Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Applications where to apply?
When asked about
– Environment: Analyzing the impact of human activities on greenhouse gas concentrations.
– Climate change and its impact on environment.
– Disaster Management: link between climate change and extreme weather events.
– Environmental ethics.
– Essays on sustainable development.
Context
This article discusses the recent record-breaking temperatures of 2023 and the role of greenhouse gases in climate change. It aims to answer the question of why human emissions of greenhouse gases matter even though these gases occur naturally.
Source
The Hindu | Editorial dated 16- January 2024
Warming up to climate change
2023 was the warmest year since records began in 1850, beating the previous record of 2016, Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)
Climate change
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These changes can be natural, influenced by factors like solar activity or volcanic eruptions, but in recent decades, human activities have become the primary driver of climate change.
Natural Factors (Slow, Long-Term):
- Continental Drift: Landmass movement over millions of years affects climate by changing physical features, ocean currents, and wind patterns.
- Volcanism: Volcanic eruptions release gases and dust, temporarily blocking sunlight and impacting weather patterns.
- Earth’s Orbit Changes: Slight variations in Earth’s orbit (eccentricity, tilt, precession) impact seasonal sunlight distribution and contribute to glacial/interglacial cycles.
Anthropogenic Factors (Rapid, Recent):
- Greenhouse Gases: These gases trap heat from the sun, leading to global warming. Examples include carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and deforestation.
- Atmospheric Aerosols: Tiny particles in the air scatter and absorb sunlight, influencing temperature directly and indirectly by modifying clouds.
- Land-Use Changes: Clearing forests for agriculture, grazing, or development increases solar absorption and evaporation, impacting temperature and albedo (reflectivity).
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are those gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat. They allow sunlight to pass through the atmosphere but prevent the heat that sunlight brings from returning into space. Essentially, GHGs act like a blanket that envelopes our planet and insulates Earth from the cold of space. This process of maintaining a warmer temperature is called the greenhouse effect.
Notable GHGs are
- water vapour
- carbon dioxide
- methane
- ozone
- nitrous oxide.
These gases occur naturally and are a boon for the planet — in their absence, there wouldn’t be the greenhouse effect without which there wouldn’t be liquid water and any form of life.
GHG Concentration
For about a thousand years before the Industrial Revolution, the GHG concentration remained relatively constant. Since then, there has been a constant rise in the amount of some of the GHGs. For instance, carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has spiked by around 48% since the pre-industrial era.
The rise of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. Here are some of the key reasons:
- Burning Fossil Fuels:
- The primary driver of GHG emissions is the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas for energy.
- When burned, these fuels release carbon dioxide, the most significant anthropogenic GHG, into the atmosphere.
- Global reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, transportation, and industrial processes has led to a dramatic increase in CO2 emissions over the past century.
- Deforestation:
- Forests play a vital role in the carbon cycle by absorbing and storing CO2 from the atmosphere.
- However, deforestation for agriculture, logging, and development destroys these natural carbon sinks, leading to the release of stored CO2 back into the atmosphere.
- The loss of forests also reduces their ability to absorb future emissions, further exacerbating the problem.
- Industrial Processes:
- Various industrial activities, such as cement production, metal refining, and chemical manufacturing, emit a range of GHGs, including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.
- These gases have varying warming potentials, but they all contribute to the overall increase in atmospheric GHG concentrations.
- Intensive Agriculture:
- Modern agricultural practices, such as the use of synthetic fertilizers and the raising of livestock, are significant sources of GHG emissions.
- Fertilizers release nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, while livestock produce methane, another significant contributor to warming.
- Additionally, the clearing of land for agriculture often leads to deforestation, further amplifying the problem.
- Waste Management:
- The decomposition of organic waste in landfills releases methane, a powerful GHG.
- Additionally, the incineration of waste can emit various GHGs, depending on the type of waste and the technology used.
- Improving waste management practices and reducing reliance on landfills can help mitigate GHG emissions from this sector.
Humans have also added GHGs in the atmosphere that don’t occur naturally. This includes chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) —
- Once widely used as a refrigerant in air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators, these chemicals damage the ozone layer and are really potent GHGs.
- Compared to carbon dioxide, CFCs can produce more than 10,000 times as much warming, pound for pound, once they are in the air, according to the MIT News.
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), replacement of CFCs, don’t harm the ozone layer but are power GHGs.
Mitigation Measures
- Transition to Renewable Energy:
- Ditch fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for clean, renewable sources like solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower.
- Investing in renewable energy infrastructure creates jobs, reduces air pollution, and helps stabilize our climate.
- Boost Energy Efficiency:
- Make the most of the energy we already use. Upgrade appliances and buildings to be more efficient, switch to LED lighting, and adopt smart energy practices.
