Over 97% of scientists agree that humans cause climate change. Humanity’s accelerated burning of fossil fuels and deforestation (forests are key parts of the planet’s natural carbon management systems) have led to rapid increases of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and global warming.
Climate change – is birth control the answer? It is a sensitive issue of overpopulation claims that the world’s climate crisis calls for “non-emissions-based solutions” and, furthermore, that “contraception is an overlooked approach”. Population Council experts claim that improved access to birth control could slow population growth and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 40%.
Following are the main threats of climate change:
-
Rising temperature of Earth’s atmosphere
The main threats of climate change stemming from the rising temperature of Earth’s atmosphere include rising sea levels, ecosystem collapse and more frequent and severe weather.
-
Rise in Sea Levels
Rising temperatures from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions warms the polar regions and the oceans, which melts ice cover at the poles and causes sea level rise. Climate change affects ocean habitats by lowering oxygen, decreasing phytoplankton (little plants that serve as the base of marine food chains) and killing coral reefs.
-
Affects weather patterns
The warming of the atmosphere affects weather patterns, causing more frequent and severe storms and droughts across many global regions. Higher temperatures are affecting the length of seasons and in some places, are already crossing safe levels for ecosystems and humans.
All of these impacts, and many, many others will become more severe if we don’t act to stop greenhouse gas emissions.
The good news is that climate change is not an impossible problem. We know what causes it and what to do to stop it. It will take courage, ambition and details beyond lofty announcements.