Climate change is the most critical problem facing the planet right now. Rising levels of atmospheric CO2 caused by increased energy consumption, vehicular pollution, industrial operations and deforestation, have led to an increase in the average global temperature. This has, in turn, altered weather patterns. How does it matter?

The glaciers and ice caps are melting faster than predicted. As oceans rise, many coastal and low-lying regions will be submerged. Volatile weather also increases the likelihood of devastating natural disasters like hurricanes, droughts, floods and forest fires. The bushfires in Australia attest to this fact. The raging fires not only damaged property worth millions of dollars but also wiped out natural ecosystems, killed people and animals and displaced them.

Wildlife enthusiasts are fighting a battle on yet another front. They hope to resuscitate populations across ecosystems. Forests are being depleted to make space for housing, industry and farming. Rapidly multiplying human populations are burdening our natural resources. The numbers are more than what our planet can sustain. Overfishing has depleted marine species. There is a higher consumption of coal and fossil fuels, further adding to the CO2 emissions.

Pollution, in all forms, is another threat to the environment. Industries dump their toxic wastes into the sea contaminating water resources. It has caused a decline in marine species too. People are staring at a severe water shortage in the near future. The air we breathe is also of extremely poor quality with its large amounts of pollutants and carbon dioxide. It has put us at a greater risk of airborne diseases.

Environmental damage is a vicious cycle that keeps perpetuating itself. And the impacts are already visible.

Taking action to preserve the planet

Our future generations will have to bear the brunt if the situation gets out of hand. And, it is going to take more than a few governments and a handful of environmentalists to put an end to it. Protecting the planet starts with you and me. Here’s what people have been doing and what you can do too.

Regenerate forests

The best way to tackle the climate crisis is to bring back our forests. A simple act of planting a tree can help reverse the damage. Trees are carbon sinks. They filter the air we breathe. They restore the soil. Regenerating forests also re-establishes biodiversity. It supports ecosystems and sustains life. Natural ecosystems act as nature’s natural defence against calamities. Hence, they occupy an important place. Countries across the globe, third world countries, in particular, are already working towards restoring forest cover by planting billions of trees.