The climate change crisis is real and it is affecting us in a very negative way. We are seeing more heat, drought, insect outbreaks, and coastal infrastructure that is at risk of being flooded. It is not easy to see these effects on our everyday lives but the more we know about them the easier it is to make changes and try to reduce our carbon emissions.
Human emissions of heat-trapping gases on climate
There are many human-caused heat-trapping gases that affect the global climate. These include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. While all three are important, methane is the most powerful.
The main causes of climate change are burning fossil fuels and clearing land. Both contribute to the greenhouse effect. They act like a blanket and trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the Earth.
The greenhouse effect is necessary for life on earth. But these changes are dangerous to our planet. It can cause extreme weather, droughts, and floods. Storms are also more likely to occur and may be more severe.
Over the last decade, humans have added more carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere than any other time in history. The increase has been more rapid than the natural increase.
Coastal infrastructure is at risk from sea level rise
Sea level rise from climate change is a critical challenge for coastal communities. Sea level rise can lead to severe flooding and increase the frequency and size of storms. The impacts can also compound over time.
Coastal water infrastructure is crucial to the public health of communities. In addition to providing essential drinking water, it controls stormwater runoff. Salt intrusion affects the integrity of these systems. Failure can result in cascading health impacts, including the possibility of outbreaks of communicable diseases.
The impacts of sea level rise are likely to be most acute in low-lying coastal locations. These areas are often situated near coastal waters that support commerce, tourism, and marine life. However, these regions are also vulnerable to other factors, such as storm surges and extreme rainfall.
Increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks
Hundreds of thousands of people suffer injuries and deaths every year from extreme weather events. While there are many causes for these incidents, climate change is one of the most pressing. It changes the climate, habitat, and wildlife populations, leading to an increase in pathogens.
Climate change also influences the range and population sizes of insects. Some insects can be expected to re-expand their range, while others can expect to decrease. In addition, climatic variability can influence the outbreak dynamics of forest insect species.
Forest insect outbreaks can be manipulated through management actions. For example, farmers could shift to more tolerant crops or breed them for resistance. However, alterations to agricultural systems would require time and money.
Health impacts of climate change
Climate change impacts human health in a variety of ways. It can affect the air quality, temperature, and rain and snowfall. Other impacts include food insecurity, waterborne illnesses, and infectious diseases.
While some of these effects can be measured, others are not. The complexity of these impacts makes it difficult to assess the true toll.
For example, how much of a health impact is caused by changing air quality? Many people have allergies and asthma, both of which can be worsened by a change in air quality. Similarly, increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere can result in more severe allergic reactions.
Santander's commitment to be net zero in carbon emissions by 2050
Santander, a global banking group, has announced new climate actions. The Group aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It will also accelerate its transition to a green economy.
To meet its goal, Santander has launched a series of carbon offsetting schemes. These projects are designed to meet international standards. They include a reforestation project in Guadalajara, Mexico, an N2O emissions abatement project in Krefeld, Germany, and a wind power project in Oaxaca, Mexico.
At the end of 2020, 57% of Santander's electricity use was powered by renewable sources. This is the first step towards reaching 100% of renewable energy use by 2025.
WWF's Climate Savers Program
As part of its work to fight climate change, WWF has developed a Climate Savers Program that provides support and advice to governments, businesses and individuals to help protect their livelihoods. The program offers five practical ways that you can help the environment in the near future.
These include creating a Green Office, which reduces the impact of your workplace on the environment. This can improve the eco-friendliness of your workforce and your procurement decisions.
Another example is the Green Climate Fund. It allows communities to finance large-scale infrastructure projects by capturing the value of avoided costs.
There are many other potential financing sources for mitigation and adaptation. Some of these include domestic revenue mobilization and international private financing.
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