Climate Change

Basic Concepts and Definitions
Global Change:
Changes in any scale that changes the functions of the earth ,changes related to people livelihoods, tangible natural changes is called global change.The changes of any scale that immediately alters the function of local system and cumulative or directly effects the earth system is known as global change (Lekhak, 2005).
Globalization:
A localized environmental effects which gradually operates to wider perimeter and operates the world with its cumulative responses, such phenomenon is called globalization.
Globalization is a broad process of global social, economic and environment change leading to integrate world ( Lekhak & Lekhak, 2005 P.210).Globalization refers ‘primarily to the global effects, notoriously unintended and unanticipated, rather than to global initiatives and undertakings.’ It ‘is not about what we all, or at least the most resourceful and enterprising among us, wish or hope to do. It is about what is happening to us all.’ We live in a ‘man-made wilderness’, not least because of ‘the growing experience of weakness, indeed of impotence, of the habitual, taken-for-granted ordering agencies’ - above all the state, of whose sovereignty all three main supports (military, economic and cultural self-sufficiency) have ‘been broken beyond repair’. Bauman’s concern is overwhelmingly with the human meaning which Dickens’ essentially technical account of globalization leaves out. He assumes, however, a similar definition of globalization as technologically-driven economic change, and his account is even simpler than Dickens’, to the point of being simplistic. Bauman’s pessimistic cultural critique leaves little room for agency, and this is because he sees both state and public sphere as deeply compromised by globalization. The other authors under consideration, although largely sharing the definition of globalization with Dickens and Bauman, make more serious attempts to define the possibilities of political action to deal with its consequences.
Forms of global change:
There are two main forms of global change, they are 1.systemetic global change and 2.cumulative global change .If there is change in environment and it changes or impacts globally , it is called systematic global change. For example if there is increase in temperature of the earth causes global warming. Local environment changes that has effects to global system on cumulating is called cumulative global change. e.g. Soil quality degradation due to agro-practices .

Need and importance of addressing global change:

Let us see an interlink of global change, by anthropogenic causes the water becomes polluted, when the fresh water is declined there will change in ecosystem causes biodivesity loss, desertification ,affect human health .If stratospheric ozone is depleted by anthropogenic causes, will change the climate as well as ecosystems may cause biodiversity loss.The loss in ecological system and biodiversity directly affect the human health. The change in climate is the main cause of desertification which cause the decline in system of fresh water, it is closely related to human health and lots of species needed for human beings. It can be represented by following diagram:
From the resent publication of Nagaric daily(5th Dec 2009), the carbon emission by different countries are as follow:
Carbon Emission:
S.N. Countries Percentage
1 China 21.5
2 USA 20.2
3 European Union 13.8
4 Russia 5.5
5 India 5.5
6 Japan 4.6
7 Nepal 0.025
(Bhatta, 2009)
To eliminate the contribution from human activity would require that we shut down virtually all human activity that uses carbon based fossil fuels.Developing countries such as India and The People's Republic of China feel they should be exempted, from restrictions on the amount of greenhouse gases they can produce.The developing countries say that only the developed countries should be forced to cut back.However if the developing countries are exempted you will not be able to eliminate the contribution to Global Warming that is made by green house gases emitted as a result of human activity.The bottom line is that you cannot change your lifestyle enough to prevent Global Warming. Also, for Global Warming to be prevented you would have to shut down the economiesof the developing countries as well.The amount of the cutbacks that are necessary to stop Global Warming are so large and so painful that no country has the political will to make those sacrifices for any length of time.Right now the only cutbacks proposed are merely public relations gestures to make people feel good about themselves without really having ot make the very painful sacrifices that would be necessary to stop Global Warming.
An increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including sea level rise, and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation resulting in floods and drought[7]. There may also be changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, though it is difficult to connect specific events to global warming. Other effects may include changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer streamflows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.

