Q.Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.

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graph TD
    GW["Global Warming"] --> Temp["Rising Temperatures"]
    GW --> Glaciers["Melting Glaciers and Ice Caps"]
    GW --> Weather["More Intense Weather Events"]
    GW --> Rainfall["Shifts in Rainfall Patterns"]
    GW --> Ocean["Ocean Warming and Acidification"]
    GW --> Bio["Impact on Ecosystems and Biodiversity"]

Effects of Global Warming on Global Climate

1. Rising Temperatures

• Global average temperatures have risen by more than 1.1°C compared to pre-industrial baselines.
• This has led to more frequent, prolonged, and severe heatwaves globally.

2. Melting Glaciers and Rising Sea Levels

• Rapid melting of polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers is accelerating sea-level rise, threatening low-lying coastal cities and island nations with permanent submergence.

3. Extreme Weather Events

• There is a marked increase in the frequency and intensity of cyclones, floods, droughts, and wildfires.
• Examples: Severe hurricanes in the Atlantic and prolonged, devastating droughts across East Africa.

4. Disruption of Ecosystems

• Rising ocean temperatures and acidification are causing widespread coral bleaching and species extinction, altering critical migratory patterns and destroying habitats.

5. Impact on Agriculture and Food Security

• Unpredictable rainfall patterns and shifting temperature zones are reducing crop yields, threatening global food security and rural livelihoods.

6. Health Hazards

• Warming climates are expanding the geographical range of vector-borne diseases (like malaria and dengue) and increasing heat-related mortalities.

Control Measures under the Kyoto Protocol (1997)

1. Overview

• Adopted in 1997 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol was a historic international treaty.
• It introduced legally binding emission reduction targets for developed nations (Annex I countries), aiming to reduce their collective GHG emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels during its first commitment period (2008–2012).

2. Market-Based Mechanisms

• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Allowed developed nations to meet their emission reduction targets by investing in green, sustainable projects in developing countries, earning tradeable carbon credits.
  • Example: European countries funding wind and solar energy projects in India.
• Joint Implementation (JI): Enabled developed countries to implement emission-reduction projects in other developed nations to earn emission reduction units.
• Emissions Trading: Created a global carbon market where countries with surplus emission allowances could sell them to nations exceeding their targets.

3. Principle of CBDR

• It operationalized the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), recognizing that developed nations bear the historical responsibility for GHG accumulation and must lead mitigation efforts, while developing nations focus on sustainable development.

Other Global Control Measures

• Renewable Energy Transition: Scaling up solar, wind, and green hydrogen power to phase out fossil fuels.
• Energy Efficiency: Enhancing efficiency standards across transport, heavy industries, and residential buildings.
• Afforestation: Massive tree-planting drives to create natural carbon sinks.
• Waste Management: Capturing landfill methane and promoting circular economy practices.
• Subsequent Agreements: Transitioning to the Paris Agreement (2015), which legally binds all nations to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to limit global warming to well below 2°C.