1

GLOBAL WARMING AND

TEMPERATURE CHANGE

This Article is taken from our:

ISBN : 9789385846335
 2

T he Earth’s climate system has witnessed changes in its average

temperature since 1950s and these changes have been alarming to an
extent that has led to global warming. But, over the globe the temperature
changes vary. The measure of global warming indicates the rise of near-
surface atmospheric temperature and scientific studies have proved that this
increase in atmospheric temperature has resulted into the transfer of this
additional energy from the climate system to the oceans further leading to
oceanic warming. Melting of ice and warming of continents are what we have
been facing lately due to this climatic shift and in 2014 the Intergovernmental Panel
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a panel comprising of more
than 1,300 scientists from the United States and other countries. It has forecasted that
over the next century there would be a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

on Climate Change (IPCC) reported the greenhouse gases to be the major

cause of global warming. It has been reported by NASA scientists that
human-made carbon dioxide is increasing beyond limits not observed in
hundreds of thousands of years. About half of the carbon dioxide produced
post burning of fossil fuels persists in the atmosphere at present and this
amount remains unabsorbed by the vegetation and the oceans.
 3

Causes of Temperature Changes

External Forces
These include changes in the external forcing which are external to the
climate system but not external to the Earth; like changes in the atmospheric
composition. Examples of such forcing include increased concentrations of
greenhouse gases, solar luminosity, volcanic eruptions and variations in
Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Radiative forcing from CO2, methane, tropospheric ozone CFCs and nitrous
oxide has also increased with the increase in amount of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere due to human activity since the Industrial Revolution.
Over the past 20 years, burning of fossil fuels has produced three-quarters
of increase in CO2 from human activity. Changes in land use, particularly
deforestation have been another reason for the rest of the increase.
Environmental Effects
• Some of the observed changes owing to the anthropogenic forcing are
sea level rise, changes in climate extremes like number of warm and cold
days, declines in Arctic sea ice extent, greening of the Sahara and glacier
retreat.
• The widespread retreat of glaciers and snow cover is projected to continue.
The Arctic summer is also predicted to be ice-free as early as 2025-2030.
• There might be plausible increase in the frequency and severity of some
extreme weather events like heat waves. Greater warming over land might
also occur due to changes in regional climate, where Southern Ocean and
parts of North Atlantic Ocean may experience least warming while high
northern latitudes may be most warmed.
• Recent years have also seen the sea level rise, which if sustained might
bring widespread coastal flooding. More than 2°C of global warming
can cause the sea level to rise eventually from 1to 4 m due to the thermal
expansion of sea water and melting of glaciers and small ice caps. Certain
ecosystems may also be affected leading to extinction of many species
and reduced diversity.
• As carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere dissolve in the ocean,
the pH level of the oceans decrease leading to oceanic acidification;
which adversely affects many marine species like plankton, shellfish
and corals. Increase in ocean acidification leads to decline in calcium
carbonate which is the key building block for the shells and skeletons of
many marine organisms. The continuous rise in CO2 level will lead to
combined effect of global warming along with ocean acidification further
slowing the coral growth by nearly 50% by 2050.
Retorting to Global Warming at Global scale
In order to combat this issue, priority should be given to reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions which can be achieved by enhancing the capacity of
carbon sinks which would absorb the GHGs from the atmosphere. Energy
conservation and increased energy efficiency may reduce emissions. Besides
these, the use of low-carbon technologies like renewable energy, nuclear
energy and carbon capture and storage will potentially reduce emissions to
a greater extent. Reforestation and discouraging deforestation will further
enhance carbon sinks.
 4
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) is a convention agreed in 1992 involving participation of many
countries and aims at preventing dangerous human interference in the climate
system. It states to maintain the GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a
level where ecosystems can adapt naturally to climate change without letting
food production be threatened and economic development being slowed.
The objective of the UNFCCC was implemented by Kyoto Protocol held in
Kyoto, Japan. This international treaty sets binding treaty on industrialised
