Climate change and its impact on biodiversity and human welfare

Climate change refers to the long-term changes in temperature and weather due to human activities. Increase in average global temperature and extreme and unpredictable weather are the most common manifestations of climate change. In recent years, it has acquired the importance of global emergency and affecting not only the wellbeing of humans but also the sustainability of other lifeforms. Enormous increase in the emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, methane and nitrous oxide) in recent decades largely due to burning of coal and fossil fuels, and deforestation are the main drivers of climate change. Marked increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, rise in sea level, decrease in crop productivity and loss of biodiversity are the main consequences of climate change. Obvious mitigation measures include significant reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases and increase in the forest cover of the landmass. Conference of Parties (COP 21), held in Paris in 2015 adapted, as a legally binding treaty, to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees C, preferably to 1.5 degrees C by 2100, compared to pre-industrial levels. However, under the present emission scenario, the world is heading for a 3-4 degrees C warming by the end of the century. This was discussed further in COP 26 held in Glasgow in November 2021; many countries pledged to reach net zero carbon emission by 2050 and to end deforestation, essential requirements to keep 1.5 degrees C target. However, even with implementation of these pledges, the rise is expected to be around 2.4 degrees C. Additional measures are urgently needed to realize the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C and to sustain biodiversity and human welfare.

Automated summary

Climate change refers to long-term temperature and weather changes caused by human activities. The most common manifestations are the increase in average global temperature and extreme and unpredictable weather. Climate change has become a global emergency, affecting not only human well-being but also the sustainability of other life forms. The main drivers of climate change are the enormous increase in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide) in recent decades, largely due to the burning of coal and fossil fuels, as well as deforestation. The main consequences of climate change include a marked increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, rising sea levels, decreasing crop productivity, and loss of biodiversity. Mitigation measures include significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in forest coverage. The COP 21, held in Paris in 2015, adopted a legally binding treaty to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. However, under the current emission scenario, the world is heading for a 3-4 degrees Celsius warming by the end of the century. COP 26, held in Glasgow in November 2021, further discussed this issue, with many countries pledging to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to end deforestation, which are essential requirements to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target. However, even with the implementation of these pledges, the temperature rise is expected to be around 2.4 degrees Celsius. Additional measures are urgently needed to achieve the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and to sustain biodiversity and human welfare.