The greenhouse effect - causes and consequences
Ecology
1 February 2023
What is the cause of the greenhouse effect, the main reason for the Earth's rising global temperature? Does humanity have a role in accelerating this process? If so, how and what can be done to limit it in the future? What action needs to be taken before it is too late? Find out what the greenhouse effect is and learn about its consequences, which could become a threat to the whole world.
The greenhouse effect - the main causes
Intensification of the greenhouse effect occurs due to an increase in greenhouse gases. GHGs (Greenhouse Gases) are gaseous components of the atmosphere that trap energy from the sun's rays at the Earth's surface, rather than allowing it to freely return to space. The effect of this phenomenon can be compared to the way a greenhouse works. The most common greenhouse gases are water vapour and carbon dioxide.
These occur naturally on Earth, but the problem is their excessive emission caused by humanity (which contributes to the greenhouse effect). The accumulation of gases such as water vapour in the atmosphere has always existed and allows life to exist on the planet, enabling it to maintain a suitable number of degrees Celsius. Or at least this has been the case until now, as the greenhouse effect has caused the average temperature to rise.
Water vapour concentrations are much higher today than they were a few decades ago. As a result of human activity, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted has increased dramatically. This has created a vicious circle effect: the accumulation of gases on the planet's surface causes the Earth's temperature to rise, which in turn causes increased evaporation of the waters of the seas and oceans, which raises it even further. This is the synergistic effect that contributes most to climate change.
What factors contribute to the greenhouse effect, apart from the already mentioned increased CO2 emissions? Emissions of other substances that have a similar effect:
- methane;
- nitrous oxide;
- fluorocarbons;
- perfluorocarbons;
- sulphur hexafluorides.
Where do these greenhouse gases come from? We can divide the causes of their formation into natural and anthropogenic. Carbon dioxide can be released into the atmosphere during a volcanic eruption, but also during the burning of fossil fuels. The latter is more dangerous due to the scale of the effect - plants are not able to absorb such large quantities of this chemical compound. 
Impact of agriculture on the greenhouse effect
It is already known how the greenhouse effect is created. What impact does agriculture have on this whole process? Is this branch of the economy only affected by the current climatic and atmospheric changes, or is it one of the perpetrators of the negative phenomena? Unfortunately, the answer is the latter - agriculture is affected by the climate, but agriculture is also affected by the climate.
Before food is ready for consumption, it must first be produced. Both livestock farming and land cultivation require the consumption of many raw materials (such as water), which is combined with increased greenhouse gas emissions. The production of livestock and agricultural feedstuffs generates 6 billion CO2 per year. To this must be added the by-products of burning the fuels used to power the vehicles that transport the animals and products.
How to reduce the climate impact of the greenhouse effect?
The way to reduce the greenhouse effect on the climate is to reduce the greenhouse effect itself. This means that those concerned should:
- Reduce your carbon footprint - using less fossil fuel, i.e. switching to a bicycle or investing in an electric car. Also by using InPost's services - the company uses zero-emission cars and Parcel Post is a solution that reduces the carbon footprint left by individual couriers;
- start producing their own electricity - e.g. using photovoltaics;
- limit air travel;
- approach consumerism rationally - in particular do not purchase products from producers who do not pay attention to the state of the environment;
- limit meat consumption.
The causes and effects of the greenhouse effect cannot be completely eliminated, but they can be reduced as much as possible. The international community must use the available raw materials in a sustainable manner, which also applies to plants and animals.
What are the effects of the greenhouse effect we are currently experiencing?
Many people do not realise that we can already see the consequences of the greenhouse effect and its excessive intensification. Increased evaporation of water, melting glaciers, increased sea and ocean levels, excessive droughts and extreme weather events - all this does not come from nowhere, although many would like to believe it.
How the greenhouse effect affects the environment is devastating - deaths from heatstroke, drowning, irreversible damage to coral reefs are the irreversible loss of many animal species. The effects of the greenhouse effect are felt most by industrially and economically underdeveloped countries - these are usually countries with daily temperatures already higher than First World territorial areas.
The biggest negative effect of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, apart from the increase in the Earth's temperature, is air pollution. Its poorer quality can lead to the development of respiratory diseases in humans and animals. Society needs to realise that it is not only us who have an impact on the climate, but also the climate on us, and increasingly so. It is necessary to help not only the planet, but also each other.
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