Jim and Rob’s crusade against environmental change
I may wear sandals and Rob might have quite long hair at the moment but neither of us are hippies. We do however have major concerns about the way Mother Earth is being treated at the moment. Sooner than you think there are going to be some serious environmental problems relating to these three topics:
- Population growth – The ever increasing human population will put huge pressure on the earth’s resources.
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- Pollution – Industrial pollution and continued reliance on gasoline and diesel engines will contaminate food and water sources.
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- Climate change – As a result of Global Warming some the climates we enjoy living in today will change completely or disappear altogether.
Don't Panic!
But before you get too depressed, there are some things that YOU PERSONALLY can do to prevent this dark, dark future coming to pass . . . So what can we do as individuals to prevent catastrophe on a global scale?!!! The first two factors Population growth and Pollution are really down to government’s legislative policies, so political campaigning and protesting are our only real options here. It is the third topic of Climate change in which we can make the biggest difference as individuals . . .
So how is the climate changing?
Basically the earth is warming up.
Although there are a number of factors and some complicated mechanisms involved reaching the 'average temperature' it is now widely acknowledged that one on the major factors contributing to global warming is the release of Greenhouse gasses. The two types of Greenhouse gas that we can be most concerned with as individuals are :
- Carbon Dioxide
- Methane
- Snowpacks will recede in the western US mountains, reducing the water supply for desert cities which rely on run-off from mountain glaciers
- Florida will suffer more hurricanes and extreme weather events; rising sea levels could threaten reclaimed land and overrun coastal defences
- Cities in the north east, south east and mid west will become hotter during summer, raising the demand for power and water, which will be in shorter supply
- Farming in the mid-west may benefit - climate change may allow a crop to be planted immediately after the first is harvested, but the increased water demands that would result will conflict with the needs of people in the cities
- Use your car less (take public transport, share lifts, use a bike or walk)
- When buying a new car make sure it is fuel efficient
- Turn off lights when you are not using them
- Avoid leaving appliances on ‘standby’
- If you fly by plane a lot try to reduce the number of trips
- Choose a ‘green energy’ company to provide you electricity
- Use domestic renewable energy systems in you home
- Insulate you home properly
- When buying electrical equipment especially fridges and light bulbs always choose the energy efficient branded products
- Stop farting!
The method in which these two simple chemicals are increasing average temperatures across the globe is simple:
They form a layer in the upper atmosphere; acting as a huge blanket around the earth. This allows energy from the sun to enter but not to escape, an effect known as the Greenhouse Effect.
How are these gases produced by us?
Carbon dioxide is produced when we burn fossil fuels (or when people burn them for us – electricity generation) and as we support companies that are involved in deforestation (particularly of the rainforests).
The key point to remember about burning fossil fuels (Coal, Petrol, Gas) is that you are releasing Carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere that has been ‘locked away’ safe in the ground for millions of years.
The earths forests are the way that this gas is naturally removed from the atmosphere (Trees and plants breathe in Carbon dioxide and breathe out Oxygen) so by deforestation we further compound the problem.
Methane is produced by the decomposition of waste in landfill sites, farting cattle and domestic sewage, when measured by weight the figures occur in that order!
What are the effects of climate change likely to be?
The possible changes are highlighted in a new report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, agreed in Geneva on Sunday. The report's authors expect that the coming century will see extensive melting glaciers, worsening droughts, spreading mosquito-borne diseases, declining crop yields, the collapse of many ecosystems and widespread coastal flooding. Even with no sea-level rise, it warns, up to 200 million people could face flooding from coastal storms within 80 years.
New scientist article 19th Febuary 2001
What are the effects of this climate change likely to be if I live in the U.S. of A.?
New Scientist article 6th April 2001
All this information and more can be found at The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change website:
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
For the latest news on Climate change try the New Scientist website:
How we can help
So now that you know the score here are some practical tips for averting climate change:
An excellent site full of useful tips on becoming environmentally sound round the home is:
More information can be found about renewable energy systems from either of these two directories:
or
If you feel you would like to go a step further and campaign for change a good first step would be to sign this petition:
Petition against global warming
Now that we have got that off our chest you may like to hear how we are getting on cycling to New York!