Climate Change and Its Impact on Human Health and Food: Responsibility, Harm, Human-Centeredness, and Challenges

Abstract

Throughout human history, people lived in a relatively pure and balanced natural environment. The Earth's ecosystems—including land, seas, oceans, and the layers of the atmosphere—functioned according to consistent scientific principles and the divine laws governing the universe.

However, since the beginning of the nineteenth century, the world has witnessed remarkable growth in the exploitation and use of fossil fuels—coal, oil, and natural gas—alongside rapid industrial development. This extensive reliance on fossil fuels has significantly altered the global climate due to the increased emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, into the Earth's atmosphere. These gases trap the Sun's heat, leading to the phenomenon of global warming, which in turn drives climate change.

Today, the Earth's average temperature is rising at an unprecedented and measurable rate. Over time, this warming disrupts normal weather patterns and disturbs the natural balance of ecosystems, posing serious risks to human societies and all forms of life on the planet.

One of the most alarming consequences is the accelerating loss of ice through increased melting, which contributes to rising sea levels, more frequent and severe flooding, and the exposure of millions of people to significant environmental hazards.

Addressing these challenges requires the adoption and enforcement of comprehensive laws, legal frameworks, and successive international agreements aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a steadfast transition toward sustainable development.