News Highlights:
According to a new study published, limiting global temperature rise to the UN-mandated Paris Agreement target of 2 degrees Celsius is probably insufficient to prevent an accelerated sea level rise over the next century.
Highlights of the study:
- Rapid sea level rise.
- The study says, if the global temperature rise is not kept below 1.8°C, the world could witness an “irreversible loss” of west Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets and a rapid sea level rise.
- Greenland and the Antarctica ice sheet will likely contribute about 60-70 centimetres to the global mean sea level rise over the next 130 years under a high emission scenario.
- The west Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets play a crucial role in future sea level rise
- By 2150, global sea level rise is estimated to rise by roughly 1.4, 0.5 and 0.2 metres under high, mid and low-emission scenarios, respectively.
- Suggestions:
- The increase in sea level could be avoided under a low greenhouse gas emission scenario, with temperatures staying below 1.5 °C.
- Reaching net zero carbon emissions before 2060 is critical to avoid this catastrophe.
Effects of climate change:
- A rise in atmospheric temperature:
- The greenhouse gases released due to human activities are increasing the temperature of the Earth.
- The last 6 years topped the list of hottest years ever recorded.
- The increase in temperature is the major cause of the current increase in heat-related deaths and illnesses, rise in sea levels and an increase in the intensity of natural disasters.
- Rising sea levels:
- An increase in the temperature of the Earth leads to a rise in sea level due to the thermal expansion (a condition wherein the warm water takes up more area than cooler water). The melting of glaciers adds to this problem.
- The population living in under-lying areas, islands and coasts are threatened by the rising sea levels.
- It erodes shorelines, damage properties and destroys ecosystems like mangroves and wetlands that protect coasts from storms.
- In the last 100 years, the sea level has risen to 4-8 inches and will continue to rise between 4 and 36 inches in the next 100 years.
- Ocean Acidification:
- The increase in the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere has increased the CO2 absorption in the ocean. This makes the ocean acidic.
- The increase in the acidification of the ocean can be harmful to many marine species like plankton, molluscs, etc.
- The corals are especially susceptible to this as they find it difficult to create and maintain the skeletal structures needed for their survival.
- Economic impacts:
- It is estimated that if action is not taken to address the carbon emissions, climate change could cost about 5 to 20% of the annual global GDP.
- In contrast, the cost to lessen the most damaging effects of climate change is just 1% of the GDP.
- Climate change can alter shoreline habitats. This may lead to the need for relocation of ports and near-shore infrastructures and habitats, costing about millions of dollars.
- The increased hurricanes and other related natural disasters can bring forth extreme economic losses caused by damaged properties and infrastructures.
- Health issues:
- The high temperature across the globe can pose health risks and deaths.
- The increased heat waves caused by climate change have led to the deaths of many globally.
- For instance, in 2003, the extreme heatwaves led to the death of more than 20,000 people in Europe and caused more than 1,500 deaths in India.
- Climate change increases the spreading of contagious diseases as the long-term warm weather allows disease-carrying insects, animals and microbes to survive longer.
- Disease and pests that were once confined to the tropics may find it habitable in the colder regions that were previously inhospitable.
Government Initiatives on Climate change:
- National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC):
- To counter the emerging threats from climate change, India released its National Action Plan to Combat Climate Change (NAPCC).
- As a part of the NAPCC, the Indian government had launched 8 missions on focused areas.
- National Solar Mission
- National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
- National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
- National Water Mission
- National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
- National Mission for a “Green India” Goals
- National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
- National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
- Other Initiatives:
- State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC)
- FAME Scheme for E-mobility
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for Smart Cities
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
- UJALA scheme
Pic Courtesy: Freepik
Content Source: Down To Earth