Global Warming: Effect and Impact of COVID-19!

Global warming 

Rising average temperature of earth climate system is called global warming, the impact of which can be felt in change in rainfall patterns, rising sea level due to melting of glaciers, weather change etc. The combined changes due to global warming is termed as climate change. 

Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere.

Global Warming: Causes

Global warming is the sole perpetrator of climate change, which is man- made as well nature-made. 

Since the pre-industrial period, average earth temperature has increased by 1 degree celsius, a number which is currently increasing by 0.2 degree celsius in every decade. Most of the current onslaught of warming since 1950s is attributed to increased human activities. As mentioned, changes observed in earth's temperature since 20th century are attributed mainly to increased human activities which are caused more by the burning of fossil fuel, which is causing increase in stockpile of heat trapping gases in earth atmosphere. These gases are termed greenhouse gases as well.

Natural processes can also attribute to the climate change few of these are, cyclical ocean pattern change in form of El-Nino, La Nina, volcanic activity, change in earth's orbit, change in Sun's energy output. 

Global warming: Effect

Our climate is determined by a web of simple yet intriguing natural factors , pattern of temperature, humidity, sunshine, atmospheric pressure and rain over a long period of time. The climate of an area determines the seasons it will follow and when they come and go. Which in turn will impact the flora and fauna that thrives in that geography. This hinges on a delicate balance in the ecosystem and even a slight variation in the climate can disrupt this to cause a chain reaction of events which have far reaching consequences for ecology, geography and all living organism around it.

As the sole thinking creature of this blue planet, we humans are deeply impacted by any change in climate. The food we eat, water we drink, air we breathe and various other articles of faith i.e consumption which are direct or indirect afterthought of  our engagement with nature and its resources. 

Few Noticeable affects of Global Warming

Species: One in every six species is facing the risk of extinction due to the climate change. To survive , plants, animals and bird confronted with climate change have two options to choose from - adapt or move.  With the alarming rate of change it has become almost impossible for species to adapt so quickly. And with the amount of destruction already caused to their habitat moving is neither a choice nor an option they are left with..

Ecosystem: Global warming is stressing the climate with change in temperature, water scarcity, increased wild fire, drought, frequent cloud burst which are the consequence of short but ferocious rain fall pattern, weed and pest invasions just to name a few. Yearly locusts attacks originating from far middle-east to Afghanistan,Pakistan and western states of India was a regular event, but the swarms reaching to the capital city Delhi and swath of eastern UP surely is must be taken as warning on the wall. 

Food and Farming: change in rainfall pattern, intense heat waves, flooding and extreme weather is making it very hard for farmers to raise their livestock and grow farming. This is causing the disrupting in the smooth supply of food, and perishable items especially since they are heavily season oriented.

Portable water: reduced rainfall, extreme drought and low level of earth water is starting a new panic, that is availability of portable drinking water. Even after 70% of earth is comprised of water, very select countries could master the science of making saline water drinkable. Israel is one such exception as a country to master this resource.

Water life: Ever increasing ocean's temperature and acidity is causing irreversible damage of aquatic life and extreme coral bleaching events, like the 2016 event that destroyed more than one third of Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Global Warming: COVID-19 Impact

All this growth and prosperity due to industrialization came at a hefty price i.e alarming increase of carbon emission , which is one big culprit for global warming and consequently to climate change. 

Various organisations, trade bodies has been advocating for a ecologically sustainable growth since last decade.  Kyoto Protocol in force since February 16, 2005 was first global commitment.

In same line & with bigger push came in shape on November 6, 2016  the Paris Agreement,a truly global stand on climate change.Total 195 countries and European Union are the signatories,with only Turkey & Iran as exception. 

Mentioning few of key impacts COVID-19 has on Global warming -

• No war, no recession, no previous pandemic in past century has manged to achieve such drastic cut in carbon emission, that to within couple of months.. In few months demand for energy has fallen from the cliff. According to International Energy Agency ( IEA) world will use 6% less energy this year, which is equivalent to total energy appetite of India, a country with 1.4 billion people. This drop is somewhere between 2 and 3 billion tonnes of warming gas. During the inglorious recession period of 2008-09 world had seen a drop of just 450 million tonnes in carbon emission.

• This restricted people movement in this pandemic has given enough breather to flora and fauna. This was especially felt more in the Asian continent which is one of the highest densely populated landmass, causing unprecedented stress to the survival of plants and animals. Best time for growth for nature is monsoon, which suits the plants a lot and consequently the animal life domestic and wild both. With no access of forests and wild life sanctuaries to public, nature could rejuvenate itself to the fullest. Initial indicators itself were very refreshing, when hoards of wild life was found wandering the thick of metro cities , in a way has been reclaiming back their lost grounds and pastures from rapid incessant civilization. This increase in vegetation will repair the already damaged natural food chain and make earth a cooler and greener place to live.

