Nature Flags Another Warning for the Growing Need to Address Global Warming

Summary

• Nature flags another warning sign with the collapse of the last fully intact Milne Ice Shelf in Canada, calling for the need to address the impact of above-average rising temperature.
• Nature herself is presenting some scenarios calling for an alarming need to address and maintain the rising global temperature below 1.5⁰ Celsius of the pre-industry levels.
• There are emerging multiple lines of evidence, reflecting on how climate issues have had impacts on organisms and ecosystems, as well as on human systems and well-being.
• The magnitude and intensity of dire impacts of climate change are now evidencing for how an increase in GMST of 1.5⁰ Celsius or above would impact the natural and human systems.
• Renewables are aggressively been pushed by many Major countries.

The impact of global warming and climate change is now not unprecedented with frequent natural disasters making headlines. There is a steady uptick in global temperature leading to extreme uncontrolled natural horrors such as the recent wildfire blazing across the Australian continent.

No one has to remind humanity about the impact of its action and responsibility towards nature as mother nature does that herself.

Mother nature is presenting some scenarios calling for an alarming need to address and maintain the rising global temperature below 1.5⁰ Celsius of the pre-industry levels.

One such event is the recent melting of Canada’s last fully intact Arctic ice shelf in July 2020. As per the Canadian Ice Service, the Milne Ice Shelf located at the edge of Ellesmere Island in the northern territory of Nunavut collapsed due to above normal air temperatures, offshore winds, and open water in front of the ice shelf along with other reasons.

Moreover, the surge in the global mean temperature is now posing a threat to smaller ice caps, which could further have devastating effects on the ecosystem.

Why Upholding Temperature Rise Below 1.5⁰ C is Vital?

There are emerging multiple lines of evidence such as the recent bushfire across the Australian continent, the collapse of the last fully intact Milne Ice Shelf in Canada, reflecting that these changes have had impacts on organisms and ecosystems, as well as on human systems and well-being.

The increase in the global mean surface temperature (or GMST), which stood 0.87⁰ Celsius in 2006-2015 relative to 1850 -1900, has increased the magnitude and intensity of dire impacts of climate change, evincing for how an increase in GMST of 1.5⁰ Celsius or above would impact the natural and human systems.

Apart from that, the human-induced global warming has further intensified increase in both land and ocean temperatures along with more frequent heatwaves in most land regions.

Thus, it is vital at the moment to address and analyse these emerging results of human-induced global warming.

To address these issues and the global challenge of improving the environmental conditions, the consortium of various nations reached a landmark agreement in 2016 – the Paris Agreement or Accord de Paris.

Since, then the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, invited by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (or UNFCCC), has reported and identified many issues causing global warming.

Carbon Emission – Energy and Resource Utilisation Intensity

The primary or the foremost reason identified by IPCC, that is leading to an above-average rise in the temperature is the burning and mining of fossil fuels for the growing energy need, especially coal.

Coal, on various stages, has come under ethical investors backlash over dire impacts of its mining and health hazards for the workforce on site.

While coal mining has its impact, another major problem is the level of Scope 3 Emission that coal puts out, i.e., the emission from the usage of the coal supply, which is predominantly used in the energy generation.

Over the considerations and impacts of coal on the environment along with commitments in line with the Euro-6 standards, many nations have put a hiatus on coal mining while trimming its proportion in the energy mix.

The level and the issue of scope 3 emission is just not limited to coal, but various other resources such as iron ore, oil, etc., are also responsible for scope 3 emissions.

To Know More, Do Read: Origin Energy Joins the Cause of Reducing Carbon Footprints

Majority of mining companies are now exiting the coal, and apart from that, many prominent miners such as BHP Group Limited (ASX:BHP), Fortescue Metals Limited (ASX:FMG) are focusing on their scope 3 emissions while souring energy for various operations through renewable certificates.

To Know More, Do Read: Fortescue Metals Aims Industry Leading Net-Zero Emissions Target by 2040

A Staggering Leap of Renewable Energy

The use and generation of renewable energy are now at the very heart of addressing climate change, and as the days are passing, more and more projects are coming online.

In Australia, various plans have rooted in the recent past to increase the integration of renewable energy into the national grid while the installation of solar rooftop panels is booming across the continent.

To Know More, Do Read: Renewable Energy Integration Into The National Grid- Challenges and Opportunities

Apart from renewable energy, various nations are aiming to reduce the end use of fossil fuels which is becoming evident with the ongoing promotion and support for electric vehicles.

The primary aim of pushing electric vehicles is to reduce carbon footprints, and many nations are giving various impetus to boost the sales of electric vehicles.

Two leading examples are China and the United Kingdom, where governments are subsidising EV sales and fast-tracking bans on diesel vehicles.

To Know More, Do Read: Climate Change, Reduced Engine Cost, High Subsidy – Throttles The EV Industry

In a nutshell, the issue of global warming is taking strong roots with increasingly dire impacts of the rise in in-land and ocean temperature. The major culprits are thoroughly identified, and various nations are pulling their socks to reduce the use of resources that induce global warming and cause environmental change.

In the wake of the ever-growing need to address the climate change, the whole world is now clinching on renewable energy and EV industry, both of which are emerging as heroes of the modern era.