ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH THE LENS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

Climate Change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other aspects of the Earth's climate system. These changes are driven largely by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and certain industrial processes, which release greenhouse gases. Climate Change brings impacts such as rising sea levels, more intense and frequent extreme weather events, shifting ecosystems, and threats to biodiversity. Climate Adaptation, Mitigation, and Resilience are critical strategies to address and manage the impacts of climate change and discussed in this paper with different examples. Climate Mitigation involves efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases to limit the extent of climate change. Mitigation aims to slow down global warming and minimize future impacts on natural and human systems. Climate Adaptation is the process of adjusting systems, practices, and policies to withstand the current and anticipated impacts of climate change. It involves modifying infrastructure, improving water management, adopting climate-resilient agricultural methods, and planning for climate-resilient cities. Climate Resilience refers to the ability of systems—such as communities, economies, and ecosystems—to recover from and adapt to climate-related shocks and stresses. Building resilience involves strengthening institutions, improving risk assessments, implementing early warning systems, and fostering adaptive capacity. It encompasses both adaptation and mitigation efforts to create societies that can sustain themselves despite the challenges posed by climate change. This article attempts to understand how mitigation addresses the causes of Climate Change, adaptation tackles the impacts, and resilience builds the capacity to endure and recover from climate-related disruptions.