GLOBAL WARMING AND ITS EFFECTS

Mombasa Sunday June 18, 2023

By Martin Ndichu

Global Warming

Climate change, a multifaceted phenomenon, driven by human activities and the excessive emission of greenhouse gases, has unleashed far reaching consequences on our planets delicate ecosystem, the weather patterns and the overall sustainability.

Global warming generally refers to the long term increase in the Earths average surface temperature, and the rise is primarily attributed to the escalating of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, trapping heat and causing a disruption in the planets natural equilibrium.

Deforestation by individuals in the world has contributed in global warming, this is because plants release oxygen and take in carbon dioxide therefore helps in maintaining a balanced environment.

The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas for energy production and transportation, leads to production of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide which traps the heat from the sun and prevents it from escaping back to space leading to global warming.

The rising temperatures have led to the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, contributing to rise in the sea levels, which increases the frequency and intensity of flooding and erodes coastal ecosystem therefore becomes a threat to coastal communities. 

Scientist have since established that global warming may lead to increased growth of pollen -producing ragweed, higher levels of air pollution and the spread of conditions favorable to pathogens and mosquitos, thus will lead to outbreak of diseases such as allergies and asthma.

In this era we as individuals should be able to navigate through simple steps to prevent global warming which include, using renewable energies such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal, since they don’t produce much carbon-dioxide to the atmosphere.

Other means to prevent global warming include sustainable agriculture and forest management, responsible consumption and recycling, sustainable transportation and sustainable infrastructure.

The scientific consensus Cleary states that human activities are the primary drivers of climate change, and the consequences of unchecked global warming are severe, therefore it’s evident that urgent action is imperative to address this global crisis.

According to John Houghton, “The impacts of global warming are such that I have no hesitation in describing it as a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ like terrorism, this weapon knows no boundaries. It can strike anywhere, in any form. 

END