GLOBAL WARMING
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
— Chief Seattle
Everybody is talking about the Economic meltdown but not many are concerned of the alarming problem of GLOBAL WARMING.
MAJOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Include:
- Greenhouse gases and global warming.
- Use of non renewable resources.
- Fresh water availability and quality.
- Food availability and distribution.
- Pollution and waste.
- Biodiversity loss.
- Deforestation.
What is global warming?
Also called the ‘greenhouse effect’, it describes the gradual increase in air temperature in the earth’s lower atmosphere.
We hear the term “greenhouse gas” a lot—but what is it?
Humans add various gases to the earth’s atmosphere every day; these gases (known as “greenhouse gases”) consist primarily of carbon dioxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and methane, and tend to warm the earth. Trees help counter greenhouse gas production during photosynthesis, by taking in carbon dioxide as waste material and producing oxygen, which of course we all need to survive.
- What causes global warming?
Many scientists now believe that global warming is caused by human activities. Cutting down trees, producing more trash, and polluting the environment are some of the reasons that the temperature has gone up. Many scientists believe that the biggest causes of global warming are new human technologies that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
The causes of the recent warming remain an active field of research, but the scientific consensus is that the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases due to human activity caused most of the warming observed since the start of the industrial era.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Scientists even agree that human-induced global climate change poses a serious threat to both society and the Earth’s ecosystems. Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet.
Human activities that contribute to climate change include in particular the burning of fossil fuels, agriculture and land-use changes like deforestation. These cause emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas responsible for climate change, as well as of other ‘greenhouse’ gases. To bring climate change to a halt, global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced significantly.
- What is the effect of global warming?
With more heat trapped on Earth, the planet will become warmer, which means the weather all over Earth will change. For example, summers will get hotter, and winters too. This may seem a good idea, but the conditions we are living in are perfect for life, and a large rise in temperature could be terrible for us and for any other living thing on Earth.
The effect of a change in the weather on plant growth may lead to some countries not having enough food. Brazil, parts of Africa, south-east Asia and China will be affected the most and many people could suffer from hunger.
Many animals and plants may not be able to cope with these changes and could die. This could cause the loss of some animal and plant species in certain areas of the world or everywhere on Earth.
In other parts of the world, the effects will be different, some places will become drier and others will be wetter. Although most areas will be warmer, some areas will become cooler. There may be many storms, floods and drought, but we do not know which areas of the world will be affected.
Climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale. Global warming is projected to have significant impacts on conditions affecting agriculture, including temperature, precipitation and glacial run-off.
Increasing global temperature will cause sea level to rise, and is expected to increase the intensity of extreme weather events and to change the amount and pattern of precipitation. Other effects of global warming include changes in trade routes, glacier retreat, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.
- How is global warming affecting the world?
The climate is a very complicated thing, but many scientists agree that the rising atmospheric temperature has already damaged the environment. Sheets of ice, called glaciers, are melting in Antarctica and other parts of the globe. As glaciers break off and melt into the oceans, they are adding warm water to the oceans and causing the sea level to rise.
Over the last 100 years, the sea level has risen 6-8 inches around the world. That means that land along the coasts is beginning to disappear under water. Bigger and warmer oceans are also adding to other weather problems caused by pollution in the atmosphere. Some places have received more rain, others have had bigger storms and a few areas in the world have experienced unusual droughts.
If the warming gets worse, as scientists expect, there may be some kinds of plants and animals that become extinct (disappear completely) because they can’t move to new homes. There may be more storms and floods. Sea level may rise so much that people have to move away from the coasts. Some areas may become too dry for farming.
Aggravated Allergies
Have those sneeze attacks and itchy eyes that plague you every spring been worsening in recent years? If so, global warming may be partly to blame. Over the past few decades, more and more Americans have started suffering from seasonal allergies and asthma. Though lifestyle changes and pollution ultimately leave people more vulnerable to the airborne allergens they breathe in, research has shown that the higher carbon dioxide levels and warmer temperatures associated with global warming are also playing a role by prodding plants to bloom earlier and produce more pollen. With more allergens produced earlier, allergy season can last longer. Get those tissues ready!!!!
Global warming can sink Mumbai (8 Aug 2002 Times Of India.)
There may be a different kind of water crisis heading Mumbai’s way. Preliminary research on climate change suggests that the heavily populated coastal areas in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat are very vulnerable to inundation and flooding if sea levels rise due to global warming.
In Maharashtra, Mumbai will be most vulnerable because of the high reclamation and development along its coastline. If there is a one-metre rise in sea level over the next century, as some scientists predict, low-lying areas in the city—like the Back Bay and Versova—are in danger of being flooded or washed away, especially near mud-flats and creeks.
