Introduction
Nowadays, planet Earth is facing countless challenges that jeopardize many ecosystems and the safety of humanity in general. One such issue is climate change. This issue has become essential to tackle because the temperature in the 21st century is warmer than it has been in the previous 100,000 years. The past four decades have been hotter than any period since 1850, with the most recent decade being the hottest one recorded (“What is Climate Change?”).
The purpose of this essay is to illuminate the topic of climate change and its main causes, showing that human actions are the primary source contributing to global warming. Thus, manufacturing, food waste, and power generation are the main causes of climate change, which affect not only ecosystems but also mankind, reducing the amount of available water and soil resources.
Causes of Climate Change
The first point to consider is that power generation is among the largest contributors to global warming. Using fossil fuels to generate heat and power is a significant contributor to global emissions. The majority of the world’s electricity is still produced by burning fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, which produce strong carbon dioxide emissions that surround the planet and trap solar heat (“Causes of Climate Change”).
As a result, this process of retaining solar heat contributes to climate change. Although it might seem harmless, according to the 2018 IPCC’s special assessment on the effects of global warming, global warming of 1.5°C will necessitate swift, extensive, and unheard-of transformations in every area (“Climate Change”). Therefore, the results of constant warming of the outer layer of the planet will lead to irrevocable changes in the planet’s function as well as the lifestyles of people.
Another noteworthy aspect of climate change is that food can be seen as an integral element. The production and use of fertilizers and manure for growing plants all play a role in the creation of food, along with the use of energy to power fishing boats or farm equipment, typically powered by fossil fuels (“Causes of Climate Change”). The results of these actions are greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, as well as other chemicals (“Causes of Climate Change”). However, besides the production process, there is also a distribution and packaging process, which can be detrimental. As a result, food is one of the primary contributors to global warming.
Stemming from the previous argument, it can also be claimed that the methods of food production today play a significant role not only in global warming but also in the loss of biodiversity. Due to the consequences of traditional, destructive agricultural methods combined with an excessive reliance on a few crop varieties, approximately 52% of soils used for agriculture are degraded (World Economic Forum). This is the reason why the World Economic Forum has emphasized that not only consumers but also companies need to strive to replace and rejuvenate the resources needed for food production. The organization shows that without proper actions to address the issue, it is estimated that there will be only thirty years of pure water supply available (World Economic Forum). Thus, food production approaches need to be changed, or otherwise, food and water availability will decrease due to climate change.
Lastly, pollution is another cause of climate change that must be addressed. Producing and using fertilizers and manure for plant growth, as well as using energy to run fishing boats or farm machinery normally fueled by fossil fuels, all contribute to the production of food (“Causes of Climate Change”). Additionally, pollutants are discharged during stages of building, mining, and other industrial processes (“Causes of Climate Change”). As a result, most of the products that people consume in the surrounding area are made by applying power and fossil fuels, which later cause greenhouse gas emissions, putting the planet’s ecosystems at risk.
Conclusion
Hence, the biggest contributors to climate change, which affect not only ecosystems but also people by lowering the amount of water and soil supplies accessible, include manufacturing, food waste, and energy production. The initial point to keep in mind is that one of the leading causes of global warming is power generation. Food is another significant component of climate change. Lastly, the majority of the goods that people use in their daily lives are produced using fossil fuels and electricity, which later result in greenhouse gases that endanger the planet’s ecosystems.
Works Cited
United Nations. “Climate Change.” U.N., n.d. Web.
—. “Causes of Climate Change.” U.N., n.d. Web.
—. “What is Climate Change?” U.N., n.d. Web.
World Economic Forum. “What is regenerative agriculture and how can it help us get to net-zero food systems? 3 industry leaders explain.” World Economic Forum, 2022. Web.