Ways of reducing global warming

Global Warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans. Global average air temperature near the Earth’s surface has risen drastically. It will certain bring disastrous changes like sea level rise, floods & drought, extreme weather conditions, lesser agricultural yields, glacier retreat, and many more. We can do a lot to protect our environment for example -
1.SAVING ELECTRICITY (SWITCH OFF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, COMPUTERS, TV ETC. WHEN NOT IN USE).
2. USING JUTE BAGS OR PLASTIC BAGS
3. USING COMPACT FLOURESCENT LIGHTS (CFLs)
4. USING CAR POOLS / PUBLIC TRANSPORT
5.ADOPTING A TREE
6.SAVING & CONSERVING WATER AND HARVESTING RAIN WATER
7.PROPERLY DISPOSING OF E-WASTE
8.USING SOLAR ENERGY FOR COOKING / HEATING / LIGHTING
9. AVOIDING ELEVATOR AND WALKING WHEREVER POSSIBLE
10.REDUCING A/C CONSUMPTION
11.PRINTING ON BOTH SIDES OF PAPER
12. REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION
12. USING NATURAL RESOURCES TO MEET UNAVOIDABLE NEEDS ONLY.
Sustainable Development:
The Brundtland commission in 1987 brought a concept of SD.It is also called the world commission on environment and development. It had published a report of “our common future.SD is the development that meets the needs of present generation without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs.
Importance and need of SD
1.Proper use of resource
2.Feeling of responsibility
3.Development of basic aspects
4.Development based on public participation
5.Determination of limit of development
6.Long term vision
Principles of Sustainable Development
1.Conservation of eco-system
2.Sustainable Development of society
3.Consevation of biodiversity
4.Population control
5.Development of human resource
6.Increment in public participation
7.Conservation of cultural heritage.
8.Limit of Earth’s carrying capacity
Application of SD
1.balance of environment & nature
2.The target is fulfilled if development works include balance diet, neat and clean drinking water, health services security etc.
3.Any renewable resource as vegetation ,birds and animal of the earth can be increased.
4.The development work should be conducted by paying attention towards the aspects of bearing and carrying capacity of the earth.
5.Conservation programme of living beings should be taken together with development works.
“ Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own need” (WCED, 1987)
Social and political aspect: Sustainability is regarded as a way not to damage future supplies, “ Harvesting and Managing Renewable Resources”
Issues and Schools of thought:
There are three mail issues 1. development 2.needs and 3.Sustainibility, these issues are related to economic growth, materials and use of natural resources. There are two schools of thought they are Anthropocentric and Biocentric , first emphasis only for human beings ,tells that the earth if from human beings, second focused for all the living things and environment which says the resources are limited in the earth so use them sustainably, that is why the resources are for future generations .
Components and Causes of Global Change
Land degradation:
Land degradation is a concept in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by one or more combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land. Natural hazardsare excluded as a cause, however human activities can indirectly affect phenomena such as floods and bushfires.It is estimated that up to 40% of the world's agricultural land is seriously degraded. Land degradation is a global problem, largely related toagricultural use. The major causes include:Land clearance, such as clear cutting and deforestation, Agricultural depletion of soil nutrients through poor farming practices,Livestock including overgrazing,Irrigation and overdrafting, Urban sprawl and commercial development,Land pollution including industrial waste,Vehicle off-roading (Joshi, 2058)
Effects
The main outcome of land degradation is a substantial reduction in the productivity of the land. The major stresses on vulnerable land include :accelerated soil erosion by wind and water soil acidification or alkalinisation,salination,destruction of soil structure including loss of organic matter, derelict soil
‘Land degradation generally refers to loss of utility or potential utility of land or to the reduction , loss or change features of land or organism that cannot be replaced “
Barrow, 1991
Forms of Land degradation:
There are two forms of land degradation 1.natural degradation and 2.artificial degradation
Natural degradations are landslide, earthquake drought fire floods volcanic eruption cyclones artificial degradation are agricultural practices use of chemicals, industrialization, road construction, building construction that is compaction of earth crust
Common forms of land degradation are environmental pollution, erosion, compaction, anaaerobism, unsustainable use of resources, acidification, leaching, salinization, decrease in cation retention capacity, fertility depletion, nutrients gap( essential elements lacking), eutrophication, ground water contamination, gaseous emission, … desertification.
Land use in Nepal
(Pande, 2000)

Desertification:
Desertification refers to dry land degradation, it is taken as land degradation to the extent it holds no capacity to support life. Desertification refers to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid area due to anthropogenic activities ( UNEP, 1993).Irreversible decline in biological potential of land is called desertification. Degradation of land by ecosystem is due to treatment (Restoration/ Reclamation) land Use Change in Land quality
Causes of desertification:
1. Lack of rainfall
2. Deforestation
3. Over grazing
4. Over increase in pop
5. Climate change
6. Use of chemicals and weapons
7. Mining works in large scale
8. Drought
Indicators of desertification:
A).Physical indicators
1. Decrease in soil depth
2. Decrease in soil organic matter
3. Decrease in soil fertility
4. Soil crust formation compaction
5. Appearance of sand storms
6. Decline in quality and quantity of ground water
7. Decline in quality and quantity of surface water
8.Salinization
9.Alkalinization
10.Increased seasonality of springs and small streams
B)Biological indicators
1)Vegetation
i. decrease in cover
ii. decrease in above bio-mass
iii. decrease in yields
iv. alteration of key species distribution and frequency
v. failure of species to successfully reproduce

