CLIMATE CHANGE

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CLIMATE CHANGE & MITIGATION TECNIQUE
 Climate- Climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area. Weather can change from hour-to-hour, day-to-day, month-to-month or even year-to-year. A region’s weather patterns, usually tracked for at least 30 years, are considered its climate. 
Different parts of the world have different climates. Some parts of the world are hot and rainy nearly every day. They have a tropical wet climate. Others are cold and snow-covered most of the year. They have a polar climate. Between the icy poles and the steamy tropics are many other climates that contribute to Earth’s biodiversity and geologic heritage.
Today climate change are primarily due to human activities , such as burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, which release greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) into the atmosphere.
Influence of Climate
The enormous variety of life on Earth is largely due to the variety of climates that exist and the climate changes that have occurred in the past.
Climate has influenced the development of cultures and civilizations. People everywhere have adapted in various ways to the climates in which they live.
Climate does not change from day to day like weather, but it does change over time. The study of historic climate change is called paleoclimatology.
Climate changes happen slowly over hundreds or even thousands of years.
Since the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, human activity has begun to impact climate. The current period of climate change is sometimes called “global warming.”
Global warming is often associated with a runaway “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect describes the process of certain gases (including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide (N2O), fluorinated gases, and ozone) trapping solar radiation in a planet's lower atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon and keeps Earth warm enough to sustain life. However, human activities that include burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate.
The current period of climate change has been documented by rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and more intense weather phenomena.
Our planet’s temperature has risen about 1.1° C (2° F) since the late 19th century. Sixteen of the last 17 warmest years on record have occurred in the 21st century. According to NASA, not only was 2016 the warmest year on record, but eight of the 12 months that make up the year were the warmest on record for those respective months.
The current period of climate change is also associated with the massive retreat of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. Melting glaciers and ice sheets, as well as expansion of seawater as it warms, have contributed to unprecedented sea level rise. Sea level rises at about 2.3 millimeters (0.2 inch) every year, contributing to up to 900% more frequent flooding in coastal areas
Climate change is also impacting organisms and species range. Organisms that have adapted to one climate may have to migrate or adapt to warmer temperatures
Climate change can be mitigated through reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. This can mean investing in new technologies, relying more on renewable energy sources, making older equipment more energy-efficient, or changing consumer behavior.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/all-about-climate/
What Is Causing Earth’s Climate to Change?
Some causes of climate change are natural. These include changes in Earth’s orbit and in the amount of energy coming from the sun. Ocean changes and volcanic eruptions are also 
 Most scientists say it’s very likely that most of the warming since the mid-1900s is due to the burning of coal, oil and gas. Burning these fuels is how we produce most of the energy that we use every day. This burning adds heat-trapping gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the air. These gases are called greenhouse gases. 
Climate models predict that Earth’s average temperature will keep rising over the next 100 years or so. There may be a year or years where Earth’s average temperature is steady or even falls. But the overall trend is expected to be up. Earth’s average temperature is expected to rise even if the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere decreases. But the rise would be less than if greenhouse gas amounts remain the same or increase.
What Is the Impact of Earth’s Warming Climate?
Some impacts already are occurring. For example, sea levels are rising, and snow and ice cover is decreasing. Rainfall patterns and growing seasons are changing.
Further sea-level rise and melting of snow and ice are likely as Earth warms. The warming climate likely will cause more floods, droughts and heat waves. The heat waves may get hotter, and hurricanes may get stronger.
What Is Being Done About Climate Change? using energy more efficiently and using more clean energy. Clean energy is energy that puts less or no greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The sun, wind and water are sources of clean energy.
Many nations, states and communities are planning for climate change impacts that may be unavoidable. For example, some coastal areas are planning for flooding and land loss that may result from rising sea levels
https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/for-kids-and-students/what-are-climate-and-climate-change-grades-5-8/
MITIGATION
 The term mitigation refers to efforts to cut or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases - limiting the magnitude of future warming. It may also encompass attempts to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Mitigation may require us to use new technologies, clean energy sources, change people's behaviour, or make older technology more energy efficient. 
