Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1/ 8
8 the effect of climate change on world food production and water
1- definition Climate change is the long-term shift in weather patterns in a
specific region or globally.
Unlike global warming, which refers to just one aspect of climate
change - a rise in the surface temperature of the earths surface.
climate change refers to changes in a regions overall weather patterns, including precipitation, temperatures, cloud cover, and so on.
Leading scientists believe that climate change on this scale could
produce results such as the following:
Increased surface temperatures
Rises in sea levels Retreat of glaciers and melting of sea ice Changes in precipitation Increases in intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves,
tornadoes, hurricanes, and heavy rainfall
Longer, more severe droughts Expansion of subtropical deserts Species endangerment and extinction and loss of biodiversity Melting of permafrost (which speeds global warming) Drops in agricultural yields Spread of vector-borne diseases because of increased range of insects Acidification of oceans creating drops in fishing yields and death of coral reefs
2- Main causes of climate change
There are some natural causes of climatic change. However, most of the climatic change is caused global warming that is mainly caused by human activities.
Global warming
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's
atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by
increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.
There are some natural causes of climatic change. However, most of the climatic change is caused global warming that is mainly caused by human activities.
a- burning of fossil fuels ( coal, oil, natural gas )
Our planet is wrapped in a layer of greenhouse gases. This layer keeps the globe warm like a blanket, shielding it from the
cold universe commonly referred to as the greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main driver for the greenhouse effect. And
this is where we have a problem.
The cause of climate change is the unlimited burning of fossil fuels coal, oil and natural gas releasing CO2 in the atmosphere at an ever
increasing rate. Because of this the layer of greenhouse gas gets thicker, which in turn makes the Earth warmer.
Why coal causes so much environmental damage
Coal is the most carbon-rich of all fossil fuels. Burning coal generates 70% more carbon dioxide (CO2) than natural gas for every unit of
energy produced. More than a third of all global electricity is generated from coal - it is the power sector's single biggest source of energy.
b- Mining coal and oil
Mining coal and oil allows methane to escape. How does it escape? Methane is naturally in the ground. When coal or oil is mined you have to dig up the earth a little.
When you dig up the fossil fuels you dig up the methane as well
c- ozone depletion Chlorofluorocarbons which are used in refrigerators, air conditioners, aresol sprays and other industrial gases which deplete the Earth's
protective ozone layer
They are being phased out, but in some cases are being substituted by fluorinated gases which can be even more powerful greenhouse gases.
d- Destroying Biodiversity Biodiversity, the huge variety of other animals and plants on our
planet, together with the places where found.
Why are we losing so many species and land every single second? Biodiversity has declined by more than a quarter in the last 35 years. The Living Planet Index (LPI), which tracks nearly 4,000 populations of wildlife, shows an overall fall in population
trends of 27% between 1970 and 2005.
That's not good news. In general terms, population growth and our consumption are the reasons for this enormous loss. Specifically, habitat destruction and wildlife trade are the major causes of population decline in species.
We have...
logged,
plucked and
hunted The
animals,
trees,
flowers and
fish For
medicine,
status symbols,
building materials and
Food.
Forests also help protect the planet from climate change by absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), a major source of pollution
that causes climate change.
Unfortunately, forests are being destroyed or damaged at an alarming rate by logging and burning to clear land for agriculture or livestock. These activities release huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other harmful
greenhouse
gases
into
the
atmosphere.
Aquatic life is being destroyed by oil spills, this also result in more CO2 release (this is my own assumption that CO2 raises by oil spills:P is it right?)
e- more population
Another major man-made cause of Global Warming is population. More
people means more food, and more methods of transportation
That means more methane and CO2 because there will be more burning of fossil fuels, and more agriculture.
