Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns. These changes occur naturally. In addition to natural causes, the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have increased due to anthropogenic, or human-induced, activities. Since the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide levels have increased by 40%. Human activities have been the primary driver of climate change. The main reason for this is the burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and gas), which produce heat-trapping gases. Fossil fuels, land use, industrial and agricultural activities, and deforestation have led to an increase in the amount and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which in turn causes climate change.
The most important and well-known examples of climate change include the melting of glaciers due to rising temperatures in polar regions, rising sea levels, floods, soil loss in coastal areas, contamination of clean water sources by the sea, fires caused by excessive evaporation and drought, and the disappearance or reduction of plant and animal species.
Three measures are mentioned to combat the danger of carbon emissions, which are one of the important factors affecting climate change:
– Collection of carbon taxes,
– Emission reduction policy,
– Use of renewable energy.
It is possible to achieve success in the fight against the climate crisis with many different action plans. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report “Climate Change 2022” revealed that the main cause of climate change is the increase in fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as a result of human factors. Fossil fuels are energy sources derived from natural gas and coal. The burning of fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to the increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Industrial agriculture and livestock farming are the second largest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions after fossil fuels, and this is equivalent to the emissions from all transportation vehicles worldwide. Related industries have begun to work on reducing their carbon footprint by changing their energy sources and recycling their waste, and have started to establish companies operating under the umbrella of sustainability.
At this point, the European Green Deal, an action plan that includes green and sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and environmentally friendly production cycles, is gaining importance.
Reducing carbon emissions and decarbonizing the energy sector are crucial, along with improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy. The easiest way to reduce carbon emissions is through energy efficiency. Slowing down global warming, one of the greatest challenges facing the world’s population, can only be achieved by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, there is increasing pressure to develop successful policies to control and prevent carbon dioxide emissions.
Green Economy aims to improve production processes and consumption practices to reduce sustainable consumption and production processes, resource consumption, waste generation, and emissions. Resource Efficiency refers to the ways in which resources are used to provide value to society and aims to reduce the amount of resources required per unit of product or service, reduce carbon emissions and pollution, increase energy and resource efficiency, prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and reduce the amount of emissions and waste produced.
The green economy must be enabled and supported through targeted public spending, policy reforms, and changes in taxation and regulation. The UN Environment supports a development path that recognizes natural capital as a critical economic asset and a source of public good, particularly for poor people whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. The concept of a green economy does not replace sustainable development but creates a new focus on positive social and environmental outcomes in Asia and the Pacific in relation to the economy, investment, capital and infrastructure, employment, and skills. The three main areas of current work related to the green economy are:
1) Advocating a macroeconomic approach to sustainable economic growth through regional, subregional, and national forums
2) Demonstrating Green Economy approaches focused on access to green finance, technology, and investment
3) Supporting countries in developing and disseminating macroeconomic policies to support the transition to a Green Economy
Thus, the Green Economy can provide a macroeconomic approach to sustainable economic growth that focuses on investments, employment, and skills.
