This blog is a complete Explanation of Major Human Causes of Climate Change. Human Causes includes the human-induced causes that enhance the Impact of Climate Changes. We will discuss the contribution of Power Generation, Manufacturing of Goods, Deforestation, Transportation, Food Production, Livestock Farming and Carbon Footprint in detail.
1. What do you know about Climate Change?
History of Climate Change:
Climate Change is one of the most significant Environmental issue in the present time. In the start of the Earth’s existence, the process of changes in climate were the slowest. It is a natural process that is continuous from the start of Earth’s existence. But as there was very less population according to the resources and Ecosystem services. And also Humans didn’t know about the Industrial processes and utilizing of Fossil Fuels on great levels, so the progress of this process was negligible. The people at that time did not know about the existence of Climatic Changes.
Industrial Revolution and Climate Change:
After industrial revolution, the Humans started using bulk of Natural resources and Fossil Fuels without Restoration practices and repairing Nature. This make the Earth’s Environment Toxic and triggered the Climate Changes related processes. Due to increase in population, more resources and products were needed for the population and so Industrial Practices increased with every passing year. Deforestation become very common for the accommodation of Earth’s Population.
In the present time, the Changes in Climate needs attention in order to Save the Earth and avoid Environmental issues. The extreme effects of Changing Climate are destroying Human health, Biodiversity, Natural Environments, and also weather patterns of the World. Industrial Processes and greenhouse gases are closely related to each other. These effects can be controlled and managed by knowing the potential Causes of Climatic Changes that are increasing its effects every year so we will be studying the Major Human Causes of Climate Change in this blog.
2. What are Human Causes?
Human Causes are the causes that are the result of Human-activities. These causes does not have the contribution of the Nature and are independently Human-driven.
These causes includes all the activities that alters, disturbs or disables any Natural process or system. These may be for the fulfilment of the fundamental needs or for any Economic purpose. In the case of Climate Changes, so the Anthropogenic Causes contributes a lot as they are in bulk. These all are collectively triggering the Natural process of Changing Climate and is also worsening its impacts with every passing year. These Anthropogenic Causes contributes in disturbing the Climate Justice in Marginalized communities. We will have a detailed discussion about the Impacts of Climate Change in any other blog.
3. What is the List of Major Human Causes of Climate Change?
Following list contains Major Causes of Climate Change:
- Power Generation
- Manufacturing of Goods
- Industrial Revolution
- Deforestation
- Transportation
- Food Production
- Livestock Farming
- Carbon Footprint
- Economic Systems
- Urbanization
Scientific Causes of Climate Change:
- Feedback Loops
- Carbon Cycle
- Aerosols and Particulate matter
- Industrial Activities etc.
These are some of the Major Anthropogenic Causes of Climate Change. We will discuss all of them one by one in the following blog.
4. What are the Industrial Causes of Climate Change?
i. Power Generation:
Power Generation is the generation of Heat or Electricity by burning huge amounts of Fossil Fuels on Industrial level. This heat can be used for any combustion process in manufacturing, chemical synthesizing and generating huge amounts of heat in the Factories so Burning of Fossil Fuel is the most common method of producing heat on large scales. This Fossil Fuel burning adds many toxic and harmful Air Pollutants (GHGs) into the air that produce heating effect within the Earth’s atmosphere. This leads to global warming. Power generation takes account of most of the heating effects created by Human Activities on Earth.
Example of Contribution of Power Generation in Climate Change:
Power generation or Fossil Fuel Burning boosts up the Green House Effect of the Earth by adding excessive Green House Gases to the Atmosphere. etc.
ii. Manufacturing of Goods:
Manufacturing of goods includes all the manufacturing activities at small scale or at the Industrial scale. This include all the Raw material containing Natural and Artificial resources that can be Renewable or Non-renewable in nature so as these resources are used non-sustainably for meeting the needs of the population. The manufacturing processes produce a huge amount of waste and also use fossil fuel burning. This adds Land pollution, Air Pollution and Water pollution that ends up into the atmosphere through Evaporation or Emissions into the Air. This takes a huge count in boosting the Climate Changes on Earth. Manufacturing of goods uses many Renewable and Non-renewable resources and so are one of the Major Human Causes of Climate Change. Landfills are also a great contributor of Methane gas.
