{"id":12879,"date":"2021-10-15T09:54:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T09:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailykashmirpost.com\/eng\/?p=12879"},"modified":"2021-10-15T10:02:07","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T10:02:07","slug":"what-is-climate-change-a-really-simple-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailykashmirpost.com\/eng\/2021\/10\/15\/what-is-climate-change-a-really-simple-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"What is climate change? A really simple guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Climate is the average weather in a place over many years. Climate change is a shift in those average conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The rapid climate change we are now seeing is caused by humans using oil, gas and coal for their homes, factories and transport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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When these fossil fuels burn, they releases greenhouse gases – mostly carbon dioxide (CO2). These gases trap the Sun’s heat and cause the planet’s temperature to rise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The world is now about 1.2C warmer than it was in the 19th Century – and\u00a0the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen by 50%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Bar<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Temperature rises must slow down if we want to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, scientists say. They say global warming needs to be\u00a0kept to 1.5C by 2100<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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However, unless further action is taken,\u00a0the planet could still warm by more than 2C<\/a>\u00a0by the end of this century.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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If nothing is done,\u00a0scientists think global warming could exceed 4C<\/a>, leading to devastating heatwaves, millions losing their homes to rising sea levels and irreversible loss of plant and animal species.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What is the impact of climate change?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Extreme weather events are already more intense, threatening lives and livelihoods.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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With further warming, some regions could become uninhabitable, as\u00a0farmland turns into desert<\/a>. In other regions, the opposite is happening, with extreme rainfall causing historic flooding – as seen recently in China, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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People in poorer countries will suffer the most as they do not have the money to adapt to climate change. Many farms in developing countries already have to endure climates that are too hot and this will only get worse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Infographic\"<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Our oceans and its habitats are also under threat. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, for example, has already\u00a0lost half of its corals since 1995<\/a>\u00a0due to warmer seas driven by climate change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Wildfires are becoming more frequent<\/a>\u00a0as climate change increases the risk of hot, dry weather.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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And as frozen ground melts in places like Siberia, greenhouse gases trapped for centuries will be released into the atmosphere, worsening climate change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In a warmer world, animals will find it harder to find the food and water they need to live. For example, polar bears could die out as the ice they rely on melts away, and elephants will struggle to find the 150-300 litres of water a day they need.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Scientists believe\u00a0at least 550 species could be lost this century<\/a>\u00a0if action is not taken.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Coral<\/span>IMAGE SOURCE,<\/span>GETTY IMAGES<\/span><\/div>
Image caption,<\/span>If temperatures continue to rise, almost all warm water coral reefs could be destroyed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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How will different parts of the world be affected?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Climate change has different effects in different areas of the world. Some places will warm more than others, some will receive more rainfall and others will face more droughts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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If temperature rise cannot be kept within 1.5C:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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