CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANIMAL EXTINCTION: THE GLOBAL WARMING QUESTION

Abstract

The climate is changing faster than ever predicted and it is causing a huge decline in animal life. Temperature in the year 2014 was recorded as the hottest in the history of human existence. However, year 2015 is on track to be even hotter. The total amount of animal life on earth has halved in the last 35 years and bird population has decreased by 40%. This paper is aimed at critically appraising the causes, effects and possible solutions to this raging environmental menace. The incessant changes of climate and the resultant manifestation of fast disappearance of animals around the world has become a serious concern for environmental experts. As the global temperature is persistently on the rise, biotic communities are hugely on the decrease. Secondary data (review of relevant literature) and deductive techniques were used in data collection and appraisal. Global warming is discovered to be the major determining factor of animals going on extinction. Sea-level rise has inundated beaches and marshes has caused erosion on the coasts, diminished habitat for birds, invertebrates, fish, and other coastal wildlife. The study recommends that frantic effort should be made to reduce or eliminate elements promoting global warming such as use of fossil fuel and wildfire/bush burning on one hand and imbibe the culture of exploring nuclear power and massive afforestation on the other hand.