by: Santiago Castro
Climate change is the variation of the climate that is produced by natural causes although it is mainly due to human action, some examples of it are: energy generation, manufactured products, forest clearing, etc. Emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane or better known as the "greenhouse effect" cover the Earth and retain the sun's heat, this leads to global warming and climate change, the world is warming faster than at any other time in recorded history which affects us greatly as it brings consequences such as increased average temperature, modification of rainfall patterns, snow, sea level rise, reduction of the area covered by snow and glaciers, storms and droughts.
Causes of climate change:
Energy generation: It is the generation of electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, which causes a large part of the world's emissions. Most of the electricity is still produced with fossil fuels, which is worrying because its combustion generates a large amount of gases, one of the main sources of atmospheric pollution, as they contribute to increase the greenhouse effect.
Manufactured products: Manufacturing is the production of products by hand or machine that, once finished, the company sells to a customer. The elements used in manufacturing can be raw materials or components of a larger product and this affects the environment as industrial factories contribute greatly to air pollution. The amount of toxic gases that factories release into the air increases health and environmental damage. In factories, toxic materials and gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are burned and released into the atmosphere.
Forest clearing: Deforestation brings with it the loss of vegetation cover, the destruction of natural animal habitats, accelerates erosion and multiplies the sediment load of rivers, making seasonal flooding much more severe and causing soil desertification.
How to help the world:
We can all contribute to limiting climate change. From the way we travel, to the electricity we use, to the food we eat, we can make a difference, starting with the following actions to end climate change.
1st: Save energy at home: Much of our electricity and heating runs on coal, oil and gas. Use less energy by reducing heating and air conditioning, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances, washing clothes in cold water or hanging wet clothes instead of using the dryer.
2nd: Get around by walking, biking or public transport: The world's roads are crowded with vehicles, most of which use diesel or gasoline. Walking or cycling instead of driving reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and has health and fitness benefits.
3th: Throw away less food: When you throw food away, you also waste the resources and energy that went into growing, producing, packaging and transporting it. And when food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. So use what you buy and compost the leftovers.
4th: Choose green products: Everything we spend money on affects the planet. You have the power to choose the goods and services you want to support. To reduce your environmental impact, buy local and seasonal foods, and choose products from companies that use resources responsibly and are committed to reducing their gas emissions and waste.
5th: Switch to an electric vehicle: If you are thinking of buying a car, consider purchasing an electric model, as more and more models are being marketed at a lower price. Even though they run on electricity produced from fossil fuels, electric cars help reduce air pollution and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gas or diesel vehicles.
6th: Change your home's energy type: Ask your electric company if your home's energy comes from oil, coal or gas. If possible, see if you can switch to renewable sources, such as wind or solar. Or install solar panels on your roof to generate your home's power.
Conclusion:
It is important to start taking care of our planet since we have been ourselves who have begun to harm it with our actions, we can all generate a change that would contribute to the world in a huge way to improve our quality of life, it is important to start changing our habits to take care of our home, the earth.
References:
United Nations. (s. f.-a). ¡Empieza con estas diez acciones! | Naciones Unidas. Retrived 25 de abril de 2022, from https://www.un.org/es/actnow/ten-actions#plant-based-food
Acerca de Cambio climático | Static Page | Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe. (s. f.). United nationes. Retrived 25 de abril de 2022, from https://www.cepal.org/es/temas/cambio-climatico/acerca-cambio-climatico
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