Not all species can take the heat — this EARTH DAY, learn about the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
It’s no secret that global temperatures are rising, and Earth Day gives us a dedicated time to do good for the planet in the face of climate change. In the past one hundred years, the Earth’s temperature has risen one degree Celsius. This may seem like a subtle change; but we’re unfortunately on track to see another four-to-five degree increase by the year 2100.
The increase in temperature will create a domino effect and melt our ice caps; which will cause the ocean to rise an estimated 0.3 meters (0.9 feet) as early as 2050. And this will have devastating consequences for global ecosystems and for our coastal cities. It’s integral that we work together to develop sustainable practices to prevent catastrophe.
Understanding the causes for climate change is fundamental for learning how we can stop it. According to the United Nations, the primary drivers for climate change are: power generation, manufacturing, deforestation, transportation, food production, and overconsumption. Many of these causes are interconnected. For example, power is often generated by fossil fuels which are used to create oil for transportation and manufacturing. Fossil fuel consumption worldwide creates 34 billion tons of carbon emissions — with 40% of this number accounting for the creation of energy. Carbon emissions are responsible for creating greenhouse gases, which become trapped in our atmosphere — absorbing extra heat from the sun, which in turn, raises our planet’s temperature.
Our forests help combat carbon emissions produced by fossil fuels, but with deforestation; it’s harder for them to face the carbon battle. We've lost one-third of our forests from deforestation to accommodate the demands of our production and our growing worldwide population. Not only do forests help regulate carbon emissions — cutting down trees actually releases more carbon into our atmosphere. The release of stored carbon from trees is estimated to contribute between 12%-20% of carbon emissions.
If the current trend in climate change continues, what scientist are referring to as the sixth extinction could occur due to the loss of habitats and the creation of unstable ecosystems that cannot adapt to the heat. In total, 28% of marine and land wildlife are threatened by the sixth extinction.
The good news? It’s not too late to save our BIODIVERSITY. Through increased funding to organizations dedicated to conservation and increasing sustainability practices — there could still be hope for the future.
Fight for our future this Earth Day. Donate now with VAKOVAKO.
