Introduction
While climate change is unavoidable as some of the shifts in temperature and weather patterns may be natural and categorized as long-term, we cannot deny the role that humans have played in speeding up this inevitable process. Climate change has become a topic of focus where people have come to realize that future generations will suffer the consequences of our actions that are reflected onto the ongoing increase in intensity or frequency of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, and wildfires.
The burning of fossil fuels is one of the main causes of said climate change where the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas generate greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions can be viewed as a blanket that covers the Earth, which in turn traps the sun’s heat and raises temperatures where according to the United Nations, the past decade has been the warmest decade on record. They also make it a point to clarify that while people may think that climate change only impacts temperatures, that it is not the case. While climate change does indeed cause an increase in temperatures, it is not the only thing impacted. Earth has a very complex system where everything is connected, like the butterfly effect, the tiniest wind in the East could cause a storm in the West.
Many countries and individuals are actively trying to play their part in hopes of getting a handle on this matter. Many have been switching their energy systems from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar or wind in hopes of decreasing the produced emissions that are impacting the Earth. While that is a good start, it may not be enough. It is imperative that we take further steps to get a handle on this before it is too late.
In that regard, IEREK aims to do its part by planning its 4th international conference on Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability (CCES) in hopes of encouraging scientists, researchers, and environmental enthusiasts to come together to better understand the issue at hand and to discuss potential solutions to help us get a step closer to making substantial change and hopefully, save our planet for future generations to come.
