The past decade has been recorded as the warmest years ever since NASA began its modern record keeping in 1880. The year 2019 ranked second to 2016 as the hottest year recorded, having an almost 1 degree Celsius increase in the mean temperature of 1951 to 1980. This significant change in temperature indicates that climate change is already upon us
Related: How Plastic Waste Adds to Global Warming
Climate Change: Causes and Effects
Climate change is an environmental phenomenon that has two major manifestations: global warming and large-scale changes in weather patterns. The average global temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius, but recordings have shown that there has been significant fluctuations in the earth’s temperatures, rendering hotter or much higher average land surface temperatures.
The Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases are the main reason why we are experiencing global warming. Some examples of these harmful gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons and other fluorinated gases. When released into the air, these greenhouse gases absorb and trap the heat of the sun that’s supposed to radiate back to space. This results in warmer and higher surface temperatures.
Many human activities contribute to the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The largest source of greenhouse gas emission is the burning of fossil fuels which we use for heat, electricity, and transportation. Other anthropogenic factors that result in the greenhouse effect is livestock farming, use of nitrogen-containing fertilisers, and deforestation.
How Does Improper Waste Disposal Contribute to Climate Change?
Climate change is an environmental impact caused by our carelessness and irresponsibility. When you don’t throw your rubbish properly, you contribute directly to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Organic and biodegradable rubbish are carbon-containing compounds and through decomposition, these carbon elements are released into the air. This process contributes to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which traps and retains the sun’s heat in the earth’s surface.
Landfilling and Greenhouse Effect
Another improper waste disposal that aggravates climate change is improper segregation of rubbish. When you don’t sort your rubbish, organic wastes such as food wastes, timber, green waste, and wet paper might end up in our landfills. When these biodegradable wastes degrade, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide and harmful landfill gas methane
Why Should Climate Change Bother You?
Climate change is a serious environmental threat that affects humans, animals, and plants. If we don’t change our unsustainable practices, global warming and climate change will sustain and worsen in the coming years, thereby also affecting our future generations.
The Effects of Climate Change
The following are the impacts of climate change and global warming:
- Mountain glaciers and ice caps melting – animals such as polar bears, penguins, and seals face new challenges as ice caps melt and mountain glaciers shrink due to the warming of the earth’s surface
- Sea level rise – because of the melting of ice caps and glaciers, the average sea level has risen by 3.6 mm per year from 2005 to 2005.
- Extreme weather conditions – Climate change intensifies drought which leads to extreme heat waves, bushfires and forest fires. Moreover, it also causes frequent storms and flooding which are catastrophic events for communities, livelihoods, and businesses.
- Heat-related illnesses and complications – extreme heat can cause various health issues such as heat stroke, skin cancer, breathing complications, infections, and water-borne diseases, to name a few.
What Can You Do To Prevent Climate Change from Worsening?
Climate change is already happening, and we cannot immediately stop it since we depend on fossil fuels for many of our everyday needs. However, we can keep it from worsening by practising sustainable methods and responsible waste disposal.
Here are some of the simple steps you can take to prevent aggravating the effects of climate change;
- Reduce, reuse, recycle
- Compost organic waste
- Segregate rubbish properly
- Avoid littering
- Choose energy-efficient products
- Opt for renewable energy
A reliable rubbish removal company like Paul can be your partner in dealing with your rubbish at home. Aside from getting rid of your wastes for you, we will also take care of segregation, recycling and disposal of your rubbish so that you can help save the environment. As the most trusted rubbish removal company in Sydney, Paul practices efficient and sustainable rubbish removal methods so as to satisfy our customers and, at the same time, help the environment.
Feel free to contact us anytime for same-day rubbish removal. You can call us at 0407 125 125 or send us an email for bookings and enquiries.
