Climate change has become a serious concern for global leaders, environmentalists, and other citizens. Despite many international actions that have been already taken to prevent climate change, the expected results have not been achieved yet. In this article, first, we briefly discuss the meaning and impact of climate change. Then we analyze the importance of preventing climate change and things that have been done to prevent climate change to date. After discussing the meaning, impact, and international action taken, I will present suggestions to prevent climate change from the policy, governmental, and individual sides.
Meaning of Climate Change
The state of the atmosphere at an area and time is considered as weather and the long-term weather condition prevailing in the is known as climate. Hence, climate change is the long-term shift in weather patterns. Both natural and human activities cause these shifts.
For example variations in the solar cycle is the example of natural activity whereas burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas are a human activity that drives climate change. Since the 18th century, human activities have been the main driver of climate change.
Impact of Climate Change
Some people say that climate change sometimes may have a positive impact also, such as a low death rate from cold. The fact is that these impacts are not positive impact because this is a very short-term benefit that will not last for long period. So, climate change has lost of negative impact which can be listed as follows:
- Rise in maximum and minimum temperature.
- Rise in sea level.
- Change in rain pattern (such as heavy rains, lack of rain, and droughts)
- Decrease in agriculture production
- Glacial eruption
- Extinction of flora and fauna of a particular region
- Infection with a new disease from a new virus and bacteria. (Such as Coronavirus)
- Adverse impact on biodiversity.
Why do we need to take action on climate change?
The simple answer to the above question is ‘to save the planet and live a healthy life’. As we have discussed earlier the impact of climate change we get the warning message for its prevention. Unless we prevent this rapid pattern of climate change, we will lose our healthy environment for living and ultimately we will have to struggle hard to exist on this planet.
International Action Taken To Prevent Climate Change
- Earth Summit, 1992: Held in 1992, known as the Rio conference.
- Kyoto Conference, 1997
- 13th Goal of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Conference of the Parties (COP): Held Every year. 27 Cope Conferences have been conducted till the end of 2022.
- Paris Agreement, 2015 (Accepted by 196 countries, signed in COP 21st conference)
- Provision of Carbon Trade
Even though the governments of all nations are agreed to stop human-caused climate change, the trend and effect of climate change are increasing nowadays. Therefore, a strong commitment is needed to prevent climate change, and I presented some suggestions to prevent climate change in the following sections.
Suggestions To Prevent Climate Change
After knowing basic things about climate change, now I would like to present applicable suggestions to prevent climate change. First, we have to know that there are two ways to combat climate change which are adaptation and prevention.
We have to adopt climate change for two reasons. The first one is that climate change may occur due to natural causes also, and the second is that we have to adapt until we prevent it.
In this article, we discuss the prevention mechanism to combat climate change. Prevention is related to those measures that stop to happen something. Following are some suggestions to prevent climate change:
1. Policy-Level Suggestions To Prevent Climate Change
To do act without policy is almost impossible, that’s why policy always comes first. Various conferences have been completed to combat climate change and from these conferences, a common global commitment had been set, but the implementation of those commitments is lacking now. The first and most priority should be on the internalization of global climate change policy in our national and local environmental policy.
2. Suggestions To Prevent Climate Change For Government
As the government is an executive body of policy, the action and decisions of the government have a larger impact. The government of all nations should have serious notes and commitment to the following area:
- Maintaining the balance between population, environment, and development.
- Pollution control and waste management
- Forest conservation and plantation
- Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Promoting organic fertilizer in agriculture
- Protection of biodiversity
- Use of renewable energy
- Reduction of the old mode of transportation, such as old buses.
- Participation in national and international forums
- Appointment of a knowledgeable minister for environment-related ministry.
3. Suggestions To Prevent Climate Change For Individual
What an individual can do to prevent climate change? It is a serious question to human being because human activities are responsible for climate change and human being himself is facing the negative impact of it. At least an individual can do for the prevention of climate change are following two things:
- To obey with guidelines, policies, and decisions of the government
- To make the government aware of making climate change-friendly decisions.
If every individual becomes clear on their duties and responsibilities, the prevention of man-created climate change is not too far.
FAQ
Question 1: How are climate change and global warming related?
Global warming is the long-term temperature increment of our planet whereas climate change is a broader range of changes occurring on our planet.
