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"One must care about a world one will not see".
Mahatma Gandhi
Sometime ago, say 10 years, we even could not understand the meaning
of terms like, global warming, climate change, carbon emission,
carbon footprints and god knows how many others words, we ever heard,
but the situations is that now we should know the meaning of each and
every word atleast for the sake of enlarging our knowledge. These
words are very important words, explaining about the current
horrifying situation being faced by our mother earth on the parlance
of global warming and its damages to her. Our unawareness of the above
words is the subject for the past, as it is now a ground reality that
the industrialization, globalization, modernization made our mother
earth wept. "Save-me-otherwise-you-will-also-die-with-me".
Even though, the industrialized nations, especially, America and
European nations have contributed substantially to the extent of there is
nothing to be done more, the blame game continues and war of words, blaming each
other for the prevailing situation. Sometimes, US blame India and China and
sometimes other countries, though their contributions are not that much what the
developed nations did to the earth. |
Newspapers, on daily basis, printed the blame games of the
leaders of developed nations and at times US Secretary of State,
Condoleezza Rice (though UN says there is no RICE to eat in many part
of the world) is finding fault with the developing countries, saying
the culprits India, China and other third world countries responsible
for global warming and other damages and often warns for imposing
sanctions on the poor souls. Let us leave their words on the
impression that they are simply playing politics.
Anyway the fact remains a fact, whoever damages the ecosystems and
the climate and whoever is responsible for the climate change, the
earth is dying, when she dies the other living beings also
finished, this is the truth. Ok, to continue further, let us find out
the meaning of the some of the context we have to deal with these
days.
Global Warming
(sources) Global warming is the increase in the average measured
temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the
mid-20th century, and its projected continuation. Mean surface
temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to
the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980. Increasing global warming
(temperature) is expected to cause sea level to rise, an increase in
the intensity of extreme weather events and significant changes to the
amount and pattern of rainfall. Other expected effects of global
warming include changes in agricultural yields, modifications of trade
routes, glacier melting, species extinctions and increases in the
ranges of disease vectors.
What is Climate
Change? (Sources) Climate
change is the result of a build up of greenhouse gases (GHG), mostly
carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. GHGs serve to trap the suns heat in
the earth's atmosphere, forming the greenhouse effect - a natural
phenomena that keeps the earth warm. However, when the concentration
of GHGs gets too large, and the earth's equilibrium gets out of
balance, we experience a dangerous rise in temperatures, which can
result in severe and extreme weather conditions. In effect, earth's
blanket thickens and our atmosphere absorbs and holds more heat than
it radiates back. This could directly affect rainfall, flooding and
droughts, agriculture, economies, health and ecology.
The reason for the unexpected rise in carbon emissions is largely a
direct result of human intervention over the last 50 years and is
attributable to human activities. In fact, since the industrial age
began around 150 years ago, man's burning of fossil fuels coal, oil
and gas to fuel machinery has meant a rise in GHG emissions, mainly
carbon dioxide, for the past 2 centuries. Some scientists estimate the
increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the last 150 years to be 35
to 60 percent and the global temperatures will rise additional 3 to10
degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 to 5.5 degrees Celsius) by this century's end.
Greenhouse effect (Sources)
The greenhouse effect is the process in which the emission of infrared
radiation by the atmosphere warms a planet's surface. A conventional
representation of the exchanges of energy between outer space, the
Earth's atmosphere, and the Earth surface. The ability of the
atmosphere to capture and recycle energy emitted by the Earth surface
is the defining characteristic of the greenhouse effect. The
greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and first
investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.
In the absence of the greenhouse effect, the Earth's average surface
temperature of 14 °C (57 °F) would be about -18 °C (?0.4 °F). Global
warming, a recent warming of the Earth's lower atmosphere, is believed
to be the result of an enhanced greenhouse effect due to increased
concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In addition to
the Earth, Mars and Venus have greenhouse effects.
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What is the Carbon Footprint?
(Sources) The carbon footprint is the
direct effect your actions and lifestyle have on the environment in
terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Probably the biggest contributors
to your footprint are your travel needs and your electricity demands
at home. However, all your actions have a direct or indirect impact on
the climate, including your diet and the clothes you wear. We know
cars, buses and airplanes burn gasoline, public transport may use
fuels and electricity and your home uses a significant portion of your
personal electricity needs that generally comes from fossil fuel
burning power plants. All these actions contribute to accelerating
global warming and climate change.
