Overview:

The blog discusses climate change and the health disturbances it causes. It also explains how climate change can be reversed.

Climate change is nothing new to us. The term has been bandied about for many years now. But we have been living with it all this while and it hasn’t visibly affected you or me. Is it really as bad as they say it is? Yes, it is. Let’s start by understanding what climate change is.

Climate change refers to the long-term changes in our climate due to many causes. These causes are not just man-made; some natural factors like volcanic eruptions and variations in the sun’s field could also cause it. However, scientists have proved that the climate change that has occurred since the 1800s is primarily due to the activities of people and the main man-made cause for climate change is the burning of fossil fuels.

• When fossil fuels are burnt, they release greenhouse gases which act like a blanket around the earth and keep the sun’s heat trapped within. Hence, the temperature of the earth increases.
• The greenhouse gases that are mainly responsible for climate change are carbon-di-oxide and methane.
• Deforestation and land development release a lot of carbon-di-oxide.
• The oil and gas industry and agricultural operations release methane.
• While these are the main causes, there are other causes too like industries, transportation, construction, etc. which also contribute.

Climate Change and Us

The earth is now 1.2 degrees warmer than what it was 200 years ago. 1.2 degrees might not seem like that much but the fact is that even a fraction of a degree increase in temperature is undesirable.

The problem is not just the increase in the heat that we feel – the earth is such an interconnected system that any hitch in any part of the system sets off a ripple effect. The effects of climate change include:

• Droughts
• Extreme rainfall
• Melting ice caps
• Increasing sea level
• Wildfires
• Reducing biodiversity

Climate change impacts our health, affects our ability to grow food, affects our housing and our safety. People in islands and developing countries are more vulnerable to climate change. There are instances where increase in sea level and flooding has caused people to relocate and this is expected to become more prevalent in the coming years. Droughts will lead to famines and the resulting health impacts are predicted to be catastrophic.

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Climate Change and Health Conditions

Climate change can intensify existing conditions and result in the onset of new health threats. Vulnerable people like the elderly, babies and people already suffering from existing health conditions will be more at risk.

• Diarrheal disease is a huge health concern that will worsen with climate change. The presence of pathogens in the food and water that we consume results in this condition. The spread of diarrheal disease is affected by air and water temperatures, rainfall patterns and extreme rainfall events, and also seasonal changes – all factors that climate change influences.
• The allergies a person suffers from can worsen with climate change. Pollen, an airborne allergen, is responsible for various allergic reactions including allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Pollen exposure is also said to worsen asthma attacks and other respiratory conditions. Climate change, by causing changes in rainfall, temperature and carbon-di-oxide levels, affects the start, end and the duration of the pollen season and also the pollen presence in the air thereby directly affecting the incidence and severity of several conditions.
• Climate change affects crop production and the quality of output. Livestock farming and aquafarming will decline. As a result, prices will increase. Those who cannot afford it will turn to low-quality and nutrient deficient food. This can cause conditions ranging from malnutrition to obesity.
• The incidence of vector-borne diseases too is affected by climate change as vectors spread faster at higher temperatures. Global warming increases the time duration during which vector-borne diseases spread. Increased rainfall leads to situations that are conducive for vector breeding.
• While not many people may be aware of it, mental health is also affected by climate change. This is because adverse weather conditions (like flooding, heat waves, etc.) set off by climate change can result in stress and anxiety, and the exacerbation of other mental health conditions. Stress has been shown to cause pre-term birth, low birth weight and pregnancy complications.

The Future Is in Our Hands

Learning about climate change and its ill-effects can be overwhelming no doubt, but we can take heart from the fact that we know what is to be done to mitigate and eventually negate it.

• Our foremost priority is to reduce fossil fuel combustion. Coal, oil and natural gas have to be replaced with cleaner forms of energy. Wind and solar energy are preferable alternatives and if we can make our homes more dependent on solar energy, we will definitely reduce the carbon imprint we leave.
• Transportation is another sector we cannot ignore as the greenhouse gas emission from this sector is huge. Globally, the shift towards electric vehicles or EVs has begun and it is predicted that by 2035, EVs will dominate. Till then, for our part, we can embrace sustainable and zero-emission forms of transportation to fight climate change.
• Our forests absorb 1/3^rd of the fossil fuels’ emissions, our wetlands and mangroves capture and store the emitted carbon-di-oxide in their roots and the same goes for our freshwater ecosystem – we cannot address climate change unless we do our bit towards nature conservation. By preserving natural landscapes, limiting industrial impact and supporting environmental laws, we can play a role in the bigger picture.

Thus, there is a lot that we can do to combat climate change. Climate change can be reversed, we can undo the harm we have caused but it will take a collective effort to do it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is climate change?

Climate change refers to long-term changes in the earth's climate caused by natural factors and human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

2. What are the main causes of climate change?

The main causes include burning fossil fuels, deforestation, land development, industrial activities, and agriculture releasing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.

3. How does climate change impact health?

Climate change worsens conditions like allergies, asthma, malnutrition, mental health issues, and increases the spread of vector-borne and diarrheal diseases.

4. How does climate change affect food production?

It reduces crop and livestock farming output, leading to higher food prices and increased risk of malnutrition from nutrient-deficient diets.

5. Can climate change be reversed?

Yes, by reducing fossil fuel use, conserving nature, using renewable energy, and adopting sustainable practices, we can mitigate and reverse climate change.

6. What can individuals do to combat climate change?

Switch to renewable energy, use electric or zero-emission vehicles, conserve forests, and support environmental laws to reduce carbon emissions.

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