Disasters caused by global warming

Context: Global warming and climate change
are the combined results of our growing civilization. Our atmosphere, extending
up to 10-16 kilometres, has the protective shield of the ozone layer on this beautiful
planet. Living beings here have been surviving due to the presence of this layer,
which protects Earth from the harmful radiations coming from the Sun and outer
space. Our civilization has been giving us different luxury items like refrigerants,
air-conditioners, perfumes, liquid cosmetics, et al. These are filled with aerosols
– finely mixed particles of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine and carbon under high
pressure. When pressed, the perfumes and gas come out in fine sprays along with
the aerosol components (called CFCs – chlorofluorocarbons). These components of
aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere. They have a great
impact on climate, weather, health and ecology.

Key points

·      
Overview: Global
warming impacts our climatic conditions, causing disturbing changes. The greenhouse
effect is so dangerous to the living world that someone sitting under a big
tree at night may feel hot due to the presence of abundant CO2 released by the tree
at night while absorbing oxygen.

·      
Climate change:
It refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These
shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. According
to the UN, there have been 7,348 natural disasters between 2000 and 2019,
claiming 1.23 lives, affecting 4.2 billion people and costing the global
economy some $2.97 trillion and climate change is largely to blame for a near
doubling of natural disasters in the past 20 years. The sharp increase was
largely attributable to a rise in climate-related disasters, including extreme
weather events like floods, drought and storms.

·      
Future Projections: If
current trends continue, the number of disasters per year globally may increase
from around 400 in 2015 to 560 per year by 2030 – a projected increase of 40%
during the lifetime of the Sendai Framework. For droughts, current trends
indicate a likely increase of more than 30% between 2001 and 2030 (from an
average of 16 drought events per year during 2001–2010 to 21 per year by 2030).
This is further substantiated by climate projections, including the scientific
evidence provided by the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report that points to increases
in heatwaves, more intense floods and droughts, and a 7% increase in extreme
daily precipitation events to 2030. Based on current trends, the world is set
to exceed the Paris Agreement’s target of 1.5°C global average maximum
temperature increases by the early 2030s, further accelerating the pace and
severity of hazard events.

·      
Heat Extremes:
Heat extremes have increased while cold extremes have decreased, and these
trends will continue over the coming decades over Asia. Heatwaves and humid
heat stress will be more intense and frequent during the 21st century over
South Asia.

·      
Receding Snowline & Melting
Glaciers: Retreating snowlines and melting glaciers is a
cause for alarm as this can cause a change in the water cycle, the
precipitation patterns, increased floods as well as an increased scarcity of
water in the future in the states across the Himalayas. The level of
temperature rise in the mountains and glacial melt is unprecedented in 2,000
years.

·      
Infectious diseases:
By 2050, mosquitoes that carry vector-borne diseases like Malaria could reach
an estimated 500 million people. Climate change has led to a loss in
biodiversity, resulting in increased transmission and incidence of disease. Due
to altered climate patterns, urbanization and deforestation bats and rodents,
which are responsible for 60 percent of the diseases transmitted from animals
to humans, have flourished.

·      
Wildfires:
By 2030, fire season could be three months longer in areas already exposed to
wildfires. In Western Australia, for example, this would add up to three months
of days with high wildfire potential.

·      
Way forward: Mitigating
climate change is the solution to reduce the impacts of natural disasters.
Mitigating climate change is about reducing the release of greenhouse gas
emissions. Mitigation strategies include retrofitting buildings to make them
more energy efficient; adopting renewable energy sources like solar, wind and
small hydro; helping cities develop more sustainable transport such as bus
rapid transit, electric vehicles, and biofuels; and promoting more sustainable
uses of land and forests.