3- Natural causes There contribution is very minimal a. Volcanic eruptions o When a volcano erupts it throws out large volumes of sulphur dioxide (SO2), water vapour, dust, and ash into the atmosphere. o The greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide is also produced however the CO2 produced is insignificant when compared to emissions created by humans. b- ocean current Changes in ocean circulation may affect the climate through the movement of CO2 into or out of the atmosphere. c- solar variation
4- Affect on food and water
The change in nature has serious implications for people and our economic system. The insurance industry puts potential economic damage caused by global warming impacts at hundreds of billions of dollars each year.
a- Affects biodiversity on which the humans are dependent
climate change is affecting the distributions of tropical insects, the most numerous group of animals on Earth, thus representing a major
threat to global biodiversity
Biodiversity provides numerous ecosystem services that are crucial to human well-being at present and in the future.
Climate is an integral part of ecosystem functioning and human health
is impacted directly and indirectly by results of climatic conditions
upon terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Marine biodiversity is affected by ocean acidification related to levels
of carbon in the atmosphere.
Terrestrial biodiversity is influenced by climate variability, such as extreme weather events (ie drought, flooding) that directly influence ecosystem health and the productivity and availability of ecosystem
goods and services for human use.
Longer term changes in climate affect the viability and health of ecosystems, influencing shifts in the distribution of plants, pathogens,
animals, and even human settlements.
Some of the species are likely to die out
b- Climate change impacts on water
Rivers and lakes supply drinking water for people and animals, as well as being vital for agriculture and industry. Oceans and seas provide
food for billions of people.
Climate is having and will have major and unpredictable effects on the
world's water systems, including more floods and droughts.
Extremes of drought and flooding will become more common, causing displacement and conflict and less fresh water means less agriculture, food and income.
c- Climate change impacts on forests
Forests do so much: they purify our air, improve water quality, keep soils intact, provide us with food, wood products and medicines, and
are home to many of the worlds most endangered wildlife.
In fact, an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide rely on forests for their livelihoods, including 60 million indigenous people who depend on forests for their subsistence.
Scientists estimate up to 20 percent of global carbon emissions come
from deforestation greater than emissions from every car, truck and
plane on the planet combined.
So instead of forests helping us to solve the climate crisis, deforestation is making the situation even worse.
d- Climate change impacts on food security
Climate change is having and will have a significant impact on food availability, food accessibility, food utilization and food systems
stability in many parts of the world.
Climate change poses a significant risk of increased crop failure, loss of
livestock and impact on local food security.
In some areas drier and warmer conditions are predicted, elsewhere wetter conditions are expected and will affect agriculture practices. It is and will affect human health and livelihoods, as well as peoples purchasing power, food markets and food security on a household level.
e- Climate change impacts on agriculture
Many people through the world rely on rain-fed agriculture. As a result, it is highly vulnerable to changes in climate variability,
seasonal shifts, and precipitation patterns.
Any amount of warming will result in increased water stress.
5- recommendations a- Mitigating Reducing the amount of future climate change is called
mitigation of climate change.
The IPCC defines mitigation as activities that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or enhance the capacity
of carbon sinks to absorb GHGs from the atmosphere
b- Adaption
Adaptation to climate change may be planned, e.g., by
local or national government, or spontaneous, i.e., done
privately without government intervention.
c- Geo engineering Geoengineering encompasses a range of techniques to remove CO2 from the atmosphere or to reflect incoming
sunlight. Little is known about the effectiveness, costs or potential
side effects of geoengineering options
As most geoengineering techniques would affect the entire globe, deployment would likely require global public acceptance and an adequate global legal and regulatory framework, as well as significant further scientific research.
6- conclusion http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ (maximum data taken from here )
Saving the World 1x1: Nature Conservation, Environmental Protection & Climate Protection for Beginners: How to Recognize the Problems of Today’s World and Gradually Improve Them in Small Steps
Climate Change: Implications For Defence. Key Findings From The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report. by European Cimate Foundation
Saving the World 1x1: Nature Conservation, Environmental Protection & Climate Protection for Beginners: How to Recognize the Problems of Today’s World and Gradually Improve Them in Small Steps
Climate Change: Implications For Defence. Key Findings From The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report. by European Cimate Foundation
