Assessing Global Climate Change: Extent and Effects

All environmental problems that touch any nation lead to adverse effects on the lives and health of their populations. Climate disasters are on the rise. Around 70 per cent of disasters are now climate related-up from around 50% from two decades ago. These disasters take a heavier human toll and come with a higher price tag. In the last decade, 2.4 billion people were affected by climate related disasters, compared to 1.7 billion in the previous decade. The cost of responding to disasters has risen tenfold between 1992 and 2008. Destructive sudden heavy rains, intense tropical storms, repeated flooding and droughts are likely to increase, as will the vulnerability of local communities in the absence of strong concerted action. Climate change is not just a distant future threat. It is the main driver behind rising humanitarian needs and we are seeing its impact. The number of people affected and the damages inflicted by extreme weather has been unprecedented. Unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth. Keeping these things in view the objectives of the study are a) to discuss the global environmental issues with special reference to climate change, b) to formulate the historical evidences of climatic records, c) to assess the extent and effects of climate change, and d) to describe the climate change modeling and prediction. The risks inherent in gathering and interpreting observed evidence made it essential to design a methodology that allowed access to a diverse range of sources, so that data could be verified before being accepted as evidence. The methodology made different types of data. Relevant data collected from printed materials, internet, books, journals, articles and thesis etc.