What is climate change mitigation? - BBC News
What is climate change mitigation? 
Climate change mitigation refers to actions or activities that limit emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from entering the atmosphere and/or reduce their levels in the atmosphere. 
 Mitigation includes reducing the GHGs emitted from energy production and use (e.g., that reduces use of fossil fuels), and land use, and methods to mitigate warming, for example, by carbon sinks which remove emissions from the atmosphere through land-use or other (including artificial) mechanisms
 The ultimate goal of mitigation is to preserve a biosphere which can sustain human civilisation and the complex of ecosystem services which surround and support it. This means reducing anthropogenic GHG emissions towards net zero to limit the warming, with global goals agreed in the Paris Agreement. Effective mitigation strategies require an understanding of mechanisms that underpin release of emissions, and the technical, policy and societal options for influencing these
 Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continued to rise and reached 59 ± 6.6 GtCO2-eq in 2019, although the rate of growth has fallen compared to the previous decade. However, emissions were higher than at any point in human history before. Emissions were around 12% and 54% higher than in 2010 and 1990, respectively. Average annual GHG emissions for 2009–2019 were higher compared to the periods 2000–2009 and 1990–1999, respectively. GHG emissions growth slowed since 2010: while average annual GHG emissions growth was 2.1% for 2000–2010, it was only 1.3% for 2010–2019. In order to stop the temperature increase, however, net emissions must be zero
IPCC_AR6_WGIII_FAQs_Compiled.pdf
Since the industrial era began, human activities have led to the release of dangerous levels of greenhouse gases, causing global warming and climate change. However, despite unequivocal research about the impact of our activities on the planet’s climate and growing awareness of the severe danger climate change poses to our societies, greenhouse gas emissions keep rising. If we can slow down the rise in greenhouse gases, we can slow down the pace of climate changeand avoid its worst consequences.
Reducing greenhouse gases can be achieved by:
· Shifting away from fossil fuels: Fossil fuels are the biggest source of greenhouse gases, so transitioning to modern renewable energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power, and advancing sustainable modes of transportation, is crucial.
· Improving energy efficiency: Using less energy overall – in buildings, industries, public and private spaces, energy generation and transmission, and transportation – helps reduce emissions. This can be achieved by using thermal comfort standards, better insulation and energy efficient appliances, and by improving building design, energy transmission systems and vehicles.
· Changing agricultural practices: Certain farming methods release high amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, which are potent greenhouse gases. Regenerative agricultural practices – including enhancing soil health, reducing livestock-related emissions, direct seeding techniques and using cover crops – support mitigation, improve resilience and decrease the cost burden on farmers.
· The sustainable management and conservation of forests: Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and reducing the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Measures to reduce deforestation and forest degradation are key for climate mitigation and generate multiple additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation and improved water cycles.
· Restoring and conserving critical ecosystems: In addition to forests, ecosystems such as wetlands, peatlands, and grasslands, as well as coastal biomes such as mangrove forests, also contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, while supporting biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience.
· Creating a supportive environment: Investments, policies and regulations that encourage emission reductions, such as incentives, carbon pricing and limits on emissions from key sectors are crucial to driving climate change mitigation.
https://climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/what-climate-change-mitigation-and-why-it-urgent
Strategies that Achieve Climate Mitigation
1. Protect Coastal Wetlands
Salt marshes, mangroves and seagrasses are unique coastal ecosystems that serve as natural water filtration systems and marine habitats. They defend coasts against sea level rise by buffering storm surges and floodwaters, and store tons of carbon in their roots and soils. Mangrove forests currently hold the equivalent of more than two years of global emissions, which would be released into the atmosphere and worsen the effects of climate change if these forests are destroyed.
Increasing protected coastal wetlands and recovering about 40% of the ecosystem’s global coverage by 2050 could mitigate one gigaton of CO2 per year — over three years of emissions. Efforts to maintain coastal wetlands must include local communities that rely on these ecosystems for their homes and livelihoods. Countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea have successful experiences around community-based conservation and education to manage these wetlands and support the development of surrounding communities.