2)Animal
i. Alteration in key species distribution and frequency
ii. change in population of domestic animals
iii. change in herd composition
iv. decline in livestock production
v. decline in livestock yield

3)Social/Economic indicators
-- change in land use and water use
-- change in settlement pattern (e. g. abandonment of villages)
--change in population parameters
--demographic evidence , migration statics, public health information
--change in social process indicators
Types of desertification:
1.Cold Desertification: Due to cold the land is changed into desert , it happens in very cold regions of the earth like in the Himalayan region of Nepal e.g.Periglacial area(Dolpa 10 sq km).Siberia ,Greenland, Canada ,Polar regions are also the hotspots.
2.Warm Desertification: Due more heat the land is changed into desert it is warm desertification. e.g.Sahara, Australia, Arabia, Gobi, Kalahari etc.
Problems of desertification:
1. Environmental Imbalance
2. Deficit of NR
3. Human Problems
4. Extinct of wild life and vegetation
5. Natural Hazards
6. Decrease in Production
Biodiversity loss and genetic resources:
It refers to variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine, other aquatic ecosystem and the ecological complexes of which they are a part.
Biodiversity in a particular habitat is the sum total of all the organism in a particular area, of all their individual variation and all the interactions between them
Types of biodiversity:1) Ecosystem diversity2) Species diversity3) Genetic diversity
Biodiversity outlook:
Group World Nepal
Algae 40000 687
Fungi 70000 1600
Bryophytes 14000 740
Lichen 7000 463
Ferns &Ferns allies 12000 380
Flowering plants 250000 5944
Arthropods 900000 4438
Other insects 190000 144
Fresh Water fishes 85000 179
Amphibians 4000 36
Reptiles 6500 80
Birds 9881 847
Mammals 4327 183
Source :BD database system of Nepal
Genetic resources:
The carrier of hereditary characters are known as genes. They are made up of DNA, RNA and proteins. There are the genetic materials of flora fauna which are valued as a critical resource for present and future generation .Plant genetic resources are the most valuable assets of the World.
They provide basic materials for the plant researchers or plant breeders
Importance of Genetic Resource:
Plant and animal breeding, Plant and animal hybridization ,Tissue culture(It is a modern technique for development of new plants in an artificial nutrient medium aseptic, surgically clean condition.)
Water resource:
Water is the major resource of the world. There are four main parts of water cycle
a) Condensation
b) Precipitation(Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail)
c)Accumulation
d) Evaporation
Types of water resources
1)Sea water(97%)
2)Fresh water(3%)
Water capacity :
World has 42655Km3 of fresh water ,Brazil 5418 Km3,Russia 4312 Km3,Indonesia 2838 Km3,China 2812 Km3,Canada 2740 Km3.These 5 countries cover 40% of world capacity.
Low water capacity:Some of the countries have low capacity of water because of natural or environmental cause.Kuwait,UAE,Mauritania,Jordan,LA Jamahiriya are major countries lacking water.
Use of water
1.3 billion people are without sustainable access to clean water ,2.6 billion without access to adequate sanitation, 2.2 million deaths per year from water-related diseases (1.6 million are <5 years old) ,Every 8 seconds a child dies from contaminated water.
1. Drinking and sanitation
2. Irrigation
3. Hydro electricity
4. Micro hydro
5. Water mills
6. Industries

Water and behavior:
Insufficient water or droughts,Anxiety,General emotional distress,Fatigue and confusion,
Conflict over water(Darfur, Middle East, China, Bangladesh, India, Africa),Displacement,Anxiety, depression etc are due to lack of water around the world.