• COVID-19, has helped people thrive with another new talent... to live a minimalist lifestyle. With limited options available, people started valuing the scarcity, which is quiet in contrast to the life of consumption we have been accustomed since decades.  A more sane approach towards conserving everything be it fuel, electricity, internet data, food, water, freedom to express etc has been seen developing across classes. This value system of living a frugal yet balanced life is causing less stress in natural resources. Direct impact is less consumption of meat product, frozen products. Raising livestock for food and related things has huge bearing on global greenhouse gas emission. As per DownToEarth , an environmental organisation in field of climate change with a commitment to make changes in the way we manage our environment, protect health and secure livelihoods and economic security for all ,raising livestock results in generating 14.5% of the global greenhouse gas emission which is very bad for climate.

• Even though 70% of earth is covered by water, only 3% of this is potable water which is increasingly getting scarce for a rising global population. Economic prosperity of past decades has high ecological cost for developing countries like India . To maintain growth, new SEZs (Special economic zones) were commissioned across the country for which huge portions of farming land was sacrificed. This farming land was acting a bed also under which rain water gets conserved. With the wheel of economy is put on standstill for couple of months, nature started replenishing its water reservoirs, which has been facing very brutal depletion in water level. With no construction work, no factoring work happening at the peak of Monsoon season has helped nature with enough time and empty space to let water sink in underneath.  This surely will recharge the underground water level and give new seed of life to rivers, lakes and aquifers and prevent unfolding of a new point of confrontation among societies and nations in the form of water crisis. 

Global warming: Future Outlook 

Contrary to the general belief, governments across the global chose humanity, people well being over the economic interest of state and accordingly their response was well coordinated to contain the spread of virus.

 Along with prevention of disease, proper care was given to the well being of public at large in terms of meeting their basic requirement in light to the complete disruption of economy and millions of people having lost their employment. Impact of global economy is so severe that IMF has predicted recession in majority parts of the world. Many emerging and developing economies were already witnessing weaker growth before the crisis hit their shores; the shock of COVID-19 now makes the challenges these economies will face and recover even harder. Should this outbreak persists, restrictions on movement of people continued or reintroduced in case of virus reemerges, or should the disruption to the economy is prolonged then the recession can go deeper and lethal. 

Few changes in human behavior I can anticipate-

• WFH (work from home) is a new permanent, with few good changes like reduced mobility means less air pollution, sound pollution; Substantial drop in construction activity as less workplaces will be required means drop in pollution, corporate dressing death of formal dressing, reduced consumption of hardware materiel meaning less tempering of ecological setting which will result in less deforestation, drought etc.

Few not so good changes like reduced socializing means interpersonal skills will come under stress which are already under threat due to the toxicated level of gadgets.Less replica of civil engineering marvels means less of Burz kalifa, WTT, Petronas towers for future civilizations,  which will be classified as monuments of historic importance like how we treat Pisa, Giza now. 

• Personal Hygiene Basic will always hold true irrespective of progress we have made as a civilization. With COVID-19 running havoc in 8th month and still going strong and 14 countries of might have been working days and night to develop a cure which still looks far from sight; basic human trait of maintaining personal hygiene has turned out to be the simple & most astounding remedy.  ‘दो गज की दूरी, मास्क है जरूरी’ has proved to be the only and most reliable tool which proved India's mettle in this global pandemic, otherwise many naysayers had projected a much horrific scenario for country with 1.4 billion people.

• Health is the Wealth तंदरुस्ती हज़ार नैमत है;  is a age old belief but was often forgotten in the race to become the Best and the last man standing! This prolonged crisis has helped people to reflect back at the goalposts they want to set before commencing the journey. In this moment of truth what shall come out loud is without health wealth is no good and will not last long. So a big shift in healthy eating, breathing and sleeping will be observed. Keto diet, Vegan diet, Wholesome food will be the most trending words. Being Tuff might feature more often in our daily bantering than  Being cool!  

• New Health Risks With reduced outdoor activity and increased consumption of digital consumption our face off with reality will be little skewed, as digital world will be our first point of contact which can be adulterated on large scale by people with ulterior motives. As an after shot, our urge to look good also might diminish due to the reduced reasons or opportunity to showcase it. Which can directly cause obesity level and pose serious health hazards for wider society. Increased digital consumption will put our listening and viewing organs in intense stress which are co related with our nerve system. This in long run might impact our neuron capability. 

Every hardship brings some pleasant long lasting treasures, hoping that this COVID-19 vanishes sooner than later from our lives, so that we can go back to our normal lives. I m sure majority of us has developed that sense of gratitude towards Mother Nature and we will act more sensibly to preserve this for future generations!! 

OMNAMAH

Hare+