Prashant Mehta

Assistant Professor, National Law University, Jodhpur

INTRODUCTION

One of the major environmental issues haunting people is Global Warming.

Our planet is getting warmer and it is one of the most dangerous situations, that the

earth has to suffer in the coming years

It's very important to consider this problem, because it is the problem of human

existence.

Global warming is a phrase that is used to describe the increase in the earth ´s

temperature and this rise in temperature is attributed to an increase in greenhouse

gases ( Water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and methane)

Levels of these greenhouse gases have increased substantially over the last century.

A huge amount of carbon dioxide is spreading day by day in our environment.

EARTH’S ATMOSPHERIC GASES

Nitrogen (N2)

Oxygen (O2)

Water Vapour (H2O)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Methane (CH4)

Non-Greenhous

eGases >

99%

Greenhouse

Gases < 1%

Argon (Ar)

WHAT IS GREENHOUSE EFFECT?

Green House effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is responsible for heating of Earth’s Surface and the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases reflect radiation from the Earth and stop it from being lost into space. This causes the Earth's temperature to be higher than its normal temperature.

The primary greenhouse gases include:Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrogen oxides, Ozone, and Fluorinated gases

REPORT BY FOURTH ASSESSMENT- IPCC

GAS PRE INDUSTRIAL LEVEL

CURRENT LEVEL INCREASE SINCE 1750

CARBONDIOXIDE 280PPM 396 PPM 116PPM

METHANE 700 PPB 1745 PPB 1045PPB

NITROUS OXIDE 270 PPB 314 PPB 44PPB

CFC 0 533 PPT 533PPT

Nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide Methane absorbs 21 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide.

GREENHOUSE

This looks like a small glass house and is used for growing plants especially in winter season. In a greenhouse the glass panel lets the light in but does not allow heat to escape. Therefore the green house warms up.

WHERE GREEN HOUSE GASES COME FROM

• Carbon Dioxide: from Fossil fuel Combustion: (82%) Carbon Dioxide emitted from Cars, Trains.

• Methane: (9%) methane, comes form landfills, coils, oil and gas operations and agriculture.

• Nitrous Oxide: (5%) Emitted from burning fossils fuels and through the use of certain fertilizers and industrial processes.

• Human Made Gases: (2%) Released as byproducts of industrial processes and through leakage.

GLOBAL WARMING MEANING

Global warming is an average increase

in the temperature of the atmosphere.

It happens when greenhouse gases

(carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous

oxide, and methane) trap heat and

light from the sun in the earth’s

atmosphere. Global warming can

occur from a variety of causes, both

natural and human induced .

The ice of the Arctic region is disappearing. Summer in the Arctic could be ice free within 80 years. Melting of two massive ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland will lead to Rise in sea levels

Warmer temperatures increase the energy of the climatic system and can lead to heavier rainfall in some areas. Scientists project that climate change will increase the frequency of heavy rainstorms, putting many communities at risk for devastation from floods

Warmer temperatures could increase the probability of drought. Greater evaporation, particularly during summer and fall, could exacerbate drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires.

Hurricanes - As the temperature of the oceans rises there is more probability for frequent and stronger hurricanes

Volcanoes-release SO2, Cl2, HCl, H2O, Ash, and CO2 into the atmosphere. Over the past 100 years, the earth has warmed about one degree Fahrenheit. Volcanoes releases tons of gases into atmosphere

Climate change is a severe outcome of excessive cutting down of trees. It results in an increase in the amount of carbon and other greenhouse gases in the environment.

Droughts and heat waves - Although some areas of Earth will become wetter due to global warming, other areas will suffer serious droughts and heat waves.

Diminished food and water suppliesReduced rainfall, severe droughts and loss of soil fertility affects food and water suppliesIt leads to disease, malnutrition, starvation and, ultimately, death.

Tsunamis - Extremely heavy, massive glaciers apply a considerable amount of pressure to the Earth’s surface underneath them.

Diminished glaciers causes‘ freeing up’ of tectonic masses and leads to massive earthquakes and deadly tsunamis.

Ecosystem Shifts Increasing global temperatures are expected to disrupt ecosystems, pushing to extinction those species that cannot adapt. Approximately 20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if global average temperature increases by more than 2.7 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Power plant - Burning of fossil fuels (Coal, oil and natural gas) for the purpose of electricity generation which releases CO2, CO, CH4, NOx.

Transportation/ Air pollution - Emission from motor fuel accounts for 60% of carbon emissions over the past 20 years.

Construction of Building causes global warming becauseuse of electricity increases, CO2 emissions from raw materials for building, Garbage can liberate CO2 oxide and other gases

Fertilizers and Chemical Industry- Thinning of ozone layer or ozone hole is due to man-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFC )

Plastics - Manufacture of plastics uses a lot of energy and releases pollutants. It do not biodegrade in the environment . Incineration produces more greenhouse gases.

Acidic oceans - Higher levels of CO2 causes ocean acidification , It is bad for coral reefs and other species.

Economic consequences - Natural calamities like floods , hurricanes etc causes damage to life, infrastructure etc. Billions of dollars are required for rehabilitation

The 7 cross-cutting thematic priorities are:

• Climate change Management• Disasters Mitigation and Conflict Avoidance• Ecosystems Management• Environmental Governance/ Regulations• Harmful hazardous waste Reduction• Resource efficiency and Recycling• Sustainable consumption and production

IS GLOBAL WARMING REALLY HAPPENING

• The atmosphere is complex and any model for understanding it must include astronomical, meteorological, geological, and biological factors; Ex. sunspots, wind and air circulation, cloud cover, volcanic activity, dust and soot, aerosols, ice sheets, oceans, living organisms, just to name a few.

• Climatic modeling using computers have been relatively accurate in predicting the changes in global temperatures, and that the temperature of our atmosphere is slowly rising, yet experts still disagree on the impact of such a “minute” increase (0.5o over the last century).

Largest glacier in South America is disappearing at a rate of 200 meters each year.

Melting Glaciers – Mt. Kilimanjaro

PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE IF YOU ACT