Example of Contribution of Manufacturing of Goods in Climate Change:
Manufacturing of Iron, Steel and Cement production needs extreme heat in their manufacturing processes, so fossil fuels are used in their manufacture. This contributes in Green House Gases emissions into the atmosphere etc.
5. How Deforestation affect Climate Change?
Deforestation is the process of cutting the trees for Anthropogenic Activities and Human needs. Forests are the Natural cleaners and purifiers for the Environment. Forests takes up CO2 and converts it into the Oxygen and returns it to the atmosphere. When a large amount of trees are cut for any Anthropogenic purpose, the oxygen levels lowers, Carbon dioxide concentration increases and the cooling effect of trees turns into Global Warming because temperature is raised. So, Deforestation is one of the major contributor of Climate Changes because it warms up the Earth and makes weather patterns more extreme. That is why, it is one of the Major Human Causes of Climate Change.
Example of Contribution of Deforestation in Climate Change:
The tropical deforestation contributes to the temperature increase of 1 Degree Centigrade (1.8 degree Fahrenheit) in annual local average temperature etc.
6. What is the Contribution of Transportation in Climate Change?
Transportation means the use of vehicles for travelling from one place to another. Most of the population of the world uses Fuel-driven vehicles that consume Patrol, Gasoline or Diesel fuels to work. These fuels emits harmful and toxic gases into the atmosphere. Specifically these gases are Greenhouse Gases. These is a relation between Transportation and Industries, as huge Transport Systems are needed for transportation of goods produced in industries; i.e. shipping methods, air cargo etc. They produce heating effect into the atmosphere and gases like SO2 enhance the Photochemical Activities into the atmosphere that leads to storms, lightening, heavy rainfalls etc. so this is the reason why Transportation is one of the major human Sources of Climate Change and also Global Warming.
Example about Contribution of Transportation in Climate Change:
Most of the Air pollution declined in the year of Quarantine for COVID-19. It happened because most of the people stayed at home and most of the vehicles remain unused for few months. This shows the contribution of Transportation in Climate Change. etc.
7. What is the Contribution of Food Production in Climate Change?
Larger population demands huge consumption of food. So, for the fulfilment of this need, non-sustainable Agricultural and Farming Practices are practiced throughout the globe. These practices includes Intensive Farming, Land-use change, etc. These harmful practices uses Fertilizers and Pesticides in order to grow large amounts of Food for the population. The fertilizers and pesticides adds harmful and toxic gases i.e. Methane, NO2, SO2 etc. These are major Air Pollutants and adds warming potential to the Earth. That is why it is one of the major Human Cause of Climate Change.
Example of Contribution of Food Production in Climate Change:
Global Food system contributes 31% in the Human made Green House Gases production and equating about 17 Billion metric tons of Carbon dioxide equivalent etc.
8. What is the Contribution of Livestock Farming in Climate Change?
Livestock farming includes the brought up of livestock and all processes related to it. Livestock farming is very important as humans use livestock as food and for making goods, products and for many other uses. But unfortunately Livestock takes up a large amount of resources such as food, water, etc. It also contributes in the production of harmful air pollutants such as Methane. Methane from livestock farming is directly emitted by the animals at the farm and their wastes also emit Methane. This gas has much more warming potential than that of CO2 and methane emissions has great Climate Impact. Methane emissions from agriculture are also significant in driving Climate Changes. In this way, Livestock Farming is one of the Major Human Causes of Climate Change as it intensifies its Impacts.
Example of Contribution of Livestock Farming in Climate Change:
The land-use changes because of the raising of Livestock adds many harmful gases and pollutants into the Environment such as Methane and Nitrous oxides emissions etc.
