacement.
• Economic impacts:
  • Damage to infrastructure.
  • Reduced agricultural productivity.
  • Higher costs for disaster response and recovery.

Measures to Mitigate Climate Change

• Transition to renewable energy: Adopting solar, wind, and hydropower.
• Improved energy efficiency: Reducing energy consumption in industries and buildings.
• Reforestation and afforestation: Planting trees to absorb carbon.
• Carbon capture and storage: New technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
• Sustainable agricultural practices: Reducing emissions from farming.
• Global cooperation: International efforts to limit emissions.

Climate Change Protocols and Agreements

• Kyoto Protocol (1997): An international treaty aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with binding targets for developed countries.
• United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP): Annual meetings to assess progress on tackling climate change.
• Paris Agreement (2015): A global accord to limit global warming well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, aiming for 1.5°C.