Introduction
- How many of you are aware of the global warming effects?
- Does anyone know how it influences the environment and the life of the whole humanity?
- Would you like to be involved in the consequences of the global warming development?
All of these things are directly threatened by the very real problem of global warming.
It might be true that some of us may not yet have been affected by the impacts of global warming, but its threats are very much alive. It is one the most serious challenges facing us today.
Already, we have started experiencing changes, such as the forcing of animals and plants from their habitat, the melting of glaciers, as well as the increase in the number of droughts and storms. When global warming occurs, the burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas act as a pipeline for the carbon dioxide increment in the earth atmosphere, thus leading to the temperatures rising, ice caps melting and sea levels rising. This threatens numerous habitats including ours.
Content
WWF (World Wildlife Fund) has predicted that sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of ice in Greenland, and this will devastate coasts worldwide. The pole glaciers are melting and filling the seas. There has also been a double rise in ice glacier flow in Greenland for the last ten years.
It is estimated that the occurrence of malaria has spread to highlands that are as high as 7,000 feet above sea level due to global warming. Furthermore, many species of animals are migrating from warm areas and moving closer to the poles.
Why is a global issue and relevant to immediate address?
Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. There is a link between amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which has been rising steadily over the years and global average temperature which has also been on the increase. This was proved by a Swedish scientist Svante Arhenious.
Many countries throughout the world use fossil fuels, which are the main reason why there is more CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the air than the earth can filter through natural processes. At the same time, forests are being cut down, reducing the earth’s natural abilities even more.
The Kyoto protocol, signed by 186 countries in Bonn in 2001 is the only attempt made so far at a global recognition of the problem. The Kyoto Protocol requires that contracting countries should reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide to at least 5% below the 1990 level with effect from the period 2008 2012.
It was proved that human are the main reason for the global changes in the nature.
It is human activities that cause the rising of the temperature. People from all over the world are responsible for the nature and the world surrounding us.
What are the likely effects and current situation around the world?
- In the Middle East, it is expected that millions of citizens will be dislocated by rising sea levels, but the United Arab Emirates is one of the highest carbon emissions regions of the world with four of the largest offenders in the GGC.
- Africa will likely experience the greatest effects as it becomes more arid forcing farmers into higher elevations and cutting down the forests there leading to soil erosion. Rainfall is expected to reduce by 10% by 2050 and the country, already struggling with starvation and poverty will likely experience much greater difficulty. Between 75-250 million people will suffer from the water shortage.
- Antarctica is already experiencing drastic effects of global warming. Earlier this year, 570 kilometers of ice shelves in the west collapsed leaving another 15,000 square kilometers at risk of falling into the ocean. Temperatures are rising more than 3 times as fast in this region as in other parts of the world. Greenland has lost 24 cubic miles as a result of higher sea levels. Alien species are also moving into the region as it becomes warmer threatening indigenous populations. Indigenous populations are decreasing through loss of habitat.
- Australia is currently rated the world’s top producer of greenhouse gases. As a result of global warming, Australia is experiencing rising temperatures reaching as much as 28 degrees C. above normal this year, fiercer wildfires in the bush and droughts. Indigenous populations such as the Australian kangaroo are declining for loss of habitat and increased heat. The number of sudden floods has increased and it is predicted that the number of deaths due to heat, flood and fire will increase by 240% by 2040.
- Europe has also faced intense heat waves recently. Forest fires, drought and crop damage threaten the region’s welfare. Flooding killing thousands have occurred in Germany, Russia, Austria and Czech Republic, forest fires have devastated crops in France, Portugal, Russia and Croatia and temperatures in Italy have risen 30-40 degrees C.
- Asia is expecting increased temperatures by 2.5 degree C. through the next 50 years and rising sea levels. This region is home to 3 billion people, many of whom live near waterways and will be displaced. Climate change will affect the types of crops that can be grown or even if crops can be grown. Droughts and fires have equal effect here as in other portions of the world.
Global Warming Effects
Solutions Tried
Several policies have been made to try to reduce the levels of carbon emissions. These include the Kyoto Treaty signed by 176 nations, the California Policy and the Climate Policy in the Midwest. G8 members have been working to include developing nations in strategies to reduce carbon emissions and encourage development of alternative energy sources such as solar or wind power. New laws have been put in place in the Emirates to improve environmental standards for buildings and Abu Dhabi announced Masdar, an experimental city intended to be carbon neutral.
Developed countries such as the United States and Canada are implementing re-capture programs in which emitted carbon is filtered out of the air and sequestered in ‘safe’ locations. Because trees are part of the planet’s natural defenses against carbon, planting programs have also been put in place in numerous areas. Recycling programs have been put in place to reduce harmful gases around landfills. Reducing energy consumption has also been encouraged by countries such as Germany, where a high tax is assessed on fossil fuels, or the Netherlands and France, which have implemented rent-a-bike programs as a means of encouraging less use of motorized vehicles. Vehicles are being developed that use less fossil fuels and drivers in China and Bahrain are encouraged by roadway signs to drive less.
Solutions Proposed
It’s all well and good to talk about how global warming, caused by carbon emissions into the atmosphere, will lead to terrible consequences. For many, this concept seems far removed. After all, how often do people in Bahrain see a live wild polar bear anyway? But if we want to keep our island and our homes above water, we need to take action now.
At the individual level, people need to participate more in car pooling, use of public transport, biking or walking where they need to go. Reducing one’s carbon footprint means reducing the amount of carbon you put into the air every day. If you don’t run your car, that’s one car’s worth less of carbon emitted in the air that day. It may not seem like much, but when ten of your friends do it too, and then 10 of their friends, carbon output quickly declines. Switching household utilities to natural gas reduces carbon emissions and switching to renewable energy could eliminate it altogether. Reducing the number of disposable products used and recycling can also have an effect as the use of fossil fuels is reduced in not creating these products.
A number of individuals acting together can form an action group. Action groups can increase their campaigns addressing global warming concerns and forcing the media to cover global warming issues. By focusing the world’s attention on the nations and industries that are contributing the greatest amount of carbon emissions, these groups can begin to bring international and internal pressure on these nations to find alternatives and reduce their harmful practices. Action groups include UNEP, WWF and the World Conservation Union.
The Kyoto Protocol is one example of international policy in which nations have agreed to reduce their carbon emissions to approximately 1990 levels by the year 2012. The European Union has set standards for carbon dioxide emissions from automotives in member countries. However, these standards and policies are put in place by the developed countries, which are also the countries that lead in violations against the policies. Without full implementation of these policies, our island could be lost to our grandchildren.
Since developed countries produce the highest amount of greenhouse gases and are the ones who write the policies that may save the planet, it is the responsibility of developed countries to adhere to the policies created and reduce production of greenhouse gases. Enforcement of these types of policies can take the form of embargoes against countries that refuse to comply with these standards.
Everyone in this room should compulsory visit the web site which is devoted to the recycling of hazardous things in order to get useful and necessary for our usage goods. The purchasing of such products can be a good solution to the global problem. Everyone can contribute to the improvement of the situation in the environment.
The bag made of the recycled hazardous things:
Everybody in this room can make a difference and please, do it now!!! This build cannot take place without the eager and willing participation of one person very important to the process … YOU.
It can be our future… until we take measures
