Topic- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
6) Time is running out to keep global warming below 1.5°C since pre-industrial era levels. Do you agree. Discuss. (250 words)
Why this question
Climate change and global warming to levels above 1.5 degrees celsius of the pre-industrial levels will have devastating consequences especially for the world’s poor living in Asia, Africa etc. In this context it is important to gauge the gravity of the situation so that adequate efforts could be made towards avoiding such disaster.
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to write in detail about the climate change scenario and bring out the urgency to limit global warming levels within 1.5 degrees celsius of pre-industrial levels.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- write a few introductory lines about the Climate change and its association with development and quality of life.
Body-
Discuss the issue in detail and bring out the urgency to act fast in this regard. E.g The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has come out with a clear scientific consensus that calls for a reversal of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, to prevent severe harm to humanity in the decades ahead. The IPCC’s special report on global warming of 1.5°C, prepared as a follow-up to the UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change, provides the scientific basis for them to act. There is now greater confidence in time-bound projections on the impacts of climate change on agriculture, health, water security and extreme weather. With sound policies, the world can still pull back, although major progress must be achieved by 2030; The IPCC makes it clear that the human and economic costs of a 2°C rise are far greater than for 1.5°C, and the need for action is urgent. Human activity has warmed the world by 1°C over the pre-industrial level and with another half-degree rise, many regions will have warmer extreme temperatures, raising the frequency, intensity and amount of rain or severity of drought. Risks to food security and water, heat exposure, drought and coastal submergence all increase significantly even for a 1.5°C rise etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