2. Promote the Benefits of Sustainable Agroforestry
With land use changes from forestry and agriculture accounting for nearly 25% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, it’s clear that current land management schemes need to change. Agroforestry practices integrate diverse trees or shrubs with crops and livestock. In particular, pastures with trees can sequester five to 10 times more carbon than treeless areas of the same size. Farmers can also be more productive by growing crops and raising livestock simultaneously using significantly less land. Diversifying crops and including livestock on these lands can give farmers additional sources of income and reduce the risks to livelihoods caused by climate change and unpredictable weather. Expanding the use of this method to 554 million acres globally, estimated to require an investment of $41.6 billion, could help farmers realize $699 billion in financial gains from revenue diversification. 
Adding trees to farms and pastures allows farmers to diversify their income while their land absorbs more carbon
Decentralize Energy Distribution
Climate variability will negatively impact countries’ electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. At the same time, development and population growth are increasing energy demand and usage. Centralized energy systems — with large power plants and infrastructure connected over long distances — are more vulnerable to climate change since disruptions at one point in the system can affect the entire network.
Decentralized systems — often powered by renewable energy, with shorter transmission lines and smaller distribution areas — are more climate-resilient. In the event of a disaster, a community with its own decentralized energy supply isn’t affected by power outages in other areas. Smaller, more manageable power sources can also recover from disasters more rapidly. Low-carbon technologies such as solar panels and batteries can also provide reliable, clean energy to critical services, like hospitals in remote areas that aren’t already connected to the grid or experience frequent power outages.
Installing solar panels on rural health clinics like this one in Rwanda can make health services more resilient to extreme weather
4. Secure Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights
Indigenous and local communities manage almost 50% of land on the planet, which up to 2.5 billion people depend on for their livelihoods. These communities have practiced adaptation principles on their lands over generations, developing a deep body of traditional knowledge that can help others understand how to adapt to a changing environment.
What’s more, places where indigenous people have legal rights to their land have at least two times lower deforestation rates than similar areas without secure tenure, as seen in Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia. Indigenous people and local communities have protected forests that hold a quarter of all above-ground carbon in tropical forests. Yet these communities legally own less than one-fifth of this land. Securing indigenous peoples’ rights will ensure they can hold onto their land, protect natural resources and better sustain their livelihoods in the face of climate change.
5. Improve Mass Transit
Road transport accounts for 72% of global transportation-related emissions, a percentage which will continue to grow unless more low-carbon transportation options become available and accessible. Transportation infrastructure is also extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts like storms and extreme heat. Disruptions to the network due to extreme weather will disproportionately affect low-income people and other vulnerable urban populations who have fewer mobility options. Resilient, low-carbon mass transit addresses both challenges.
Expanding urban public transportation by 40% by 2050 could decrease the projected number of cars on the road and avoid 6.6 gigatons of carbon emissions. Retrofitting and designing mass transit to withstand climate risks such as natural disasters, sea level rise or extreme heat ensures these transport options are safe and reliable in the long-term. These improvements can influence usage and better accommodate future growth.
Cities like Rome and Buenos Aires have integrated additional adaptation measures like heat-proofing buses and greening stops and routes to improve the commute experience. Increased public transportation also has the added benefits of relieving traffic congestion, reducing accidents and fatalities, and improving air quality.
 
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=245a6e21b7cd1f1426b4ebdfb98a8477b65d63c237447dba8def1fbaebd6fb8cJmltdHM9MTczMjc1MjAwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=0bbd8b88-bcdc-6991-01de-9f58bda368ae&psq=Climate+Mitigation+%2b+Adaptation+Strategies&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud3JpLm9yZy9pbnNpZ2h0cy81LXN0cmF0Z WdpZXMtYWNoaWV2ZS1jbGltYXRlLW1pdGlnYXRpb24tYW5kLWFkYXB0YXRpb24tc2ltdWx0YW5lb3VzbHk&ntb=1Mitigation – reducing climate change – involves reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either by reducing sources of these gases (for example, the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, or transport) or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases (such as the oceans, forests, and soil). The goal of mitigation is to avoid significant human interference with Earth's climate, “stabilize greenhouse gas levels in a timeframe sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner”
https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation_mitigation/