Climate Change: An Unprecedented Environmental Challenge

Abstract

This study examines climate change with specific focus on its evolution, causal factors, global environmental effects, preventions and mitigations. The study argues that climate change is a cataclysmic consequence of uncoordinated anthropogenic activities on the global environment which should be mitigated to ensure sustainable environmental development. It observes that terrestrial, astronomical and extraterrestrial factors exacerbated by poor human activities in the mining, agricultural, forestry, transport, and urban environment planning sectors are responsible for its occurrence. From Africa to Asia, and from the Americas to Europe, and across Australia, the devastative impacts of climate change are clearly observed. These include thawing of permanent ice, increased ocean-sea waters, occurrence of torrential rainfall, flooding of towns and cities, destruction of infrastructures, prevalence of diseases, exacerbation of drought incidents in marginal locations, food insecurity, and unhealthy political struggles by countries for fertile lands, water and minerals. Based on its findings, the study suggests measures to prevent and mitigate the effects of climate change on the global environment. These include reduced emissions of greenhouse gases into the global environment, utilization of carbon sink, capture and storage techniques, implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, green belt resuscitation and conservation in cities, improved urban planning, sanitation, construction and monitoring, utilization of clean and renewable energy sources, and proper transport regulations in world’s cities.

Keywords: Climate change, anthropogenic activities, challenges, effects, mitigations.