9. What is the Contribution of Carbon Footprint on Climate Change?
Carbon footprint is the concept of CO2 emissions by one person. It relates that everything we use in our daily life involves carbon dioxide emissions during their production. So, the more products and non-sustainable things we will use, the higher our Footprint will be. The use of electricity, using different products and driving your personal vehicles throughout the day. If we do not work on our Carbon Footprint, it will grow keep enhancing through years. The most reliable solution for decreasing and also helps in minimizing your Footprint of Carbon is to adopt Eco-friendly products and implement Sustainable Living. This Footprint involves great account of CO2 emissions, so it is also a Major Human Cause of Climate Change.
Black Carbon Climate Change Impact:
Black carbon is a light-absorbing particulate matter which is formed as a result of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biomass and other organic materials. Soot is the black material that adheres to the chimneys from where carbon in black is emitted. The soot play a significant role in absorbing sunlight and warming the atmosphere. In the same way black carbon is the human-induced and yet significant driver of Climate Change. If you want to know more about Greenhous Gas emissions click the mentioned link.
Example contribution of Carbon Footprint in Climate Change:
Your own personal vehicle adds an average of 2.4 tons of CO2 equivalent to your yearly footprint, and manufacturing factories add billion tons of Air Pollutants into the Environment etc.
10. What is the Contribution of Non-sustainable Lifestyle in Climate Change?
In the today’s world, it is a trend to have collection of products and goods at our homes. It is also a trend to shop every single week while having lots of useful goods and products in use. These all concepts are against Sustainable Living. This lifestyle adds a lot of Greenhouse Gases into the atmosphere and contributes in increasing the wastes on Earth. By controlling our consumption, we can get rid of this non-sustainable lifestyle. This contributes a lot in many of the Environmental issues on Earth. So, as it is responsible for many of the GHGs emissions, so it is a Major Human Causes of Climate Change on Earth.
Example of Contribution of Non-sustainable Lifestyle in Climate Change:
When we eat Meat and Dairy Products, we contributes in wastage of many Environmental Resources ads well as if we have products more than our needs, it is also counted as Non-sustainable use of Products etc.
11. How Economic Systems leads to the Human Causes of Climate Change?
Economic Systems contains Industrialization, Global Trade and all other ways to earn income for a nation. Capitalism is the system in which country’s trade and and industry are controlled by private owners for profit. While Consumerism is the system in which the needs and choices of consumers is considered as most important in business transactions. Consumerism effects Climatic Change by producing options for over-consumption and waste that leads to GHG emissions. Capitalism effects Changing Climate in ways including refueling resource extraction, overproduction and consumption. In this way different Economic Systems have effects of different extents on Climate Changes. But we can say that it is a great threat to the Environment and Climate Change.
Example of Role of Economic Systems in Climate Change?
Amazons rapid shipping model perpetuates a cycle of Environmental harm, the widespread adoption of Fossil Fuels in industrial and transportation purposes etc.
12. What is the relation of Urbanization and Climate Change?
Urbanization is the process in which large number of people migrate from the rural areas to the Urban areas. It happens because of the obvious reasons such as better medical facilities, education and work opportunities etc. This process is a significant reason behind the higher population rates in the urban regions. It contributes in Climate Change by causing huge Environmental Impacts. The Environmental issues in urban areas includes Over-population, overconsumption of resources, Waste production in bulk and huge concentrations of Greenhouse Gases emissions by industries. If there will be more population, more resources will be consumed and more waste will produce resulting in Greenhouse gas emissions contributing in Climate Changes. Population growth and changing climate are also closely related to each other in every possible way.
Example of relation of Urbanization and Climate Change:
The construction practices for the accommodation of migrated people involves industrial activities, cement production, land-use change and bulk of natural resources, so all of them contributes in Climate Changes by producing toxic gases and GHGs etc.
