Fase estratégica: planificación de la evaluación

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3.3.3 HEAT WAVES

The rise in temperature due to global warming affects the entire ecosystems from melting of the ice to bleaching of the coral reefs, the entire human race is equally affected with the increase in discomfort rates with further results in diseases and deaths. It was reported that globally the years, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 with recorded temperature records as the hottest years since the 1980s, with 2016 as the warmest (NASA, NAOO, 2017). This event has left great devastation in its wake as thousands of lives were lost in major parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Significantly two examples of the impact of climate change on human lives is the extreme rise in temperature in Korea in 2013 and India in the year 2019 where substantial numbers were left dead and many struck with major health issues. The diagram below shows the trend in global temperature in over a century.

Figure 1: Global temperature Change (1850-2016) Source: Hawkins, 2016

3.3.4 SHORTAGE OF DRINKING WATER

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Climate change has affected the supply of safe drinking water for both human and other living things. With the increase in sea levels, fresh water bodies have been intruded with this saltwater thus making the water unfit for consumption. The implication is that species including human will face deaths and some will be forced to relocate, which will have a critical effect on the ecosystem. The effect is termed as one of the largest global risks as an estimated 4 billion people in global population live under severe conditions of water scarcity (Global Risks Report, 2019)

3.3.5 DEFORESTATION

Forests play a crucial role in shaping global temperatures and by implication its climate. They affect the world’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming, thereby help in regulating the climatic condition over time. Besides this important role that it plays, it serves as habitat to ecologically important species of plants and animals. It goes to say that all hands must be on deck to ensure the continuity of the forest reserve but and take appropriate measures to keep it in its optimum state.

With global warming effect on the rise, increases in temperature, drought and wildfires, large areas of forest are being destroyed as seen in the Amazon forest. Consequently the release of the stored up carbon dioxide in these plants are further emitted into the atmosphere and increasing the level of greenhouse gas.

3.3.6 DESTRUCTION OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

Ocean acidification which occurs when ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide puts the lives of ocean creatures in jeopardy. This level of acidity has been reported to reach about a million tons and it has led to the death of many marine species with others migrating while those who survive losses their natural endowments (Mckie, 2015). Also, the bleaching of the coral reef due to high temperature puts the lives of marine species at risk, although they are reported to consist less than 0.1% of world’s ocean floor, they support a quarter of all marine species (Mccutcheon, 2016). The presences of mangroves play an important role as in serve as nurseries for fishes’ filter sediments and protect coastal ecosystems and shorelines from violent storms. Climate change impact has changed all that as drought due to lack of rainfall, rise in sea surface temperature has led to the loss of major mangroves in the world.

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SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

Discuss the impacts of climate change on different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

4.0 CONCLUSION

Climate change is no longer an event of the future and should not be seen as such. The impact being experienced in our planet currently is without any doubt in dire need of urgent and collective attention. The emission of greenhouse gas; an identified cause of the phenomenon will continue to be on the rise as human consumption of fossil fuels for energy will not diminish unless an environmental friendly replacement is found and incorporated.

5.0 SUMMARY

Climate change in the world can be cause by many activities; both natural and human influenced. However, the major contributor to this phenomenon is man through his energy consumption rates. These actions bring about the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing a rise in the level of temperature (global warming). This has a great impact on the health of man himself, his immediate surroundings and the entire ecosystems. Climate change is irreversible, however, the situation can be managed, especially if actions as contained in the SDGS documents geared towards a safer and viable environment are adopted by this present generation as the next may not be able to do much with the worsen state it may be then.