**3. Nature of global warming and climate change**

Global warming and climate change refer to an increase in average global temperatures. Natural events and human activities are believed to be contributing to an increase in average global temperatures. This is caused primarily by increases in "greenhouse" gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2).A warming planet thus leads to a change in climate which can affect weather in various ways, as shown below.

Global Trends of Fossil Fuel Reserves and Climate Change in the 21st Century 175

explore non-conventional energy resources such as: solar energy, wind energy, bio-mass and bio-gas, hydrogen, bio-diesel which may help for the sustainable fossil fuel reserves and reduce the tail pipe emission and other pollutants like: CO2, NOX etc., but special emphasis should also be laid upon to the storage of energy such as compressed air stored from solar, wind and or other resources like: climatic / disaster energy to be tapped down to maintain energy sustainability of 21st century which may also lead to environmentally and

The various effects of climate change pose risks that increase with global warming (i.e., increases in the Earth's global mean temperature). The IPCC (*2001d and 2007d*) has

 The poor within countries, global aggregate impacts (i.e., various measurements of total social, economic and ecological impacts), and large-scale high-impact events.

The effects, or impacts, of climate change may be physical, ecological, social or economic. Evidence of observed climate change includes the instrumental temperature record, rising sea levels, and decreased snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (*IPCC, 2007a:10*), "[most] of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is *very likely* due to the observed increase in [human greenhouse gas] concentrations". It is predicted that future climate changes will include further global warming (i.e., an upward trend in global mean temperature), sea level rise, and a probable increase in the frequency of some extreme weather events. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has agreed to

The phrase climate change is used to describe a change in the climate, measured in terms of its statistical properties, e.g., the global mean surface temperature. In this context, climate is taken to mean the average weather. Climate can change over period of time ranging from months to thousands or millions of years. The classical time period is 30 years, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization. The climate change may be due to natural causes, e.g., changes in the sun's output, or due to human activities, e.g., changing the composition of the atmosphere. Any human-induced changes in climate will occur against the

The most general definition of *climate change* is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system when considered over long periods of time, regardless of cause, *whereas*  Global warming" refers to the change in the Earth's global average surface temperature. Measurements show a global temperature increase of 1.4 °F (0.78 °C) between the years 1900 and 2005. Global warming is closely associated with a broad spectrum of other

implement policies designed to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

ecologically better future.

**3.1 Effect of global warming** 

**3.2 Effect of climate change** 

climate changes, such as:

background of natural climatic variations.

organized many of these risks into five "reasons for concern:

Effects that fall most heavily on developing countries and

Threats to endangered species and unique systems,

Damages from extreme climate events,

Fig. 5. Ten indicators for a warming world, Past Decade Warmest on Record According to Scientists in 48 Countries, NOAA, July 28, 2010

For decades, scientists and environmentalists have warned that the way we are using Earth's resources is not sustainable. Alternative technologies have been called for repeatedly, seemingly upon deaf ears (or, cynically, upon those who don't want to make substantial changes as it challenge their bottom line and takes away from their current profits).

Global warming in today's scenario is threat to the survival of mankind. In 1956, an US based Chief consultant and oil geologist *Marion King Hubert, (1956)* predicted that if oil is consumed with high rate, US oil production may peak in 1970 and thereafter it will decline. He also described that other countries may attain peak oil day within 20-30 years and many more may suffer with oil crises within 40 years, when oil wells are going to dry. He illustrated the projection with a bell shaped *Hubert Curve* based on the availability and its consumptions of the fossil fuel. Large fields are discovered first, small ones later. After exploration and initial growth in output, production plateaus and eventually declines to zero.

In India, vehicular pollution is estimated to have increased eight times over the last two decades. This source alone is estimated to contribute about 70 per cent to the total air pollution. With 243.3 million tons of carbon released from the consumption and combustion of fossil fuels in 1999, India is ranked fifth in the world behind the U.S., China, Russia and Japan. India's contribution to world carbon emissions is expected to increase in the coming years due to the rapid pace of urbanization, shift from non-commercial to commercial fuels, increased vehicular usage and continued use of older and more inefficient coal-fired and fuel power-plants (*Singh, BR, et al., 2010*).

Thus, peak oil year may be the turning point for mankind which in turn led to the end of 100 year of easy growth and may end up a better world, if self-sufficiently and sustainability of energy is not maintained on priority. Although the worldwide efforts are being made to explore non-conventional energy resources such as: solar energy, wind energy, bio-mass and bio-gas, hydrogen, bio-diesel which may help for the sustainable fossil fuel reserves and reduce the tail pipe emission and other pollutants like: CO2, NOX etc., but special emphasis should also be laid upon to the storage of energy such as compressed air stored from solar, wind and or other resources like: climatic / disaster energy to be tapped down to maintain energy sustainability of 21st century which may also lead to environmentally and ecologically better future.
