His never-ending pursuit for progress has resulted in severe repercussions on the environment, especially since the industrial revolution.

Consequently, the rapid increase in the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has culminated in large scale loss of biodiversity, severe land degradation and environmental pollution.

The overall impact of these problems has been observed as – climate change.

This can ultimately lead to an ecological crisis capable of affecting the entire life systems existing on Earth.

While some quantities of these gases are naturally occurring and integral in maintain the Earth's temperature, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 has risen from over 300 parts per million to about 400 ppm, a level not reached in more than 400,000 years.

Even small increases in Earth?s temperature caused by climate change can have severe effects. Rising sea levels would cause unprecedented disruption in coastal populations, which make up more than 40 percent of the total population.

Global temperatures will increase on average by 8 degrees Celsius by 2300 if all of Earth?s fossil fuel resources are burned, adding five trillion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere

A mere 6 degrees C was enough to end the Ice Age. A drastic 8 degree increase would easily make Earth uninhabitable.

Greenhouse gases would transform Earth into a place where food is scarce, parts of the world would be uninhabitable for humans, and many species of animals and plants would be wiped out.

The temperature rise would also spur heat waves in highly populated regions of the planet.

Rising sea levels due to the melting of the polar ice caps would warm ocean temperatures leading to loss of marine life and potential frequent storms.

Severe weather events would increase the incidence of wildfires and lead to several other dire consequences.

Temperatures are going to increase till the oil age ends. The continued burning of fossil fuels is virtually inevitable until cleaner alternatives are cheaper and widely available globally.

The two most important strategies for addressing the problem are mitigation and adaptation.   

Adaptation is more applicable to general public like us.

Adaptation means changing the way we as a society live in response to the changing climate.

Changing our own behavior can limit climate change: By switching to energy efficient sources, increasing the energy efficiency of our homes and offices, and driving less, we can limit climate change.

Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating cause its now or never.

Stats Source:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/160523-climate-change-study-eight-degrees/

PHOTOGRAPH BY NORBERT ROSING, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CREATIVE