Fossil fuels, encompassing coal, oil, and gas, stand as the primary driver of worldwide climate shifts, responsible for more than 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and almost 90 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions.
As these emissions envelop the planet, they ensnare the sun’s warmth, resulting in the phenomenon of global warming and consequential climate alterations. Currently, the pace of Earth’s warming surpasses any historical precedent. The gradual elevation of temperatures is progressively reshaping weather trends and unsettling the customary equilibrium of the natural world. This situation poses a multitude of hazards to both humanity and all other living entities inhabiting the Earth.
According to the UN, the primary causes are:
Power Generation
The process of generating electricity and heat through the combustion of fossil fuels constitutes a substantial portion of worldwide emissions. Predominantly, electricity production relies on the burning of coal, oil, or gas, resulting in the release of potent greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, which envelop the Earth and ensnare solar heat. Globally, slightly more than a quarter of electricity originates from renewable sources such as wind and solar, which exhibit minimal to no emission of greenhouse gases or pollutants into the atmosphere, in contrast to fossil fuels.
Manufacturing Activities
Industrial manufacturing yields emissions primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels to power the creation of various goods, including cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, and garments. Mining and other industrial procedures also emit gases, as does the construction sector. Machinery employed in manufacturing frequently operates on coal, oil, or gas, while certain materials, like plastics, stem from chemicals derived from fossil fuels. The manufacturing industry stands as one of the foremost contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Deforestation
The clearance of forests for purposes like agriculture or pasturage releases emissions as trees, when felled, release the carbon they have stored. Roughly 12 million hectares of forest are lost annually. This practice not only results in the emission of carbon dioxide but also hampers nature’s ability to absorb emissions. Deforestation, combined with agricultural practices and land use changes, accounts for around a quarter of total global greenhouse gas emissions.
Transportation Sector
A significant proportion of automobiles, trucks, ships, and airplanes run on fossil fuels, making transportation a notable emitter of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. Road vehicles, powered by petroleum-based products like gasoline, contribute the most due to internal combustion engines. Emissions from maritime and aviation industries are also on the rise. Transportation is responsible for nearly a quarter of energy-related global carbon dioxide emissions. Projections suggest a substantial increase in energy consumption for transportation in the forthcoming years.
Food Production
The production of food generates emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane through activities like deforestation, land clearance for agriculture and grazing, digestion by livestock, fertilizer and manure use in crop cultivation, and energy consumption for farm machinery and fishing boats, often reliant on fossil fuels. Food production holds a significant role in driving climate change, with greenhouse gas emissions also stemming from the packaging and distribution of food.
Building Energy Use
Globally, residential and commercial structures consume more than half of all electricity. As these structures continue to rely on coal, oil, and natural gas for temperature regulation, substantial quantities of greenhouse gas emissions are released. Escalating demands for heating, cooling, and increased electricity consumption from lighting, appliances, and electronic devices have led to a rise in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from buildings in recent times.
Excessive Consumption
Individual actions such as household energy use, transportation choices, dietary preferences, and waste disposal collectively contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The consumption of goods like clothing, electronics, and plastics also plays a role. A substantial portion of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to private households. Our lifestyles significantly impact the planet, with the highest responsibility resting on the wealthiest individuals – the top 1 percent of the global population collectively emits more greenhouse gases than the bottom 50 percent.
The primary effects are:
Rising Temperatures
With the escalation of greenhouse gas concentrations, global surface temperatures are on the rise. The most recent decade, spanning from 2011 to 2020, stands as the warmest on record. Since the 1980s, each successive decade has experienced higher temperatures. Virtually all land areas are witnessing an increase in the frequency of hot days and heat waves. Elevated temperatures contribute to heat-related illnesses and complicate outdoor work conditions. Hotter conditions also lead to easier ignition and more rapid spread of wildfires. Notably, Arctic temperatures have surged at a rate at least twice that of the global average.
Intensified Storms
Destructive storms have grown both more frequent and more intense across various regions. As temperatures climb, increased moisture evaporation exacerbates extreme rainfall and flooding, resulting in more potent storms. The warming ocean also influences the frequency and scale of tropical storms. Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons thrive on warm ocean surface waters. Such storms frequently cause devastation to homes, communities, and ecosystems, causing loss of life and substantial economic damages.
Heightened Drought
Climate change is altering water availability, making it scarcer in numerous regions. Global warming intensifies water scarcity in regions that were already water-stressed. This, in turn, raises the risk of agricultural droughts impacting crops and ecological droughts rendering ecosystems more vulnerable. Droughts can trigger sand and dust storms with massive sand movement across continents. Deserts are expanding, reducing arable land. Many individuals now confront the recurring threat of inadequate water supply.
Elevating, Expanding Oceans
The majority of global warming’s heat is absorbed by the ocean. Over the past two decades, the rate of ocean warming has considerably accelerated across all ocean depths. As the ocean heats, its volume expands due to thermal expansion. The melting of ice sheets also contributes to rising sea levels, endangering coastal and island communities. Additionally, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, reducing atmospheric levels. However, increased carbon dioxide results in ocean acidification, posing a hazard to marine life and coral reefs.
Species Loss
Climate change poses a significant risk to species survival, particularly as temperatures continue to rise. The ongoing loss of species is exacerbated by climate change, occurring at a rate approximately 1,000 times faster than historical norms. An estimated one million species face the threat of extinction within the coming decades. Forest fires, extreme weather, invasive pests, and diseases are among the many challenges linked to climate change. While some species can relocate and adapt, others may not survive.
Food Insecurity
Shifts in climate patterns and an increase in extreme weather events contribute to a global rise in hunger and malnutrition. Fisheries, crops, and livestock are susceptible to destruction or reduced productivity. Acidification of the ocean puts marine resources, vital for billions, at risk. Alterations in snow and ice coverage in various Arctic regions disrupt food sources derived from herding, hunting, and fishing. Heat stress impacts water availability and grazing land, leading to diminished crop yields and affecting livestock.
Heightened Health Risks
Climate change represents the foremost health threat to humanity. Its impacts are already affecting health through factors such as air pollution, disease spread, extreme weather events, forced displacement, mental health strains, and increased hunger and malnutrition in regions unable to sustain sufficient food production. Annually, around 13 million lives are claimed by environmental factors. Changing weather patterns expand the prevalence of diseases, while extreme weather events raise mortality rates and strain healthcare systems.
Poverty and Displacement
Climate change amplifies the factors that perpetuate poverty. Floods can engulf urban slums, obliterating homes and livelihoods. Excessive heat can impede outdoor labor. Water scarcity jeopardizes crop yields. Over the past decade (2010–2019), weather-related incidents displaced an average of 23.1 million individuals each year, leaving many more susceptible to poverty. A significant number of refugees originate from nations least equipped to adapt to climate change impacts and most vulnerable to its consequences.
Source: UN
