Change in climate can be natural or human-invoked. Climate change refers to the long term change in weather which can range from data over decades to millions of years (Defining climate change, 2011). In recent years, human activities have led to a significant raise in the rate of global warming, which refers to the recent increase in global temperature. The greenhouse effect, which is a natural process in which the earth is warmed 33 degrees warmer than it otherwise should be for the existence of life, also affects climate change. Impacts of global warming include intense heatwaves, droughts and wildfires which threaten human health, agriculture and water supplies.
When the sun’s rays reach the earth’s atmosphere some of the energy is reflected back into space and the rest is absorbed to warm the earth and re-radiated by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide (Department of environment,2014). Although the greenhouse effect is a natural process the enhanced greenhouse effect has recently become an issue due to an increase in carbon dioxide rich human activities. The enhanced greenhouse effect is an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, too much heat is trapped in the earth thus swelling the rate of global warming.
In addition to environmental consequences, global warming also has social and economic implications. Displacement of populations due to sea-level rise and extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and disruptions to food and water security pose significant challenges to sustainable development and societal stability. Addressing global warming requires collective action at the local, national and international levels. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption and transition to low-carbon technologies are essential for mitigating climate change. Adapting measures such as improving infrastructure resilience, enhancing disaster preparedness can help communities cope with impacts of global warming. International cooperation and multilateral agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, play a role in coordinating global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.
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