Why Compensate? Everyone has a responsibility to the
world we live in now and the world we leave future generations.
Reducing our emissions is obviously important in slowing or even
reversing climate change ? but with world economies booming our carbon
emissions are on the rise And as your average person doesn't manage
the power to influence huge companies or governments to change their
environmental policies, there needs to be an easier and more effective
solution for concerned individuals to take action on a personal level.
Given that we all contribute to the problem, we should all contribute
to a solution. |
How to Reduce our
Emissions
Reducing your emissions is a vital part of combating climate change.
We encourage everyone to be aware of their energy usage and its
effects, and take steps to reduce this. What remains can be offset
through our Carbon Free programme.
* By being more energy efficient at home, we can reduce our emissions
and lower our energy bills by more than 30%.
* Adjust the air conditioner and heater when go out and shut down our
system when we are away for extended periods.
* Turn off and unplug stereos, radios, TVs, DVDs and computer when we
leave for hours, days or holidays. These appliances have a stand-by
function that uses energy even when they are turned off.
* Close doors to unused rooms trapping heating or cooling in rooms in
use.
* Consider switching to compact fluorescent lighting. Compact
fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 per cent less energy than
incandescent bulbs.
* Insulating the walls and ceilings can save 20 to 30 percent of home
heating bills and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 1 tonne per year.
* Clean all of the heating and cooling appliances, making sure they
are dust free. Energy is lost when heating units have to work harder
to draw air through dirty filters. Ensuring that the air conditioner
filter is clean can save 5 percent of the energy used.
* Wash the dishes manually or ensure the dishwasher is full when it
runs. Allow your dishes to air dry, by not using the heat in the
drying cycle can save 20 percent of the dishwasher's total electricity
use.
* Where possible walk or ride on bicycle to the destination. Fuel use
through transport constitutes a large proportion of total emissions.
* Recycle glass, metals, plastics and paper.
* Plant shade trees and paint the house a light color if we live in a
warm climate or a dark color if we live in a cold climate.
* Turn the refrigerator down.
* Select the most energy-efficient models when we replace our old
appliances. Look for the Energy Star Label to assure the product saves
energy and prevents pollution.
* Slow down and drive sensibly. The faster and more aggressive you
drive, the more petrol the car uses.
The role of trees in
counters the emissions
Trees are green machines that act as natural filters of our air.
Through the process of photosynthesis (a word which we learned in our
primary classes, which we have to remember) they absorb carbon dioxide
(a key GHG and principle contributor to global warming) from the
atmosphere and store it in their trunks, branches, leaves, roots, soil
and foliage, while releasing oxygen back out.
Whereas deforestation, degradation and poor forest management reduce
carbon storage in forests, sustainable management, planting, and
rehabilitation of forests can increase carbon sequestration. In fact
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation states global
carbon retention resulting from reduced deforestation, increased
forest re-growth and more agro-forestry and plantations could make up
for about 15% of carbon emissions from fossil fuels over the next 50
years (2006).?
Plant as much as trees
Trees are not only an effective means for
absorbing and storing the carbon we emit, they have far reaching
benefits that extend well beyond that of filtering the air.
Sustainably managed forests and urban forestry have multiple
environmental and socio-economic functions important at the global,
national and local scales, and play a vital part in sustainable
development. Forests are sources of wood products. They help regulate
local and regional rainfall. And forests are crucial sources of food,
medicine, clean drinking water, and immense recreational, visual, and
spiritual benefits for millions of people.
This is the time for everyone to think, think about planting trees,
you will be surprised to know, a large tree will absorb approximately
20.3 kgs of carbon dioxide per annum and figures are based on a 40
year life span of the tree. Through every day, living beings, cause
carbon dioxide to be emitted into the atmosphere through the use of
fossil fuels, by heating and lighting our home and cooking etc. To
compensate the emissions, trees are a good counterbalance as they
inhale or absorb carbon dioxide and exhale or emit oxygen. Of course,
the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed varies between trees and the
environment, which they are in but on average a large tree will absorb
approximately 20.3 kgs per year over a 40 year of its lifespan.
Contributed By: Satish Nair,
satish.nair@adityabirla.com - this article talks about the
importance of trees in offsetting the global warming and its impacts.
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