10 Climate Change Events In 2021 That Shows That World Is Nearing To Disaster

The increased use of coal and petroleum products due to lifestyle and economic changes around the globe increases the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Many countries around the world have recently faced severe natural disasters due to climate change. The rapidly changing weather on Earth creates a deadly state of cyclonic storms and floods in many parts of earth. It may be noted that the floods have disrupted life in developed countries like China and the USA in recent years. Such a situation clearly shows that climate change is making the weather more extreme around the world.

Climate change will have an impact not only on the world economy but also on the world’s population. Climate change is expected to reduce the world economy by about 20%. In addition, about 10 crore people will be displaced due to changes in sea level. Drought areas will increase five times, and lakhs of people will become refugees due to drought. Every sixth person will suffer from water distress. Wild animals will be at serious risk to their lives, and it is estimated that about 40 per cent of species will disappear from the earth forever.

The primary greenhouse gases of the atmosphere are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone, etc. that are naturally present in our atmosphere since Earth’s birth but human activities significantly increase their quantity in our atmosphere. The temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere increases as these gases absorb some amount of radiation from the sun to the Earth. Observations show that the amount of these gases in the atmosphere is continuously increasing. The effects of greenhouse gases are gradually changing our seasonal cycles and increasing seasonal accidents.

To understand the reality of climate change, one has to look at and understand the different aspects of the recent disasters that happened in 2021:

1. West coasts of the United States and Canada were hit by a record-breaking heatwave

Death Valley, California, recorded a temperature of 54.4°C (130F). Lytton in British Columbia set a new heat record with a 49.6°C temperature. The heat is so intense that the road’s concrete is heating so much and expanding that it leads to cracks in the road.

2. Russia endured its worst heatwave in 142 years, with temperatures in Moscow reaching 34.8°C

Moscow bakes under the scorching heat is quite unusual for Russia. This heatwave in Russia has destroyed over 8,000,000 hectares of forests. After a record-breaking heatwave in June, the Russian Meteorological Service believes the country might witness its warmest summer in 120 years. You can guess the intensity of this climate change that this is the biggest news in Russia at that time that even attracts the attention of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is once a sceptic about the reality of climate change and global warming. He said to the media, “Climate change is now a priority.”

3. West European floods have left a trail of damage in Germany and their neighbouring countries

Two months’ worth of rain poured over two days, resulting in 110 deaths in Germany and Belgium. There are about 1,300 individuals still missing in Germany. Multiple erosions in different parts of the country destroyed local infrastructure.

4. A record-breaking cold spell and the worst snow blizzards of this decade rocked Spain in January this year

This is the worst storm to hit the country in the previous 50 years, causing damages to the road, rail and air transport. A 20cm (8 inch) snowfall was recorded in Madrid, one of the most hit locations. Storms caused riverbanks to burst in the south of the country, as well.

5. Rain-induced flash flooding and landslides in eastern Indonesia killed hundreds and displaced thousands of people

Each year in Indonesia, a network of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in hilly areas or rich river plains, seasonal downpours trigger numerous landslides and floods that kill hundreds of people. A lack of electricity, clogged roads and high tides hindered rescue operations.

6. South Korea saw its coldest day in 35 years

South Korea was seized by cold air from the North Pole during the first week of January. Capital Seoul’s official temperature was -18.6°C changed overnight dramatically, the lowest since Jan. 5, 1986. Soyang River and Bukhan River in Chuncheon and a waterfall on the Hantan River in Cheorwon totally froze during this time. On the beaches of Sokcho, seawater icicles developed on rocks.

7. Texans saw record-breaking low temperatures due to a polar vortex

One of the rarest events of this century has led to a power outage and a humanitarian crisis in Texas. There is no doubt about it that the consequences of the Polar Vortex experienced in the western United States where wind chills reached -60 °F, with the lowest temperature of -30 °F.

8. Three sandstorms struck Beijing in five weeks

Three giant sandstorms in five weeks painted Beijing’s sky blazing orange and pushed air quality plunging. This is almost double the “hazardous” stage of Beijing’s air quality index. The storms were triggered by winds from drought-affected regions of Mongolia and north-western China. The pollutants carried with these winds can even penetrate the lungs.

9. Australia’s New South Wales experienced its most devastating floods in more than 30 years

Australia’s New South Wales was hit by torrential rains on Monday, pushing hundreds to flee from their homes to save their lives from the worst floods in decades and pushing already-stressed towns to the brink of collapse. Around 18,000 residents were advised to leave their homes at that time after days of unrelenting rain led rivers in Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, to reach their highest levels in 30 years.

10. It took Uttarakhand just five days to register 361 forest fire occurrences in April

The wildfires destroyed 567 hectares of forest, including 380 hectares of protected areas. Seven districts in Uttarakhand are most prone to forest fires: Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital and Almora. More than 12,000 forest personnel were placed on the ground to combat wildfires in various locations throughout Uttarakhand state.

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