Climate Change and Agriculture
Written By: Sahaer N
Edited By: Tianna Mair
Designed By: Jiya
Published By: Linda Qi
What is climate change?
Climate change is the long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns. Since the 1800s, human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas have been the primary causes of climate change.
The greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the way in which heat is trapped close to Earth’s surface by greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gasses include carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous dioxide and methane. These heat trapping gasses can be thought of as a blanket that are keeping the planet toastier than ever before.
The greenhouse gas carbon dioxide comes from human activities like deforestation, gasoline for driving vehicles or coal used for heating buildings. Landfills for garbage and pollution are the main emitters of methane gas.
Earth is a system where everything works together. If one function of the Earth stops working, it affects all the other systems.
Agriculture at risk
Climate change doesn’t just make the Earth warmer. Climate change causes intense droughts, water scarcity, destructive fires, rising sea level, catastrophic storms, a decline in biodiversity, and the worst part is that all of those stated above affects agriculture.
All hazards listed above cause health issues in employees and lead to failure in crop production, changing times of harvesting and cultivating which raises prices of food sold at stores.
What is Canada doing to help with the climate crisis?
“Canada’s 2030 Emission Reduction” plan was created by the government in March 2022, which outlines plans of reducing 40%-45% emission levels by 2030 to reach below 2005 climate levels.
Canada’s government also created a plan known as “Net Zero by 2050” which is basically to reduce all emissions to zero by 2050.
What can we do to help reduce climate change?
Canadian citizens can also do a lot to help reduce the effects of climate change.
Anyone and everyone can join in.
- You can give knowledge to your friends, family and other relatives or people to join in with the giant community of Canadians fighting the climate crisis.
- Encourage politicians and businesses to join in and contribute money and effort for reduction of climate change.
- Think about different types of transport you can use instead of using a vehicle that runs on gasoline. You can walk or bike and if possible, try looking for electric vehicle options.
- Switch off the lights when you don’t need them on, like in the morning or when you are not using them. Turning heating or cooling down a bit will save energy and your money. You can also try renewable energy like adding solar panels to your roof.
- Buy local and sustainable food. By buying sustainable food you’ll be supporting sustainable farming. Sustainable farms consume 56% less energy and emit 69% less greenhouse gases. They also make room for growth of more biodiversity than regular agriculture practices which use fertilizers and pesticides.
- Try to grow your own food in your backyard. You can plant different types of fruit and vegetable seeds. This will give you something new to enjoy if you haven’t done it before and save you money. Do not waste food. Canadians waste 69% of edible food that could have been eaten every year. Only buy food products you know you’ll use or eat and not waste.
- Plant trees in your local parks or open landscapes or recreational areas.
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Works Cited
10 ways you can help fight the Climate Crisis. UNEP. (n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/10-ways-you-can-help-fight-climate-crisis
Agriculture and climate change essay. Agriculture And Climate Change Essay – 1420 Words | 123 Help Me. (n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.123helpme.com/essay/Agriculture-And-Climate-Change-Essay-424431#:~:text=Climate%20change%20is%20affecting%20agriculture,and%20food%20prices%20to%20rise.
Canada, S. (2022, March 29). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html
NASA. (n.d.). FAQ: What is the greenhouse effect? NASA. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/19/what-is-the-greenhouse-effect/#:~:text=The%20greenhouse%20effect%20is%20the,it%20would%20be%20without%20them.
What is climate change? | united nations. (n.d.). Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change