1

GLOBAL WARMING
AND
TEMPERATURE CHANGE
This Article is taken from
our:

ISBN :
9789385846335

he Earths
climate
system
changes
its
average
temperature
since
1950shas
andwitnessed
these changes
have in
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 nearsurface 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.

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 Earths
orbit around the Sun.
Radiative forcing from CO 2, 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 CO 2 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 2C 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 CO 2 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
consensu on the issue
s
through its firm belief in
Future ice,
Paris to abid by all the
e
snowpack and
principles like CBDR,
permafrost
historic responsibility,
al
Loss of
Future sea
polluter to pay and equity;
which were added in the
level
Biodiversity
change
new Paris agreement and
finally accepted as well.
Increasing
greenhouse
gases

Future Climate Change

Future
Ocean

precipitation

Continue emission of
d
s
greenhou gases
will
se
cause futur
climate

Aci di fication

and storm
events

change
s
warmer

tha
include
t
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 Organizations survey of 1600
world cities; Delhis 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 worlds 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
Indias 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 Indias climate friendly and
sustainable practices, titled- Parampara. He further stated that
by 2030, 40% of our installed capacity will be based on nonfossil 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 Chinas 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.