The temperature of the Earth has been rising day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and second by second. Since the industrialization boom, the earth has entered a state of modernization in which nature and greenery consume only a fraction of the earth and the rest is taken up by concrete jungles and oceans of plastic. The earth’s temperature has risen by more than 0.9 degrees Celsius since 1906. This has resulted in severe natural consequences such as melting polar ice caps, unpredictable climate environments, and drought in various regions.

The aforementioned actions are a result of climate change. Climate change is an issue that requires immediate attention and resolution. The term “climate change” was coined for the first time in 1950, when there was a rapid increase in temperature in the tropical ocean, but a few pieces of evidence and traces show that this phenomenon has been occurring since the 1830s. It demonstrates how dangerous this is because it has stood the test of time and has had a long-term impact on the environment without people noticing for nearly 120 years.

Temperature increases in the Arctic region are thought to have begun around the same time, but what was causing such an increase in temperatures? The industrial revolution is thought to have begun in 1780, but it did not become fully developed in societies until 1830. This was the period when the number of factories, transportation systems, and other new technologies that required the manipulation of natural resources increased.

The society at the time had not feared or considered climate issues, which resulted in mass exploitation of fossil fuels, deforestation, river blocking to prevent flooding, and so on. Reasons like this caused an imbalance in the earth’s environment, and we have been dealing with such issues ever since.

We are now facing the negative consequences of climate change because no action was taken to stop or reduce it. The earth’s temperature continues to rise by 0.16 degrees Fahrenheit per decade; this may appear to be a small amount, but it will cause severe constraints and problems in the long run. Unpredictable weather forecasts have been prevalent over the years, resulting in crop failure and farm land destruction. As a result, the country is forced to live in famine. The Godavari River in India has reported that its water levels have receded and that it will soon dry up. This river was a source of water for many people, and now that it is drying up, millions of Indians will be thirsty and will have to walk miles to get water from remote locations.

Increasing sea levels are a threat to the environment; in the last three years, China has experienced an increase in the number of floods, forcing people to flee the area. China, a major economic power, is now experiencing the negative effects of climate change in its country, causing millions to be displaced and hoping to find new shelter. Wildfires in California continue to occur on a daily basis, resulting in the loss of a large amount of natural land that could be used for cultivation or simply to maintain the balance of oxygen in the environment.

Many island countries are expected to sink as sea levels rise as a result of this issue. This is an urgent issue that must be resolved as soon as possible, or else the world will come to a halt and will be irreversible. Simple steps can be taken to address this growing problem. Recycling is essential and should be practiced by everyone; recycling even one plastic bottle per day can make a significant difference in the environment. Planting a tree is a great place to start; many social media influencers and non-governmental organizations have launched campaigns in which a tree is planted for every dollar donated.

People have been trying for the past year to persuade governmental bodies to implement agendas that will result in a pollution-free environment. Finland has announced that they will be completely dependent on green energy in a few years, and the European Union has decided to reduce energy dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. We can hope that if these statements hold true, we will not be living in a post-apocalyptic world like Fahrenheit 451 in a few years.

By Shreyas Ghosh | DPS International Edge, Gurgaon, India