Daily Times

The modern world is dealing with terrorism, war, and natural disasters. Of these the most debated but least attended concern is that of global warming. Global warming as suggested by evidence has led to rising temperatures and sea levels and as a consequence, natural disasters, extreme weather events and health problems are also occurring at a rapid rate. The matter’s urgency requires immediate attention. In its synthesis report, the United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed that there has been a 0.6 Celsius degree rise in global temperatures and predicated a surge of 1.4 to 5.8 Celsius by the year 2100. Precipitation levels also indicate that the planet is becoming warmer and climate data reveals an upward trend in global precipitation. Precipitation has also increased over areas located in the northern hemisphere even during winter.

A UN report stated that sea levels have risen by 20 CM during the 20th century and could increase a further 20 to 80cm by 2100

As a result the world is experiencing frequent and stronger hurricanes and fiercer storms. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc in the United States, and a couple of years later, Pakistan witnessed the devastating floods of 2010. The IPCC report also states that sea levels have risen by 20cm during the twentieth century and could increase a further 20 to 80cm by 2100. As both the poles of the Earth are covered with ice – Arctic and Antratic – melting glaciers can cause a cataclysmic rise in ocean levels, resulting in oceanic calamities. The greenhouse effect as caused an increase in earth’s surface temperature. This natural process keeps the planet warm by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Increase in carbon emissions has caused the planet to be warmer than required. A layer of greenhouse gases primarily include water vapour, carbon dioxide and small amounts methane and nitrous-oxide. Carbon emissions are also a result of deforestation as plants absorb carbon dioxide. Each year forest area,roughly the size of Panama is lost. According to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) deforestation is responsible for 20 percent of greenhouse gas emission. As the result of rapid industrialisation and technological boom the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has sharply increased. The industry’s dependence on fossil fuels has caused a soar in the C02 levels. All this will result in an increase in natural disasters like floods, draughts tsunamis and hurricanes that are a huge threat to life. A look at the floods of 2010-2012 that killed more than 3000 people and resulted in loss of Rs 816 billion illustrates this point.

Published in Daily Times, September 18^th 2018.