How many of us hear the words global warming, climate change, etc but choose to ignore them, thinking that they do not affect us? Is this burying your head in the sand kind of behaviour right? Most of the youngsters that I talk to do know what global warming is, they do know that it is causing climate changes...but most often the thinking is that – “why should I care, it’s not going to effect me in my life time!”. Well, here’s a wakeup call - It’s not one day that climate change will happen, it is happening right here and right now. Do not believe me, well then, take a look for yourself at these facts and decide for yourself.
Drowning Polar Bears
Polar Bears have been found drowned in the arctic as receding ice defeats their swimming skills. Summer ice has shrunk by more than a quarter in the past fifty years thus reducing the polar bears’ habitat. Some researchers studying the animals have even reported that the polar bears may be eating each other for a lack of their usual diet of seals.
Bears in Spain
Bears in Spain have stopped hibernating for the winter — and the cause could be climate change. Many of the 130 bears in Spain's northern mountains who usually sleep through the cold season are still active because milder weather means they have enough nuts and berries to survive.
Genetic Changes in flies Global warming is leading to widespread genetic changes in some species of flies. A very small change in temperature, about ½ degrees centigrade, which seems very trivial, is not trivial to the flies.
Migrating Fishes and Insects
A warm water Atlantic triple fin fish has, for the first time been caught, off the coast of Britain, in another sign of species migrating North. Recent high temperatures have drawn a number of exotic moth species to the UK and butterfly experts predict further migration as part of a permanent trend brought on by global warming.
Barn Owls in the Arctic Barn Owls, robins, hornets and other temperate species are arriving in the Arctic for the first time.
Snows of Mount Kilimanjaro More than eighty percent of the snow on Mount Kilimanjaro has melted away.
This is just an indication of what's to come. Climate change is impacting on the natural world. “Hitherto the warming seemed to be happening fastest at the Poles — now we're getting examples of it happening further south."
In India, this July, 400 Open-Bill Storks built nests, paired, mated. And in August because of shortage of rainfall, all nests were abandoned. This is no freak incident. With the weather increasingly playing spoilsport in many parts of the country, the flora and fauna seem to be bearing the brunt. Last year mango trees in Andhra Pradesh flowered three months early because of rising heat. A few years ago, bees in the Himalayas were impacted by similar erratic flowering patterns, leading to a big drop in the honey supply. Locals have also reported a marked decline in the population of Swallows in Srinagar valley. In fact, rising temperatures in Delhi have even resulted in the near disappearance of some species of birds. Certain frog species are perhaps the most vulnerable to weather changes. With rainfall and temperature built into their lifecycle, erratic rainfall disrupts their breeding pattern.
Scientists have reason to believe that all of the above unnatural changes have been brought about as a direct consequence of, hold your breath.., GLOBAL WARMING. But how many of us know what it is, what causes it and what can we do to reduce the effect?
Well, Global Warming is a significant increase in the Earth’s climatic temperature over a relatively short period of time as a result of the activities of human beings. The greenhouse effect happens because of certain naturally occurring substances in the atmosphere. Sine the Industrial Revolution, humans have been pouring huge amount of these substances like Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, etc. into the air. Power plants, Cattle and Cars are the major contributors of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
As responsible citizens there are some simple things each of us can do to help decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Some of these include:
· Turn lights and other appliances off when you are not using them. Even though a light bulb does not generate greenhouse gas, the power plant that generates the electricity does (especially in India where we still rely on fossil fuels to generate electricity).
· Switch from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs, which use less energy and last longer.
· Walk or ride to work if possible. Vehicles burn fossil fuel, so less use reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
· Recycle. Garbage that doesn’t get recycled ends up in a landfill generating methane. Also, recycled goods also require less energy to produce than products made from scratch.
· Plant trees and other plants where you can as they take carbon dioxide out of the air and release oxygen.
· Do not burn garbage. This releases carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere.
Lets not forget that – “We have not inherited the earth from our parents; we have borrowed it from our children”.
Think of your planet as a person you love, Remember, the earth is a living being. Treat it as one and bring about a greener, healthier world for yourself and to secure your future generations.
