The world does not need any more of this green

Ever wondered why looking for a new planet to inhabit is so difficult? Well, aside from needing the perfect oxygen ratio, as well as light and water for food cultivation, another hurdle to overcome is finding a planet that provides a “Goldilocks temperature” for humans to reside in: not too hot, not too cold, but just right! So, what is it that makes our Earth such a liveable temperature?

Introducing the greenhouse effect!

What is the greenhouse effect?

Plants that grow in greenhouses bloom and thrive beautifully due to a simple temperature regulation system the glass panes of greenhouses provide. During the day, sunlight shines into the greenhouse’s clear glass panes and provides warmth. When night falls, temperatures in the greenhouse remain warm as the panes prevent heat from escaping and traps the warmth from daytime.

Likewise, the Earth is essentially a gigantic greenhouse, but instead of glass panes, we have our atmosphere! It’s composed of various greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, etc. These gases absorb heat from the shortwave radiation emitted by the sun as well as longwave radiation coming from the earth’s surface. The gases then re-emit the heat to the surrounding atmosphere, keeping our planet warm and comfortable. Without the atmosphere, Earth’s average temperature would drop from the current 14^oC to an icy -18^oC. . 

Enhanced greenhouse effect

However, the issue arrives when the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases exponentially. As such, more heat is absorbed and reflected back to the earth, resulting in a spike in global temperatures. This phenomenon is thus known as the enhanced greenhouse effect, which ultimately results in the issue of global warming. 

(Moderate levels of greenhouse gases keep the Earth warm, which is good for us to enjoy and grow crops etc.; but too much greenhouse gases and the Earth will cook!)

Prior to the 1850s, carbon dioxide concentrations remained relatively constant. However, as industrial activity peaked around the 1860s, global carbon emissions saw an uphill. 

Demands for resources like coal sky-rocketed. When coal production dwindled, the world moved onto another fossil fuel source,oil, and eventually, natural gas. These resources are a staple for electricity production and burning them for electricity releases greenhouse gases – mainly carbon dioxide – into the atmosphere. 

Impacts of enhanced greenhouse effect

Regardless of the initial debate on the reality of enhanced greenhouse effect by nations such as the United States, climate change has become a global crisis. 15 international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) has pledged to carbon neutrality (net-zero carbon dioxide emissions i.e. you remove as much as you emit). Back home, Singapore aims to achieve carbon neutrality ‘as soon as viable’ (Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean) as part of our Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS).

This recognition of climate change as a crisis not only recognises its existence but also informs the world of the immediate action we need to take against it. With enhanced greenhouse effect, an array of climate-related hazards ensues. Currently, an estimate of 150,000 deaths annually is directly attributed to climate change, and these numbers will undoubtedly rise if temperature rise is not curbed and its resulting effects are not dealt with.

Moving forward

The enhanced greenhouse effect is certainly anthropogenic in nature, and it is up to humans to stop and undo the harm we have caused the environment. 

Although, things have been changing for the better. World electricity supplies are steadily utilising more low-carbon sources, and world leaders are stepping up to take charge of their country’s own carbon emissions, to keep global temperature rise below 1.5^oC with the Paris Agreement. The recent decade has seen unparalleled scales for climate activism. Take for example, Greta Thunberg’s effect in inciting possibly the biggest climate strike on September 20, 2019. 

Back home in Singapore, we had our first Climate Rally in 2019, garnering a sizeable 2000 people who congregated at Hong Lim Park. The main goal of the rally was to urge the government to take bolder systematic climate action. This proved the presence of a changing mindset of society towards the environment. 

However, the real question is – will all this be enough? And in time?

There is a great necessity for climate actions to be made fast, lest we and our children will not be the ones living in a thriving world, but rather suffering from the irreversible impacts of our and our fathers’ inaction.