Global Warming or Global Warning: Are we ready to deal with it?

 Md. Mekail Ahmed

Humankind is now terrified of the world’s growing environmental crisis and its negative consequences. These environmental issues in the developed world differ from those in the developing world.

Despite these differences, problems vary from country to country as environmental threats to the entire human race’s existence. Environmentalists are becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of global warming on natural disasters such as hurricanes.

The lowlands along the coast are sinking into the sea. Climate change is wreaking the most havoc on developing countries. As is customary, the world’s developing countries have been decrying unplanned factories and the increasing population of developing countries for environmental pollution.

However, the question of how much developing countries’ responsibility is to bear for climate change and environmental pollution. Bangladesh’s contribution to global warming is negligible.

However, according to the International Organization German Watch Global Climate Risk Index-2021, Bangladesh ranks seventh among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and fourth among the economically damaged.

The Earth’s atmosphere is becoming increasingly toxic. But this planet’s atmosphere was once cool and free of toxins. If we plant at least 100 billion trees, we will be able to recreate the atmosphere of 100 years ago.

According to the IPCC’s most recent report, in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon emissions must be cut by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010.

However, according to a research report published in the journal ‘Nature’ that analyzes the IPCC report, carbon emissions must be reduced to 25% higher than before to keep the temperature rise within 2 degrees Celsius.

Scientists are currently concerned about the ozone layer problem. Since the discovery of chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) in 1931, its popularity has grown, as its demand in the modern electronics industry as Freon gases used in the refrigerants and as aerosol propellants.

On the other hand, industrial waste has emerged as the most severe crisis confronting modern industrial civilization. Where are these massive amounts of wastes disposed of? Pollution is spreading from these wastes regardless of where they are dumped.

The biochemical industries generate hazardous chemical wastes. Whereas it produced such waste in one million tons in 1930, it increased to 500 million tons in 1990. Since then, there has been an increase in the production of these wastes.

These wastes end up in ponds, lakes, rivers, and seas. People have created 6 million chemicals so far, and each year, 570 million tons of hazardous waste are produced. Nuclear waste is the most dangerous of these waste materials.

Scientists have no idea what people will do with waste. Uranium is used as nuclear reactor fuel. When uranium is mined, it emits radon, a radioactive gas that causes human lung cancer.

When uranium is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors, the fission process produces enormous amounts of heat and a large amount of waste material.

According to scientists, Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NOX), Methane (CH4), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), and other pollutants are blamed for air pollution.

The combustion of various fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, diesel, Petrol, Octane, and gasoline, increases the amount of those pollutants in the atmosphere. During thermal power generation, much sulfur dioxide mixes with the air.

A study published in the journal ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences discovered that if carbon emissions are not reduced, the world would be five degrees Celsius warmer than it is now.

In that case, by 2100, the sea level will have risen from 72 cm to 236 cm. Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen oxides react with water vapour and oxygen in the atmosphere to form Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) and Nitric Acid (HNO3). These two types of acids are carried to the ground by rain, called Acid rain.

Acid rain depletes soil fertility, pollutes water sources, damage Aquatic lives, and inhibits plant growth. Air pollution contributes to global warming, and scientists warn that if air pollution is not be reduced, global warming could increase by 50 degrees Celsius by 2040.

The melting of polar ice caps and glaciers rises much more, resulting in a 2-3 feet rise in sea levels. Coastal cities, the Sea Islands Miami, and Florida of United States are likely to be submerged.

Everyone should be aware that attempting to keep the environment pollution-free should not be limited to environmentalists or scientists.

Heavy rains are now falling prematurely due to these adverse environmental conditions in some countries. Somewhere there is a flood, and somewhere there is drought. In recent years, large fires have been reported in many countries. This is mainly due to the effects of greenhouse gases.

It will not be possible to reduce global warming if we maintain the environmentally destructive system of the industrialized world, continue to hide the issue of rational environmental management reforms, and impose full responsibility for environmental pollution on the people of the developing world.

Environmental pollution is a global issue that affects all countries. Scientists discuss environmentally friendly alternative technologies at various pollution prevention conferences and seminars. If this is not the case, the earth’s temperature will continue to rise daily.