Bansri Patel
student of St. Davids High School
What you need to know is that there are various causes of climate change, including deforestation, ozone layer destruction and volcanic eruptions.
- The World Bank projects that by 2030 more than 120 million people could be driven into poverty by climate change.
- Let's discuss climate change, a catastrophe that threatens mankind. In short, climate change is a change in global and regional climate patterns, particularly an apparent change from the middle to the late 20th century.
- Climate change has various causes including deforestation, ozone layer depletion, and volcanic eruptions. The main reason, however, is carbon dioxide and other gas emissions.
- Carbon dioxide is produced mostly by human activity, including burning our cars, industries and homes using fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
The population of the world has increased and more animal products are consumed than before, producing a pollutant called methane.
When these gases go into the air, heat from the sun is trapped in the earth's atmosphere, which makes the planet warmer.
This is what scientists call the greenhouse effect. But why should we worry about it? High temperatures lead to bush fires, heat waves, floods and species mass extinction.
Climate change has also aggravated existing challenges such as food insecurity, shortage of water and floods. The World Bank projects that by 2030 more than 120 million people could be driven into poverty by climate change.
Climate change has been called "the biggest threat to global health" by the World Health Organization.
Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is estimated to cause around 250,000 deaths a year. Climate action strategies have been put in place to curb climate change. In 2016, world leaders signed the Paris Accord, which aims to cut carbon emissions by 7% every 10 years in order to limit global temperatures at 1.5°C.
Three years after the agreement has been signed, carbon dioxide levels rise due to the failure of countries to execute the policies.
Many solutions might be introduced, such as the use of fewer animal products, renewable energy and public transport. It's not too late, hopefully.
Bansri is a Form 3 student at Saint David's Thika High School.
Are you 10-20 years old and want to be a young Nation reporter? Mail to diversity@ke.nationmedia.com your 400-600-word piece
Nation. Africa empowerment.
