Cet 12th level classes 2026 | Indian Geography : Jalvayu Parivartan | Theory + MCQs + PYQs | SK sir

Welcome and Introduction

Host Introduction

• The host, Engineer S.K. Rathore, welcomes students to the online session of Laksh Classes, greeting them with various salutations like "Ram-Ram" and "Radhay-Radhay."

• Encourages students to join the live session quickly and share it with others.

Session Overview

• Today's topic is significant for the CET recruitment exam under 10+2 syllabus: Climate Change and Disaster Management. This is a new addition to the syllabus.

• The two main topics discussed will be climate change (जलवायु परिवर्तन) and disaster management (आपदा प्रबंधन). The focus will initially be on climate change.

Understanding Environmental Components

Types of Environmental Components

• The environment consists of two types of components: biotic (जैविक घटक) and abiotic (अजैविक घटक). Biotic components include living organisms, while abiotic components encompass non-living elements like temperature, water, air, and soil.

Biotic Component Categories

• Biotic components are further divided into three categories:

• Producers (उत्पादक): Organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis, such as green plants.

• Consumers (उपभोक्ता): Organisms that depend on others for food; they are categorized into primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), and tertiary consumers (omnivores).

• Decomposers (अपघटक): Organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Climate Change Explained

Definition of Climate Change

• Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation patterns, humidity levels, etc., over an extended period—typically observed over 30 to 35 years. It differs from weather changes which can occur daily or hourly.

Weather vs Climate

• Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions; changes frequently within hours or days.

• Climate: Long-term average of weather patterns in a specific area over decades or centuries. Understanding this distinction is crucial for grasping climate change concepts effectively.

Causes of Climate Change

Factors Contributing to Climate Change

• Two main factors contribute to climate change:

• Natural Factors: These include volcanic eruptions or variations in solar radiation that cannot be controlled by humans.

• Anthropogenic Factors: Human activities such as industrialization lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions affecting global temperatures significantly. Examples include deforestation and urbanization leading to pollution increases.

Impacts on Environment

• If not addressed promptly, climate change could have severe negative effects on both environmental health and human well-being due to rising temperatures leading to extreme weather events like drought or floods impacting agriculture and biodiversity negatively.

Climate Change: Natural and Human-Induced Factors

Natural Factors Influencing Climate Change

• The atmosphere's interaction with environmental factors leads to climate change, starting with Earth's axial tilt.

• Earth's axial tilt is approximately 23 degrees, which affects its orbit around the sun and contributes to seasonal changes.

• Over decades, variations in this axial tilt or orbital motion can disrupt weather patterns and lead to climate shifts.

• Continental drift is another natural factor; the breakup of Pangaea led to volcanic eruptions that released harmful gases into the atmosphere.

• Volcanic eruptions release magma and gases, significantly impacting climate by introducing pollutants into the atmosphere.

Additional Natural Contributors

• Volcanic activity also plays a role in climate change through gas emissions during eruptions.

• Ocean currents are crucial for climate regulation; phenomena like El Niño and La Niña can cause extreme weather conditions such as drought or flooding.

• El Niño can lead to drought in regions like Indonesia and India, while La Niña may result in excessive rainfall in neighboring countries.

Human-Induced Factors Affecting Climate Change

Industrialization

• Rapid industrialization increases greenhouse gas emissions due to manufacturing processes that release chemicals into the atmosphere.

• Factories producing textiles use dyes that emit harmful chemicals when wastewater evaporates, contributing to atmospheric pollution.

Urbanization

• Urban development often involves deforestation, leading to increased carbon dioxide levels as trees are cut down for construction projects.

• Deforestation exacerbates global warming by reducing the number of trees available to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

Transportation Impact

• Increased reliance on fossil fuels for transportation (cars, buses, etc.) releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the air.

Chemical Pollution

• Agricultural practices using chemical fertilizers contribute to soil degradation and atmospheric pollution through runoff.

Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming

Understanding Global Warming

• Global warming refers specifically to temperature increases caused by human activities that elevate greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.

• The term "global warming" was first coined by scientist William Beijerinck in 1874.

Key Greenhouse Gases

Natural Sources

• Water vapor naturally exists in varying amounts across different geographical areas but is more prevalent near the equator than at polar regions.

