Climate change and natural disasters

The third law of motion by Sir Isaac Newton says “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” However valid this law might be, it’s unfortunate when applied in the context of man’s activities on the environment. What the globe is experiencing today stems from man’s past actions on the environment, that did not put into consideration what consequences might follow.

The effects of climate change, which are slowly taking their toll in many different parts of the globe today, are because of man being a bad steward of the environment. For a long time now, many doomsayers thought the issue of climate change was just a hoax and that those pushing the agenda are after monetary gains. However, the adverse effects of the changing climate are a sad reality right before our eyes.

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For examples, industrialization is credited for the massive developments the world overseen over the years. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the mid-1700s, human activities have added more and more of these gases into the atmosphere. The levels of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, have risen by 35 percent since 1750, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. With more greenhouse gases in the mix, the atmosphere acts like a thickening blanket and traps more heat; which has led to a rise in the world temperatures.

Man’s actions such as deforestation, charcoal burning and removing vegetation from the environment had brought this impasse before the world, which was once safe haven years ago. Natural disasters are now more prominent than ever because of the effects of not having stable atmospheric conditions. For example, rise in sea levels which result in storms, floods, and cyclones, erratic rains which result in partial or full droughts. The floods and storms that from time to time beseech the world today were preventable if the warning of the climatic experts was heed. As things stand, a year hardly goes by without experiencing a natural disaster attributed to the effects of change in climatic conditions. Poor environmental management can be termed as a dormant volcano waiting to erupt any moment.

However, actions to remedy the situation have continued have started until a satisfactory situation is achieved. To begin with, coastal areas that are very vulnerable to these disasters should have deliberate policies of reforesting and restoring the mangrove forests that are very cardinal in combating this scourge that has befallen the world. The forests do not only help to improve the atmospheric conditions but also save as barriers against the floods and storms. They also help in the process of transpiration and maintains the required amount of oxygen in the environment. This will help remedy the situation even as other more technical but safe means of combat this challenge is being sorted.

By Moono John

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