Climate change is a term that’s been widely discussed lately
in the media -- on TV, in documentaries, podcasts, and conferences -- but what
does it actually mean? Is it the same as global warming? While the two terms
are often used interchangeably, they aren’t the same. Think of the Earth as a
large house. Global warming is like the overall temperature of the house
rising, whereas climate change refers to changes in the individual rooms, like
one room becoming hotter while another becomes cooler. Climate change is
defined by long-term shifts in weather patterns over decades, usually 30 years
or more. So, if you're wondering why you can’t see climate change happening
right outside your window, remember it’s a gradual, long-term process.
It’s important to note that climate change can happen
naturally over time, but what’s concerning now is the rapid pace at which it’s
occurring. Scientists warn that it will accelerate even further due to global
warming. The industrial revolution, starting in the late 1800s, marked the
beginning of increased use of coal, oil, and natural gas. This led to a
significant rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere. Another
spike occurred in the 1950s, after World War II, with the widespread use of
cars and industrialisation. These two events marked the onset of the climate
crisis. Since then, the global population has tripled, and we’ve been burning
massive amounts of fossil fuels, releasing huge amounts of CO2.
When sunlight reaches Earth, some of it is supposed to be
reflected back into space. However, the CO2 and other greenhouse gases we emit
trap the heat, causing the Earth's temperature to rise, which is referred to as
the greenhouse effect. While this effect occurs naturally, the increase in CO2
and other gases has led to a rise in global temperatures by at least 1.1
degrees
Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. This might seem
like a small change, but even a small rise in temperature has serious
consequences.
For example, in the Arctic, the warming climate is causing
ice to melt faster. This melting ice absorbs more heat, which speeds up the
process even more, much like how wearing a black outfit makes us feel hotter.
The melting ice contributes to rising sea levels, as more water flows into the
oceans, which also expand due to warming. Scientists estimate that sea levels
have risen by more than 8 inches since 1880, with 3 of those inches occurring
in just the past 25 years. While 3 inches might not seem like much in a
bathtub, imagine it happening in the vast interconnected oceans that cover 70%
of the planet. This small rise is already causing serious problems, like in
Indonesia, where the capital city of Jakarta is sinking, and shifting rainfall
patterns are leading to droughts, floods, and other disruptions.
Initially, it was thought that a 2-degree rise in global
temperature would be manageable, but now it’s clear that even a 1.5-degree
increase will have severe consequences. Countries around the world have agreed
to the Paris Agreement, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, keeping
in mind that we’ve already reached 1.1 degrees. Does this mean the worst is
inevitable? Not necessarily. Many are hopeful that with immediate action, we
can still limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
