HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE EARTH

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Climate change is primarily driven by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, which warms the Earth and significantly alters weather patterns. This leads to a global temperature increase, resulting in various consequences such as reduced rainfall, floods, droughts, and disruptions to traditional rainfall cycles. These changes can further lead to a reduction in agricultural yields, creating food scarcity and on a long run, increase in the price of these items, displacement of communities from their homes, rising sea levels, and increased erosion.

This year, climate change has profoundly affected our weather conditions, bringing extended periods of heat and drought. Typically, the harmattan season, which spans from November to January, is characterized by cold weather that usually persists until just before the rainy season. The weather then warms up in preparation for the rainy season, which historically begins by April at the latest.
Presently, we are in July, and the weather remains unseasonably hot, persisting from the period when it should have been cold. Although there are brief moments when the temperature drops slightly, hinting at rain, it quickly returns to being hot afterward. Rainfall has been scarce, unlike previous years, with only a few instances of precipitation since the start of what should be our rainy season. This situation has caused significant concern among farmers, who fear their sown crops may not germinate, and has left many people worried about the coming year, particularly regarding potential increases in food prices.

I cannot recall a time when we experienced such a prolonged period of little to no rain. I wonder if the reduced rainfall will significantly impact this year's harvest volume and, consequently, the prices of agricultural goods. However, I had the opportunity to speak with a farmer about this issue, and they assured me that it is too early to determine if the weather will be unfavorable for plants. They suggested it's possible the rain is simply delayed and might fall heavily in the coming days. Encouragingly, at the moment, the crops have germinated and appear to be growing well.
Recently, an area in my locality experienced severe flooding. This community is situated close to a river, and one day, residents had to evacuate their homes due to the rising waters. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but there was significant damage to properties, which was devastating for those affected.

The issue of climate change is a critical problem that demands serious attention. While reducing the effects of global warming was part of the Millennium Development Goals and is now integrated into the Sustainable Development Goals, I believe people are not adequately educated or informed about the causes of climate change and how they can contribute to its reduction, especially given that it is a direct result of human activities. We need more widespread awareness and actionable steps for individuals to play their part.

Thank you for reading. My name is @rishagamo, and this is my response to the Hive Learners weekly Featured Content, Week 172 Episode 02:"CLIMATE CHANGE."