13. What is the role of Human-induced Greenhouse Gases?
Greenhouse gases evolving by human activities results in Enhanced Greenhouse Effect. It is a great threat to Environmental systems and Climatic Conditions. Following are some of the Human-induced Greenhouse Gases that drives Climate Change in present era:
I. Chlorofluorocarbons:
Chlorofluorocarbons are not naturally formed into the environment. These are completely human-induced. CFCs contributes significantly in Climate Change because they react with Stratospheric Ozone molecules and are the biggest cause of damage of Ozone Layer. The Ozone depletion cause harmful radiations to enters into the Earth’s atmosphere and cause Global Warming. The major sources of CFCs are Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Fire extinguishers, Insulation materials, Solvents etc.
II. Ground Level ozone:
Ozone is found in stratosphere commonly but it also produces on ground as the result of some human activities. Ground level ozone is a dangerous pollutant for the Earth’s environment and Climate. It is one of the major component of Smog and so it directly damages Ecosystem and Vegetation on Earth. It affects Climate by increasing the temperature, extreme weather patterns etc. The major sources of Ground Level Ozone are Cars, Refineries, Power Plants, Chemical Plants etc.
III. Fluorinated Gases:
Fluorinated gases includes Hydrofluorocarbons HFCs, Perfluorocarbons PFCs, etc. These gases have no significant Natural sources, as they are entirely formed by Human activities. Fluorinated gases are extremely strong Greenhouse gases because they trap heat into the atmosphere and warms the Earth, so it is a great contributor of Climate Change. The major sources of F-gases are Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Foams and Aerosols.
All of these gases are major Cause of Climate Change and Global Warming. The astonishing fact about these Greenhouse gases is that they are not naturally produced but have initiated from human activities and Industrial Pollution. In the present era, these are the potential causes of Extreme Impacts of Climate Changes.
14. What is the role of International Agreements in reducing the Human Causes of Climate Change?
Following are two of the International Agreements or Government policies to reduce Climate Change:
Paris Agreement:
Paris Agreement is a famous Global Agreements that aims to reduce the Earth’s Average temperature ideally almost 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions. It is working hard on the better alternatives and technologies in order to reduce Climate Changes. Different Developed Countries provide funds for the Climate Action in other Nations through Paris Agreement.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is the UN process of negotiating an agreement to limit dangerous Climate Changes. Its aim is to reduce or prevent human interferences in the Natural Climate Systems and eventually reduce its impacts. This is a powerful convention and it is working against Changing Climate since the year 1992.
These agreements are passed by Developed Nations and they stay among the nations that are members of it. Developed countries are rich in resources, GDP and other facilities. So, it is the ethical responsibility of Developed nations to help themselves and other nations in order to fight with the Environmental Issues such as Climate Changes. This blog contains Major Human Causes of Climate Change.
15. Conclusion:
Climate Change has been a very dangerous Environmental issue in the past few years and in present time as well. There are many Anthropogenic and Natural Causes of Changing Climate. This blog contains detail about Major Human Causes of Climate Changes. So as Anthropogenic Causes are completely dependent on Humans and Nature does not involves in these causes. The major Anthropogenic Causes includes Power Generation, Deforestation, Livestock Farming, Carbon Footprint, Non-sustainable Lifestyle, Transportation, etc. so all these are major Human Causes of Change in Climate.
We can control all these by altering our Lifestyle and convert it into Green living. This lifestyle is very suitable as it guides us to use Minimum resources and does not harm the environment. If we will adopt this lifestyle, we can control the Anthropogenic Causes of Climate Changes because all of the mentioned causes are under our control. We can control the Anthropogenic Causes of Climatic Change with our little changes in our Lifestyle. This blog is a complete description of Major Anthropogenic Causes of Changes in Climate. We should work on the Climate Justice in Marginalized communities to reduce damage. We will discuss the Sustainable Strategies to fight with Climate Change in another blog very soon. If you want to learn about Sustainable ways to fight Climate Change Click the mentioned link.
To learn about more topics, Click the links below:
Introduction to Environmental Problems
Major Environmental Problems of our Time
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