10 Essential Climate Facts You Must Know

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Recently, world-renowned scientists, doctors, investors, business leaders, and political leaders have all committed themselves wholeheartedly to calling for action against climate change and the eradication of poverty. For a long time, the “climateosphere” has been introducing new perspectives and catchy terms regarding climate change, which sometimes give rise to misconceptions. Challenge the “climate myth” – let’s work together to clear the fog and see the truth! Myth 1: Climate change on Earth is a natural phenomenon. Rating: ★ ★ Truth: Most of the world’s top scientists believe that climate change since the Industrial Revolution has been primarily caused by human activities (especially the burning of fossil fuels), and it goes beyond the scope of natural changes. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines \"climate change\" as changes in climate that occur over an extended period of time, resulting from human activities that directly or indirectly alter the composition of the global atmosphere, in addition to natural climate variations. **The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms that climate change is occurring around the world, that human activities are the main cause of it, and that this impact is increasing steadily. For a long time, the Earth's climate has also been influenced by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, ocean currents, Earth's orbit, and solar activity. Therefore, the climate change on Earth that we see today is the result of both human activities and natural processes. Myth 2: Greenhouse gases refer only to carbon dioxide as the common indicator. ★ ★ ★Truth: Greenhouse gases are not limited to carbon dioxide; they also include methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and others. Greenhouse gases refer to the gaseous components in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect. Excess greenhouse gases cause the atmosphere to absorb too much infrared radiation, which in turn leads to a continuous rise in the Earth’s average temperature. This triggers a series of consequences, such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and an increase in extreme weather events like heatwaves, storm surges, droughts, and heavy rains, disrupting the natural balance of the environment. Myth 3: Climate change is synonymous with global warming. Rating: ★ ★ ★ Truth: Global warming is one manifestation of climate change. Climate change is a general term referring to changes in regional or global weather patterns. It includes changes in temperature and humidity, an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, changes in rainfall patterns that can lead to droughts or floods, as well as increased intensity of hurricanes. However, global warming mainly refers to the continuous rise in Earth’s surface temperature and its resulting effects (such as melting glaciers). It is one of the manifestations of climate change caused by human activities. Myth 4: The greenhouse effect must have negative effects on the Earth. Common rating: ★ ★Truth: The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon; an appropriate amount of greenhouse gases helps maintain Earth at a temperature suitable for life, similar to a greenhouse where plants are grown. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases act like a blanket, trapping heat energy and preventing it from escaping from the Earth. Without the greenhouse effect, the surface temperature of Earth would drop to minus 18 degrees Celsius, too cold for some organisms to survive. The atmosphere is like a greenhouse covered with glass, keeping Earth at around 15 °C and providing a favorable environment for the development and growth of life. However, excessive greenhouse gases can cause the Earth’s surface temperature to rise too rapidly or to become too high, imposing a heavy cost on humanity. Myth 5: Climate change is caused by the heat island effect – Rating: ★ ★Truth: Although the heat island effect raises temperatures in urban areas, cities account for only a small proportion of the Earth’s surface, so their impact on climate change is minimal. The heat island effect is a regional microclimate phenomenon in cities. Overall, whether before or after sunrise, the temperature in the city is higher than that in the surrounding areas. This temperature difference is mainly caused by the heat absorption of sunlight by high-rise buildings in cities, the hot air emitted by air conditioning systems in these buildings, and the reduced evaporation heat due to deforestation. However, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and cities consume the vast majority of energy directly or indirectly; therefore, they are also the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Many large cities are also located in coastal areas and are vulnerable to extreme weather phenomena caused by climate change. Therefore, low-carbon urban development is extremely crucial. Myth 6: The carbon sinks on Earth are simply forests. ★ ★ ★ ★Truth: In addition to forests, oceans, and fossil fuels such as coal and oil are also carbon sinks. A carbon sink is a natural or artificial \"warehouse\" that is capable of accumulating and storing carbon compounds (especially carbon dioxide) indefinitely. Forests are one of the main carbon reservoirs, holding a massive amount of carbon. Once forests are damaged by activities such as logging or agricultural development, large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect. In addition to forest resources, the oceans and fossil fuels are also valuable carbon repositories. Myth 7: Excessive greenhouse gas emissions stem from power generation. Common rating: ★ ★ ★Truth: There are many direct and indirect sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The global power generation industry is the biggest culprit behind climate change. The generation of electricity from burning fossil fuels, especially coal, has a greater impact on the atmosphere than any other human activity. However, direct carbon emission sources include not only power generation and transportation but also industry, manufacturing, agriculture, and even the service sector. For example, processes in agriculture such as burning grasslands, using fertilizers, and treating manure all emit greenhouse gases. Myth 8: INDCs are the final plans that countries use to address climate change. Common rating: ★ ★ ★ Truth: INDC stands for **Intended Nationally Determined Contributions**, which are proposed by countries based on their own national conditions; they indicate what responsibilities those countries should assume and what actions they need to take to deal with climate change. But this is not yet the final solution; it still requires a process of negotiation and deliberation to go from a \"draft plan\" to a legally binding negotiation outcome. During the review, each country’s INDCs need to be assessed to determine whether they meet the scientific requirements for addressing climate change and whether they reflect the relevant principles of equity established by the convention. Ultimately, the outcome of this process is expected to be established in some legal form at the Paris climate negotiations at the end of 2015. Myth 9: Climate change has little impact on human health. Rating: ★ ★ ★ Truth: Last week, the reputable medical journal The Lancet published a new special report stating that climate change poses a “serious threat” to human health, and that human development and health levels could regress by 50 years due to this “medical emergency” of climate change. The report states that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and storms is a direct health impact of climate change ； Indirect impacts arise from changes in disease infection patterns, air pollution, food safety and malnutrition, forced migration, and conflicts. At the same time, the report also emphasizes that addressing climate issues this century represents a “greatest opportunity” for human health. Taking action to address climate change will help reduce diseases, enhance climate resilience, eliminate poverty and inequality, and avoid the many drawbacks associated with the past development model that relied on fossil fuels, which are highly polluting and emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. Myth 10: An individual’s consumption choices have nothing to do with climate change. Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Truth: In fact, each person’s lifestyle habits, including their needs for things such as electricity, water, and food, are key factors that influence energy demand and climate change. In our daily lives, whether it’s turning on lights, using air conditioning, driving cars, or flying planes… all of these activities generate greenhouse gases, thereby leaving a \"carbon footprint\" on the environment. The larger the footprint, the more greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere as a result of your activities. Everyone’s carbon footprint varies, but we all have the ability to reduce it. For example, buying seasonal vegetables is a low-carbon choice. The off-season vegetables available in the market today are usually grown using greenhouse technology, which requires additional energy and facilities and thus increases greenhouse gas emissions.