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Climate Change

About Climate Change

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What is Climate Change

It has been said that “climate is what you expect and weather is what you get”. Climate change refers to a gradual shift in the overall weather occurrences associated with an increase in global average temperatures. Basically, it is the long-term shift in average weather patterns across the world. Since the mid-1800s, humans have contributed to an excessive release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air, causing global temperatures to rise which has resulted in persistent changes to the climate.
 
Changes in the earth’s climate, due to human activities — also known as anthropogenic climate change — include increasing air and sea surface temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, ocean acidification, sea-level rise and changes in frequency and intensity of extreme events like floods, droughts and tropical cyclones.
 
Difference between global warming and climate change
 
These terms are often used interchangeably but have different meanings. Global warming is just one of the many aspects of climate change. The term ‘global warming’ refers to the recent rise in the global average temperature near the earth's surface which is caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) in the atmosphere.
 
Climate change effects
 
Extreme weather conditions: Changes in precipitation patterns, including extreme precipitation events like storms and floods are becoming more severe and frequent in many regions, and this is expected to continue.
 
Droughts: Rising temperatures lead to increased rates of evaporation and can cause more rapid drying of soils. Without a reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions, longer-term droughts are expected to intensify in much of the Southwest, the Great Plains, and the Southeast.
 
Rising ocean levels: Rising temperatures are causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt, adding more water to the oceans and causing the ocean level to rise. Oceans absorb 90 per cent of the extra heat from global warming, so warmer water expands, and our oceans occupy more space.
 
Ocean acidification: It occurs when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes more acidic. It is often called the 'evil twin' of the climate change.
 
Impact on health: Climate change is increasing mankind’s exposure to extreme temperatures, weather events, degraded air quality, diseases transmitted through food, water, and insects, and stresses to mental health and well-being. These threats to human health are expected to increase with continued and unchecked climate change.

Latest Updates on Climate Change

Sven Ostberg, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai, cited examples of Envac's solid waste management systems in Mumbai and Gujarat, and IVL's wastewater treatment plant addressing pollution

Updated On: 22 Dec 2024 | 11:18 AM IST

China has also built major dams on Tibet's major rivers to block access to water to downstream countries

Updated On: 21 Dec 2024 | 2:18 PM IST

Warmer days may come as a welcome reprieve for those who endure freezing winters, but the trend is troubling as higher temperatures impact everything from sports to drinking water

Updated On: 17 Dec 2024 | 7:12 AM IST

Jean Baptiste-Fressoz's book exposes how governments and corporations embrace green rhetoric while reinforcing the carbon economy

Updated On: 17 Dec 2024 | 1:29 AM IST

The Arctic of today looks stunningly different from the Arctic of even one to two decades ago

Updated On: 11 Dec 2024 | 10:06 AM IST

In her address at an event hosted by the NHRC here to mark the Human Rights Day, the President also underlined that cyber crimes and climate change are new threats to human rights

Updated On: 10 Dec 2024 | 2:08 PM IST

C3S said data from January to November had confirmed 2024 is now certain to be the hottest year on record, and the first in which average global temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius

Updated On: 09 Dec 2024 | 9:13 AM IST

The world has no doubt moved ahead on its journey to build a low-carbon economy and this cannot be reversed so easily

Updated On: 08 Dec 2024 | 11:25 PM IST

The case, though not binding, is expected to spell out what countries are legally required to do to combat climate change

Updated On: 07 Dec 2024 | 7:58 AM IST

India home of about 17.8% of global population, its contribution to climate change less than 4%, said JS, MEA Luther M Rangrezi to ICJ

Updated On: 05 Dec 2024 | 11:53 PM IST

Rao said the RBI has been proactive to mitigate the climate change risks that may impact the financial system

Updated On: 04 Dec 2024 | 11:04 PM IST

Ethanol producers in particular are hoping sustainable aviation fuels will provide market growth

Updated On: 04 Dec 2024 | 9:49 AM IST

Mariners pushing for wind power say investors used to view them as something of a joke, but as they pioneer a comeback for sail-powered cargo ships, they're having the last laugh

Updated On: 02 Dec 2024 | 1:22 PM IST

To hit $2.6 trillion - approaching the annual economic output of France - the world needs to close an annual gap of $278 billion, after just $66 billion was invested in 2022, the UN said

Updated On: 02 Dec 2024 | 10:08 AM IST

A key agreement at Baku was on establishing high integrity carbon markets, following a breakthrough on establishing standards for a centralised international carbon market

Updated On: 01 Dec 2024 | 11:05 PM IST

In the decade up to 2023, sea levels have risen by a global average of around 4.3 centimeters (1.7 inches), with parts of the Pacific rising higher still

Updated On: 01 Dec 2024 | 10:07 AM IST

The statement has come in the wake of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel the award of tungsten mining rights in Madurai district

Updated On: 29 Nov 2024 | 11:03 PM IST

India, she said, was rising and the world was acknowledging the country's role in various sectors, including defence. The country was moving towards indigenisation and self-reliance to keep the armed

Updated On: 28 Nov 2024 | 2:29 PM IST

Two weeks of acrimonious negotiations in Azerbaijan's capital Baku resulted in a deal for $300 billion in annual climate finance by 2035

Updated On: 25 Nov 2024 | 12:31 PM IST

India's revised NBS-AP has done well to set 23 well-advised targets conforming to various global biodiversity-related conventions

Updated On: 24 Nov 2024 | 11:54 PM IST