Environmental science isn't for everyone. So, despite the relevance of climate change, not everyone can understand it. This article will deconstruct climate change's causes, effects and the steps you can take to save the environment.

What is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns over the past few decades. Changes such as this can be normal due to differences in solar activity and volcanic eruptions, but since the 1800s the primary reason for climate change has been humans.

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8 Causes Of Climate Change

Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, is the primary driver of climate change. But why is this? When fossil fuels are burnt, greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, these gases trap the sun's heat and raise the temperature; carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are the main culprits.

1. Power plants - A study of 29,000 power plants found that 5% contributed to the global electricity industry’s carbon dioxide emissions.
2. Agriculture - According to the World Bank agriculture produces between 19-29% of total greenhouse gas emissions, as global food consumption increases, so do the emissions. Methane is released by livestock, ⅓ of agriculture's methane emissions and rice paddies, produce 11% of agricultural emissions.
3. Vehicles and Transport - Using transportation results in approximately ⅓ % of US greenhouse gas emissions. At 9% airplanes are a big contributor, alongside the 3% added by ships.
4. Landfills - Landfills are a serious environmental and health hazard, so-called “super emitter” landfills contribute 43% of measured methane emissions because the decomposition of the rubbish releases methane.
5. Deforestation - Our forests and trees act as carbon sinks because they absorb CO2 for photosynthesis, and fewer trees mean more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and even worse when trees are cut down all that carbon is released.
6. Fracking - The process in which high-pressure liquid is shot into rocks deep underground which opens fissures for the extraction of oil and gas and leads to methane being released.
7. Overfishing - Fish species are slowly being depleted, decreasing the resilience of marine life and increasing the risk of ocean warming; more marine life means more carbon emissions are stored.
8. Consumerism - Consumerism means buying things and a 2015 study revealed the production and use of household goods resulted in a 60% increase in global greenhouse gas emissions.

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The Effects

Since 1850, average global temperatures have risen by more than 1 degree Celsius (33.8 F), the years 2015 - 2020 were the hottest ever recorded.

• 1 degree Celsius (33.8 F) may not seem like a lot but it has already had devastating effects; heatwaves have become the deadliest global weather hazard
• 3mm a year is how much the sea levels are rising, due to Arctic ice melting and oceans expanding as they heat up
• For every 1 degree Celsius rise in average temperature, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture
• Climate change increases the factors that put and keep people in poverty
• Changing weather patterns are increasing the spread of diseases, such as malaria
• Heat stress, droughts and floods pose a threat to global food supply
• As temperatures climb more species are at risk of endangerment and extinction

The most relevant and noticeable effect of climate change is extreme weather.

Flooding

Globally, heavy rainfall events are increasing and have become 10-40% heavier. For example, in May 2024 southern Brazil experienced heavy rains, resulting in widespread flooding and displacing approximately 150,000 people. Scientists believe that the deadly flooding Libya faced in September 2023 was made up to 50 times more likely due to climate change.

Heatwaves

Even a small shift in global temperatures can have a devastating difference to the intensity and likelihood of “hot days”. The World Weather Attribution stated that the high temperatures we've been seeing, worldwide, would not have been possible without human-driven climate change. In the UK, extensive disruption was caused by temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) for the first time since records began. That's not even the worst of it. In April 2024, an extreme heatwave in Africa caused Mali to record a temperature of 48.5 (119.3 F) degrees Celsius.

Wildfires

Climate change acts as the perfect fuel for fires. Long-lasting periods of heat draw moisture out of the soils and vegetation, and dry land acts as an amplifier for wildfires, which can spread at an incredible rate, especially if aided by powerful winds. Rising temperatures can also increase the likelihood of lightning which can trigger wildfires.

Canada saw its worst wildfire season on record in 2023. To put this into perspective, the greenhouse gases emitted, in one wildfire season, would be expected to be released in a decade. 12 billion tonnes of CO2 were released, and the fires were made three times as likely by climate change.

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How Can We Help?

This article may have made it sound like Earth is doomed to death by climate change. BUT, changes can be made, even by you, that help to prevent the intensification of climate change.

1. Save energy at home - turn off the lights, have energy-efficient appliances, hang clothes up to dry instead of using a dryer
2. Walk, cycle or take public transport - you don't need to make a car journey for short distances, walking or cycling reduces CO2 emissions and is beneficial for your health
3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - electronics, clothes, and plastics all cause carbon emissions in their manufacturing process, to protect the planet: buy fewer things, shop second hand and reuse what you can
4. Throw away less food - when food is left to rot in a landfill, it produces methane and wastes the resources and energy that were used to produce it
5. Speak UP - if you can't raise money, raise awareness, more people need to be aware of their carbon footprint, now more than ever

The Earth can still be saved, climate change should not be our planet's fate.

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