- Every bit of energy saved translates to fewer GHG emissions.
- Protect and Restore Forests:
- Trees act as nature’s air filters, absorbing carbon dioxide. Protecting existing forests and planting new ones enhances this vital service.
- Sustainable forestry practices and reforestation efforts can significantly reduce atmospheric GHG concentrations.
- Embrace Sustainable Transportation:
- Sustainable transportation options like walking, biking, public transport, and electric vehicles
- Promoting carpooling, ride-sharing, and efficient urban planning can further decrease transportation emissions.
- Support Sustainable Agriculture:
- Conventional agriculture practices contribute to GHG emissions. Adopting organic farming, reducing fertilizer use, and managing livestock methane emissions can make a positive impact.
- Supporting local food systems and reducing food waste also contribute to a more sustainable food chain.
- Advocate for Climate-Friendly Policies:
- Adhering to Paris Agreement Goals, 2015.
- Nudging countries around the world to adopt climate friendly policies.
Government Measures to tackle climate change
India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a major emitter of greenhouse gases, has taken significant steps to address climate change. Its approach is multifaceted, encompassing various policies, programs, and international initiatives.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC):
- Established in 2008, NAPCC serves as the blueprint for India’s climate action.
- It outlines eight core missions focusing on mitigation and adaptation across sectors like solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water management, and more.
- These missions are long-term, with most extending until 2030.
National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF):
- Created in 2010, NCEF is a dedicated fund to support clean energy initiatives and research.
India’s National Clean Energy Fund
- Financed through a cess on coal production, NCEF has played a crucial role in promoting renewable energy projects and technological advancements.
Paris Agreement Commitments:
- India has made ambitious commitments under the Paris Agreement:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity by 33-35% below 2005 levels by 2030.
- Increasing non-fossil fuel power capacity to 40% by 2030.
- Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through afforestation by 2030.
International Solar Alliance (ISA):
- Launched in 2015, ISA is a global initiative co-founded by India and France to mobilize solar energy development in developing countries.
- It aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and financial resources to make solar energy more affordable and accessible.
Bharat Stage (BS) Emission Norms:
- Recognizing the impact of vehicle emissions on air pollution, India has progressively tightened emission standards through BS norms.
- The country leapfrogged from BS-IV to BS-VI in 2017, adopting stricter emission standards for vehicles, contributing to cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Conclusion
The year 2023 serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring climate change. The record-breaking temperatures and increased extreme weather events are just the tip of the iceberg, driven by the rapid rise in greenhouse gas concentrations caused by human activities. While these gases naturally maintain a habitable planet, their unprecedented increase disrupts the delicate balance, pushing Earth towards a dangerous warming trajectory.
RELATED TOPICS
Key Terms in the article
Types of Carbon Dioxide
The composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is not uniform.
Carbon Isotopes and their Significance:
- Carbon-12 (¹²C): the most abundant carbon isotope, constituting over 98% of atmospheric CO2. It primarily originates from natural processes like plant respiration and decomposition.
- Carbon-13 (¹³C): slightly heavier than ¹²C, comprising around 1.1% of atmospheric CO2. Plants exhibit varying capacities for discriminating against ¹³C during photosynthesis, leading to slight variations in the ¹²C/¹³C ratio of organic matter.
- Carbon-14 (¹⁴C): a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 5,700 years, contributing a minuscule 0.01% of atmospheric CO2. It continuously forms in the upper atmosphere and enters the biosphere, but its decay gradually reduces its abundance.
Fossil Fuels and Isotopic Shifts
- Fossil fuels are derived from ancient biota buried millions of years ago. These organisms preferentially assimilated ¹²C during photosynthesis, resulting in a lower ¹²C/¹³C ratio compared to modern vegetation.
- When fossil fuels are combusted, their ¹²C-rich CO2 is released into the atmosphere, diluting the existing ¹³C-enriched pool and gradually lowering the overall ¹²C/¹³C ratio.
- Similarly, burning fossil fuels reduces the atmospheric pool of ¹⁴C due to its absence in these ancient carbon sources. This decline is further amplified by decreased production of ¹⁴C in the upper atmosphere due to human-induced changes in atmospheric circulation.
These isotopic shifts provide unequivocal evidence for the anthropogenic origin of a large portion of the CO2 currently accumulating in the atmosphere, directly linking fossil fuel usage to the ongoing acceleration of climate change.
References:
https://dst.gov.in/climate-change-programme
Practice Question
2023 witnessed the hottest year on record, highlighting the alarming rise in global temperatures. Analyze the role of greenhouse gases in climate change, critically examining the impact of human activities on their concentration in the atmosphere [250 words]