Food crisis:
The lack of food is known as food crisis. The main cause of food crisis is excessive rate of population. But the crisis of water as well as change in cycle of water is very important for reducing crops yields. That is why food crisis is due to scarcity of water. Nepal is also facing the problem of food crisis because of management, climate change, social cause, political cause, environmental cause etc.
Global climate change:
Earth's climate has always changed; it is the rate of change that is of current concern to scientists.
Carbon is critical to the biosphere and must continue cycling to support life on Earth (Kramer, 2008).The carbon cycle includes sources, sinks, and release agents.Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas.Living organisms in an ecosystem can have profound effects upon the local atmosphere.Changes in vegetation can have profound effects upon win speed.Understanding the major greenhouse gases is necessary to identify the current trends in atmospheric concentrations and climate change.Human activity has been linked with increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Conclusion:
From the basic concept of global change and globalization ,the concept of sustainable development has been introduced.Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of present generation without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs. This discovery and the global industrial revolution that followed changed the world forever for our species. In general, fossil fuels are a legacy bequeathed to us by the biosphere of the distant past. On an ancient warmer Earth with a high concentration of carbon dioxide ( ) in the atmosphere, photosynthetic organisms (algae and higher plants) absorbed the , and used it to produce abundant organic material. When these organisms died, they were buried deep within the earth and slowly turned into coal and oil.
Since the 1800s, we've been burning vast quantities of these fossil fuels to power our developing technological and global civilization. As a result, we've been releasing the trapped in the fuels in the form of energy-rich organic molecules back into the atmosphere, increasing the atmospheric concentration of . By itself, this is not a concern. Carbon dioxide comprises a very small proportion of the atmosphere, and no projected increase would affect our breathing. But has another significant property. As we explored in the Greenhouse Effect section, carbon dioxide absorbs heat. The other major component gases of Earth's atmosphere, oxygen ( ) and nitrogen ( ), do not. Since the 1800s, concentrations worldwide have increased from approximately 280 ppm (or 0.028%) to around 365 ppm (0.0365%). The increase seems trivial, but it also means that some 3 gigatons (3 billion metric tons) of are being added to the atmosphere every year. Because is a powerful greenhouse gas, we can reasonably conclude that the earth's temperature should go up as concentrations increase. In fact, climatologists have detected a steady but small increase in global average temperatures over the last few decades, based on weather data collected all around the world. Six of the last ten were the hottest years on record.
Are we seeing the end of the long period of benign climate since the last ice age? Will the climate change for the worse because of our actions? In fact, no one knows for sure. Most atmospheric scientists believe that the global climate is warming at least partially because of a build-up of from fossil fuel use, but what that means to humans and natural ecosystems is largely unknown. The climate is vastly complex and strongly influenced by many factors other than greenhouse gas concentrations. (Some of these factors are explored in the Introduction to Climate Section.) This makes it extremely difficult to link any climatic events or characteristics to a single cause. As a result, controversy exists as to the magnitude and danger of global warming induced by greenhouse gases. Many scientists take the issue very seriously and support efforts to slow or reverse the build-up of atmospheric with the expectation that global warming will slow as a result. Others, however, contend that may not be affecting the climate and that the changes are part of natural, long-term climatic cycles. They suggest that efforts to reduce emissions are unnecessary and dangerous to economic growth and development. While the controversy rages, researchers around the world continue to gather atmospheric data, develop and refine predictive computer models, and try to reduce the uncertainty in our understanding of the earth's climate.
We know that the earth's climate has changed over time. Throughout the earth's history, there have been periods of glaciation followed by warming trends in which the glaciers retreated toward higher altitudes and latitudes. Today's concerns focus on the current and projected rate of climate change based, in large part, on human activities.
1. What has the earth's climate been over time?
2. Why is the carbon cycle so important when looking at climate change issues?
3. What major events in human history are thought to be factors in changing the earth's atmosphere?
4. How do scientists measure gas concentrations in the atmosphere?
5. Why are climate change and global warming considered to be controversial topics by some groups and individuals?
It is clear that the climate has been changed because of anthropogenic causes as well as natural causes, the natural causes can not be reduced by human activities, but anthropogenic causes can be reduced by awaring people globally. Global change is the major issue for us and for future generation.
References:
Bhatta, H. (2009). Himal Pagladaichha. Nagariv , 4
Joshi, M. (2058). Population, Environment & Quality of Life. Bagbazar, Kathmandu: Bhudipuran Prakashan.
Kramer, J. (2008, March 23). Global Climate Change. Retrieved April 10, 2008, from Global Climate Change: http://www.ucar.edu
Lekhak, L. a. (2005, January 15). Introduction to Global Change. (P. Dhungana, Performer) Adventure Work Theater, Kathmandu, Middle region, Nepal.
Pande, B. (2000). Environmental Education Source Book. Kathmandu: IUCN, Nepal.