Detailed studies of the impact of climate change in India and Asia are almost absent, so current predictions are, at best, still highly speculative.
But according to one study by Tata Energy Research Institute, which ranked the vulnerability of different districts, the economic impact on Mumbai of a one-metre sea level rise would be over Rs 2,00,000 crore, mainly because of land and property loss.
Such predictions are based on the contention that average global temperatures are rising because of increasing atmospheric levels of gases like carbon dioxide, produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Sea levels are also rising, they say, because oceans expand as they become warmer but also because of the melting of polar glaciers.
- Global Warming being highly discussed!!!!!!!!!!
1. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (WEF)
(Business Line- 2nd Feb 2009)
Corporate chiefs at the forum have expressed concern.
“I am convinced that, under present conditions and considering the way water is being currently managed, we will run out of water long before we run out of fuel,” said Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chairman of Swiss food conglomerate Nestle.
“The only way to measurably and sustainably improve this dire situation is through broad-scale collaborative efforts between governments, industry, academic, and other stakeholders around the world,” said Indra Nooyi, chairman and chief executive of PepsiCo Inc, the US drinks major that makes huge use of water.
Dominic Waughray, the WEF head of environmental initiatives, said “management of future water needs stands out as an urgent, tangible and fully resolvable issue for multiple stakeholders to engage in.”
2.”Our choices at all levels—individual, community, corporate and government—affect nature. And they affect us.”
— David Suzuki, Suzuki Foundation
3.”Rising oil prices have focused the world’s attention on the depletion of oil reserves. But the depletion of underground water resources from overpumping is a far more serious issue. Excessive pumping for irrigation to satisfy food needs today almost guarantees a decline in food production tomorrow.”
— Lester Brown, author of Plan B, v3.0
4.Excerpts from The Economist (Nov 6th 2008)
Governments can discourage companies and people from producing CO2 by making polluters pay or by reducing the costs of clean energy. Europe does both, through a cap-and-trade system (which caps CO2 emissions and requires companies to buy permits to pollute) and through subsidies. Mr. Obama is, quite rightly, planning to introduce a cap-and-trade system,
but he is also promising massive subsidies.
Making polluters pay is unpopular with companies. Politicians don’t
much like it either, because it means a fight with business. But it’s
the efficient way to discourage pollution, because it shifts costs onto
those who should bear them, and allows the market to pick the best way
of cutting emissions.
- What can you do about global warming?
You don’t have to wait until you are grown to do something about global warming. Scientists agree that the burning of fossil fuels is causing global warming. Since these fuels are burned for energy, and everyone uses energy, everyone can help stop global warming just by using less energy.
Think about the things you do each day that use energy. The lights in your house use electricity. The TV and computer use electricity. The washing machine and dryer all use gas or electricity. Every time you ride in your car, it uses gasoline.
There are some simple things that you can do to help stop global warming:
1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Use fluorescent bulbs in your room.
2. Turn off your computer or the TV when you’re not using it. Unplug chargers when not in use.
3. Wait until you have a lot of clothes to wash before using the washing machine. Don’t use the machine for one item just because it’s your favorite shirt. Replace your washing machine with a low-energy, low-water use machine.
4. Take shorter showers. Heating water uses energy. Install a solar thermal system to help provide your hot water.
5. Close the blinds on a hot day if the sun is shining in. Dress lightly instead of turning up the air conditioning. Or use a fan.
6. Dress warmly inside your house when it’s cold, instead of turning up the heater.
7. Keep the air filters on your AC and furnace clean.
8. Walk short distances instead of asking for a ride in a car.
9. Plant native trees around your homes and businesses.
10. Replace your home’s refrigerator with a high-efficiency model.
11. Leave your car at home two days a week (walk, bike, vanpool, or take the bus). Or buy a fuel-efficient car (rated at 32 mpg or more) to replace your family’s most used vehicle.
You can also….
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Use products in containers that can be recycled and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.
Use water efficiently
Saving water around the home is simple. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions. There are also simple actions you can take to save water: Be smart when irrigating your lawn or landscape; only water when needed and do it during the coolest part of the day, early morning is best. Turn the water off while shaving or brushing teeth. Do not use your toilet as a waste basket - water is wasted with each flush. And did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Repair all toilet and faucet leaks right away.
Each of us can be doing something to solve the problem, but that we should –
not only for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.
Spread the Word
Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Tell 5 people and together we can help our homes help us all.
The good news is we know what to do. The good news is, we have everything we need now to respond to the challenge of global warming. We have all the technologies we need; more are being developed. And as they become available and become more affordable when produced in scale, they will make it easier to respond.
But we should not wait, we cannot wait, we must not wait.