Human-Made Contributions

• Carbon dioxide (CO2), accounting for about 60% of greenhouse effects, is primarily emitted from burning fossil fuels.

• Methane (CH4), responsible for roughly 20% of global warming impacts, comes from agricultural practices and waste management.

• Nitrous oxide (N2O), contributing about 6%, results from agricultural activities as well.

• Fluorinated gases make up around 14% of contributions; these include CFCs used in refrigeration systems.

Understanding Greenhouse Gases and Earth's Average Temperature

Role of Greenhouse Gases

• Natural greenhouse gases, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide, are essential for maintaining Earth's average temperature.

• An increase in these gases due to human activities can lead to global warming.

Current Atmospheric Composition

• Existing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, and HFCs help maintain the average temperature of Earth.

• If their concentrations rise significantly, it could result in climate change.

Earth's Average Temperature

• The average temperature of Earth is approximately 15 degrees Celsius.

• Without natural greenhouse gases, the temperature could drop drastically to -20 degrees Celsius.

Consequences of Reduced Greenhouse Gases

Impact on Climate Change

• A significant drop in Earth's temperature would lead to severe climate changes.

Major Contributors to Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Leading Countries by Emission Levels

• China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, contributing about 30% globally.

• The United States follows with approximately 15% emissions.

• Europe contributes around 9%, while India accounts for about 7%.

Per Capita Emissions Insights

Highest Per Capita Emitters

• While China leads in total emissions, the USA has the highest per capita emissions among countries.

Effects of Global Warming

Key Impacts on Environment and Society

• Climate change will manifest through rising temperatures and altered weather patterns.

• Melting glaciers will contribute to rising sea levels affecting coastal regions.

Additional Consequences:

• Agricultural land may decrease due to flooding from rising sea levels.

• Food security will be threatened as agricultural conditions worsen.

Mitigating Climate Change: Strategies

Approaches to Control Climate Change

Three Main Categories:

1. Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., promoting renewable energy).

2. Adaptation: Adjusting practices according to environmental changes (e.g., managing water resources).

3. Monitoring & Awareness: Establishing systems for climate monitoring and public education on environmental issues.

Global Solutions for Climate Change

International Initiatives

Notable Events:

• World Environment Conference: Held on June 5th, 1971 in Stockholm, Sweden; established UN Environmental Program (UNEP).

Important Organizations:

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): Established in 1988 by WMO and UNEP; headquartered in Geneva with 195 member countries.

Formation of International Environmental Organizations

Establishment of UAEP and IPCC

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in Sweden, with its headquarters located in Nairobi, Kenya.

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 through collaboration between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UNEP.

Purpose and Objectives of IPCC

• The main objective of the IPCC is to address global climate change issues by providing a governmental framework for studying these problems.

• In 1992, the IPCC organized the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gathering countries to discuss global temperature-related issues.

Key Milestones and Achievements

• The establishment of the IPCC aimed at diagnosing global warming issues and creating a mechanism for government-level action.

• The IPCC has 195 member countries and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts.

Earth Summit Outcomes

Focus Areas from the Earth Summit

• During the Earth Summit in 1992, three key agreements were emphasized:

• UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)

• CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity)

• CCD (Convention to Combat Desertification)

UNFCCC Details

• The UNFCCC is a treaty focused on climate change that became effective in March 1994. It aims to hold annual conferences regarding climate change.

• These annual meetings are known as COP (Conference of Parties), with the first COP held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995.

Kyoto Protocol Insights

Adoption and Implementation

• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on December 11, 1997, during COP3. It came into force on February 16, 2005.

• India joined this protocol in 2002; however, Canada withdrew from it in December 2011.

Goals of Kyoto Protocol

• This protocol aimed to manage greenhouse gas emissions effectively while reducing carbon dioxide levels globally.

Recent Developments and Future Conferences

Upcoming COP Events

• COP30 took place in Belém, Brazil, while COP31 is scheduled for November 2026 in Antalya, Turkey.

Summary of Climate Change Discussions

• Discussions covered environmental components such as biotic factors like producers and consumers alongside abiotic factors like temperature and water.

This structured summary encapsulates critical discussions about international environmental organizations' formation and their objectives concerning climate change initiatives.