Introduction:
The climate change impacts the condition of the surrounding environment, as it is more likely that the pace of the natural disasters is increasing such as drought and floods among others that may directly or indirectly threaten the safety and health of humans. To that effect, a number of international organizations held that the climate change has potential health-based effects on humans, including the spread of communicable diseases, a number of infectious diseases, or diseases transmitted by contaminated water or food. Similarly, the climate change may impact the health of those suffering from chronic diseases such as heart and asthma patients, and cause complications to their health condition.
Climate change:
It is a change and disturbance in the usual climatic conditions like temperature, wind patterns and rainfall level in every corner across the whole Earth.
Causes of Climate Change:
The existence of a natural cover of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere keep the Earth warm enough to support life as recognized. However, the emission of the man-made greenhouse gases made the atmosphere far thicker; to the effect that it traps the heat leading to the global warming. Further, the types of fossil fuel are considered the biggest single source for man-made greenhouse gases.
The burning of coal, petroleum and natural gas triggers billions of tons of carbon every year, which otherwise would have remained hidden under the ground, in addition to burning large amounts of methane and nitrous oxide. Further, More carbon dioxide is emitted when cutting trees and not replacing them by others. At the same time, the methane is also emitted from enormous sectors of the animal resources, as well as its emitting from the rice farms and waste landfills. And the nitrous oxide is produced by the use of fertilizers.
Still, there are types of gases lingering for long time such as fluorine and chlorine compounds (CFCs). hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), and per fluorinated chemicals(PFCs), which are used for air-conditioning and refrigeration, and result from manufacturing. They eventually make their way to the atmosphere.
Consequences of climate change:
The most impoverished communities are the most vulnerable to the effects of the climate change. The average level of the world seas is expected to increase between 28 and 58 cm due to the widening of oceans and melting of glacial rivers. In a similar token, more waves of temperature rise will be triggered, and the drought will get far worse in some regions. Also, some regions will experience heavy precipitation.
- An increase in the temperature and risks in all the regions of the world.
- The negative effects of the Hydrologic Cycle: the temperature rise leads to accelerating the Hydrologic Cycle, meaning that and the warmer atmosphere traps more moisture and becomes less stable causing more rainfall, in the form of heavy downpours, as well as accelerating evaporation. This may cause a decrease in the quality and quantity of the fresh water supplies in all the main regions.
It is more likely that the patterns of winds and storm paths will change, and the intensity of the tropical cyclone (not its frequency) will increase, with more wind velocity and heavy downpours.
- Increase in mortality rate resulting from the ever-rising temperature.
- Increase in cases of asthma, respiratory allergy and respiratory system diseases.
- Rise in the communicable diseases and animal-borne diseases.
- Cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
- Food and waterborne diseases.
- Mental health and stress disorders.
- Some types of cancer.
- Threatening the biodiversity and wild life.
- Increase in the sea levels due to oceans widening and melting of the glacial rivers that may lead to more floods and coast eroding.
- Affecting the most vulnerable communities:
The most impoverished communities are the most vulnerable to the effects of the climate change in view of their lacking of resources that could be tapped to prevent the effects of the climate change, and to reduce them. Among the most vulnerable to risks are farmers, indigenous people and coastal populations.
- The small island states are mostly prone to get affected by the climate change. As such, its limited size renders them more vulnerable to the natural disasters and outward shocks, especially the latitudes in the sea surface level.
Climate change effects on environment:
1- The global warming:
It is a rise in the Earth atmosphere temperature caused by the emission of warm gases (Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide and others) that could result in:
- Occurrence of natural disasters (Fire, floods, hurricanes and drought).
- Ice melting.
- Increase in the sea and ocean level.
2- Thinning of Ozone hole.
3. Acid rains
Effect of climate change on the health of human:
- Increase in mortality rate resulting from the ever-rising temperature.
- Increase in cases of asthma, respiratory allergy and respiratory system diseases.
- Rise in the communicable diseases and animal-borne diseases.
- Cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
- Food and waterborne diseases.
- Mental health and stress disorders.
- Some types of cancer.
Solutions for reducing the climate change:
- Raising the environmental awareness for all members of the community.
- Encouraging energy saving.
- Reducing the pollutants before spreading in the atmosphere.
- Lessening dependency on the petroleum as a main source of energy.
- Utilizing the renewable energy sources like the solar and wind energy.
- Helping the developing countries making progress in terms of reducing the pollution emission field.
- Innovating of environmentally friendly factories and equipment.