Global Warming and Climate Change: A Global Crisis with Severe Consequences for Sri Lanka

Global warming refers to the long-term rise in Earth's average temperature due to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere.

- BY P. G. ARUNI PREMATHILAKE C00575

These gases trap heat, leading to the "greenhouse effect" that raises global temperatures. Since 1900, the average global temperature has increased by about I°C (1.8°F), with the most significant rise occurring since the 1970s. This seemingly small temperature change has triggered major shifts in global weather patterns, including more frequent extreme weather events like heatwaves, heavy rains, and storms.

Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, are the primary drivers of this temperature rise. CO2 levels have surged from 280 parts per million (ppm) before the industrial revolution to over 410 ppm today. If current emission trends continue, Earth's temperature could rise by an additional 3.9°C (7°F) by 2100, with severe consequences for both ecosystems and human societies.

The effects of global warming are wide-ranging. Rising sea levels, caused by melting ice caps, glaciers, and the thermal expansion of seawater, threaten coastal regions and low-lying islands. Extreme weather events, including intense heatwaves, storms, and droughts, are increasingly disrupting agriculture, damaging infrastructure, and causing loss of life. Furthermore, elevated CO2 levels are contributing to ocean acidification, which threatens marine life, including coral reefs, shellfish, and plankton. These species are vital to marine biodiversity and local economies. Rising temperatures and altered weather patterns are also pushing many species to migrate or adapt, threatening global biodiversity.