countries to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. The Protocol was
adopted by the parties to the UNFCCC in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and came
into force in 2005. It was based on the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities and put an onus of reducing current emissions on developed
nations owing to their historical responsibility for contributing to the current
levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Its commitment period started
in 2008 and ended in 2012. It was not that effective in curbing the climate
change.
In 2012, a second commitment period was agreed to extend the life of
Kyoto Protocol, which was termed as the Doha Amendment which saw
participation of 37 countries participating with binding targets. Based on
the concept of “loss and damage”, it focused on the principle that failure
of richer nations to reduce carbon emissions would make them financially
responsible to other nations. After objections from Russia and many other
nations, the conference culminated into a package of documents called The
Doha Climate Gateway; which enforced on extending the Kyoto Protocol
until 2020. As per this, India and Brazil are not subjected to any emission
reductions. Little progress towards the funding of Green Climate Fund was
also made in this conference.
The Paris Climate Conference, which took place from November 30 to
December 11, looked to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement
on climate for checking global warming. India has been much in focus of
developed nations and also been said to be a challenge by the US Secretary
of State John Kerry. India however has remained proactive in forging the
consensus on the issue
through its firm belief in
Future ice, Paris to abide by all the
snowpack and
permafrost
principles like CBDR,
historical responsibility,
polluter to pay and equity;
Loss of Future sea
Biodiversity level change which were added in the
new Paris agreement and
finally accepted as well.
Increasing
greenhouse Future Climate Change
gases
Continued emissions of
Future greenhouse gases will
Ocean precipitation cause future climate
Aci di fication and storm
events changes that include
warmer atmosphere,
 5
warmer and more acidic ocean, higher sea levels and larger changes in
precipitation patterns. What we do now will determine the future climate
changes accordingly. More emission will lead to larger changes.
Our stand along with the world
According to the World Health Organization’s survey of 1600 world cities;
Delhi’s air quality has been recorded to be the worst of any major city in
the world. The poor quality of air in Delhi damages the lungs of 2.2 million
or 50% children. As a solution to this, the AAP government has come up
with the odd-even formula for private vehicles which is said to be enforced
from January 1, 2016. This would lead to nearly 10 lakhs private vehicles
staying off roads. The proposal would allow private vehicles, including
two-wheelers with odd and even registration numbers on roads of national
capital only on alternate days.
The recent COP21- 21st Conference of Parties Climate Summit held in Paris
focused on negotiations based on the principles of equity and common but
differentiated responsibilities. China has been noted to emit about 30% of
the world’s greenhouse gases and the U.S. about 16%.
At the opening session of the World Climate Change Conference 2015
at Le Bourget near Paris, in his speech the Indian Prime Minister, Mr.
Narendra Modi has pointed out India’s ambitious target of producing 175
GW of renewable energy. He also urged the developed nations to fulfil their
responsibilities of making clean energy affordable and accessible to all in the
developing world and further quoted $100 billion a year plan for assistance
from the rich to poor nations by 2020. These funds are necessitated to clean
up coal-based generation. He said that our nation is working to take forward
development and protect environment together. He also released a book
on India’s climate friendly and sustainable practices, titled- Parampara. He
further stated that by 2030, 40% of our installed capacity will be based on
non-fossil fuel. In his words, we need to look beyond climate change and
focus on Climate Justice.
An amount of $7 billion has been pledged for clean energy research by
Mr. Bill Gates and other investors. Other backers and potential investors in
new energy technologies include U.S. President Barack Obama, Facebook
founder Mark Zuckerberg, billionaires George Soros and Saudi Prince
Alaweed bin Talal, Jack Ma of China’s Alibaba and Indian industrialist
Mukesh Ambani.
United States, Canada and nine European countries have pledged nearly
$250 million as help to vulnerable countries so that they can adapt to rising
seas, droughts and other consequences of climate change.
The fight against climate change has become a major global challenge
after terrorism and it needs to be battled through united and strong global
agreement of working together through binding objectives. It is only possible
when we all think of a greener tomorrow and use our resources judiciously
without compromising the needs of future generations.