GLOBAL WARMING & CLIMATE CHANGE

By Tarak Nath, IFS(Retd).

1). What is Global Warming?
“Global Warming” means the gradual increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.

The Earth naturally has a “Blanket” of greenhouse gases – CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Water Vapor. They trap some heat and keep us warm. Without them, Earth would be -18°C.

The problem starts when we add too much blanket. Since the Industrial Revolution ∼1750, humans have burned coal, oil, gas and cut forests. This has increased CO2 by 50%+.
Result: More heat gets trapped. Average global temperature has already risen by ∼1.2°C since 1850.

2). What is Climate Change?
Climate Change is the bigger picture. Global warming is just one symptom.
Climate = average weather over 30+ years.
When the temperature rises, everything else shifts: rainfall patterns, wind, ocean currents, ice, seasons.

So climate change = Global warming + its effects on weather, oceans, and ecosystems.

3). What are the Main Causes?
A). Burning Fossil Fuels: 75% of emissions. Electricity, cars, factories, planes. Coal is the biggest culprit.
B). Deforestation: Trees are Earth’s lungs. When we cut them, we lose carbon storage + we release stored carbon. Amazon, Himalayan forests are under pressure.
C). Agriculture & Livestock: Cows/buffaloes release Methane. Rice fields, fertilizers release Nitrous Oxide. Both are 25x and 300x more potent than CO2.
D). Industry & Waste: Cement, steel, plastic. Landfills release methane.
E). Consumerism: Fast fashion, food waste, excess consumption = more production = more emissions.

4). What are the Effects We Are Already Seeing?
a). Heatwaves & Forest Fires: More frequent, more intense. Like what we saw in Uttarakhand, Canada, Australia.
b). Melting Ice & Sea Level Rise: Arctic, Greenland, Himalayan glaciers are melting fast. This threatens coastal cities and causes floods. Our own Himalayan glacial ,lakes are at risk. c). Erratic Rainfall & Droughts: Some places get too much rain and floods. Others get no rain and drought. Monsoon in India is becoming unpredictable.

d). Loss of Biodiversity: 1 million species are at risk. When forests go, animals lose home. Coral reefs are bleaching.

e). Health Impacts: More heat strokes, spread of diseases like dengue, malaria. Air pollution + heat = worse.

f). Food & Water Security: Crop yields fall with heat. Groundwater depletes. This hits farmers first.

g).The 1.5°C and 2°C Target Why it matters
Scientists say if we cross 1.5°C warming, the damage becomes irreversible.
At 2°C: Twice as many heatwaves, coral reefs 99% gone, millions more displaced.
We are at 1.2°C now. We have very little carbon budget left.

What is the Solution?

This is where hope is
We can’t stop climate change overnight, but we can slow it and adapt. It needs 3 levels:

A). Government & Policy Level

• Energy Transition: Move from coal to Solar, Wind, Hydro, Nuclear. India is already 3rd largest in solar.
• Protect Forests: Afforestation, stop illegal felling. “One Tree, One Life” type movements.
• Sustainable Cities : Public transport, less traffic, green buildings.
• International Agreements : Paris Agreement 2015. Countries promised to cut emissions.

B). Community & Local Level

• Water conservation : Rainwater harvesting, like our pahadi traditions.
• Waste management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. No single-use plastic.
• Organic Farming : Less chemicals, more soil health.
• Protecting local ecosystems : Like saving trees at Sat Mod. Every tree matters.

C). Individual Level – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”

• Save electricity. Switch off. Use LED.
• Walk, cycle, use public transport.
• Eat local, seasonal food. Reduce food waste and meat.
• Plant trees. Talk about it. Vote for leaders who care.

The Deeper Truth – From Gita & Dharmic View
Climate crisis is not just a science problem. It’s a “consciousness” problem.
When we forget “प्राप्तस्य प्राप्ति” and think “I need more, this is mine”, we start exploiting.
Nature is not a resource. Nature is Prakriti Devi. In Sanatan Dharma we worship rivers, trees, mountains. That is not superstition. That is “ecology” .

If we go back to living with limits, with gratitude, without greed – that is real climate action.

(In Brief)–

Global Warming is the fever. Climate Change is the disease. Greed is the root cause. Awareness + Action is the cure.

An excellent message:-

The Young people, citizens, and even courts are waking up.

Change is slow but it has started. .

Tarak Nath has done Wild Life Management from, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and Endangered Wildlife Species Recovery Management Course from University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.