Climate Change is Real.
Even a single step can get us far.
WHO IS TO BLAME?
"Good Day Ladies and Gentlemen. This is me, a UFO in the sky, reporting for your safety. On Earth, human activities are changing the natural greenhouse.
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Over the last century, the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). This happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO2.
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To a lesser extent, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry, and other human activities has increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.
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So, what are you doing wrong really?
CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Human activities are changing the natural greenhouse (NASA, 2019).
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The industrial activities that our modern civilization depends upon have raised atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from 280 parts per million to 400 parts per million in the last 150 years.
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Globally, trash released nearly 800 million metric tons (882 million tons) of CO2equivalent in 2010 — about 11 percent of all methane generated by humans.
- E-waste:
- The production of one ton of silver results in the emission of 144 t of COâ‚‚.
- The emissions for the production of one ton of gold amount to 16,991 t of COâ‚‚ thereby making it the metal with the highest climate impact.
- For the production of one ton of palladium, 9,380 t of COâ‚‚ are emitted.
- Steel production results in COâ‚‚ emission of 2.04 t for one ton of steel.
- Extracting one ton of aluminum through primary production leads to emissions of 10.02t of COâ‚‚.
- During the entire processing chain for the production of one ton of nickel emissions of 19.53 t of COâ‚‚ occur.
- Primary production of one ton of lead generates emissions of 3.2 t of COâ‚‚
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
The consequences of changing the natural atmospheric greenhouse are difficult to predict, but certain effects seem likely (NASA, 2019):
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On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may welcome warmer temperatures, but others may not.
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Warmer conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation overall, but individual regions will vary, some becoming wetter and others dryer.
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A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the oceans and partially melt glaciers and other ice, increasing sea level. Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing further to sea level rise.
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Meanwhile, some crops and other plants may respond favorably to increased atmospheric CO2, growing more vigorously and using water more efficiently. At the same time, higher temperatures and shifting climate patterns may change the areas where crops grow best and affect the makeup of natural plant communities.
What can we do to rectify these lists of causes contributing to the harm in our atmosphere? If we can make it, we can unmake it right?