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Green Living Certification Chapter 2 - Environmental Primer |
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Page 2 of 3 |
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2.1 Global Warming |
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Global warming is essentially the release of gasses into the atmosphere that are slowly raising the Earth's temperature. That temperature shift, then, results in the hastened melting of the Earth's glaciers and ice peaks, leading to a rise in the sea level and the erosion of our shores. Global warming is a very complicated topic, but one that has gotten a lot of press lately. No matter your knowledge or ignorance of the various environmental issues, you likely have heard this term, seen the news and begun to understand somewhat about the significance of it. According to scientists, this shift in the Earth's core temperature has been coming for some time, but in recent years has significantly sped up. Experts say that global warming has come about due to the significant increases in greenhouse gasses in recent years. But the "Greenhouse Effect" is not a new term. In 1824 Joseph Fourier first discovered this concept of greenhouse gasses and it was further, scientifically, examined by Svante Arrhenius in 1896. The "Greenhouse Effect" is believed to be the cause of global warming, so let's look further at it. Greenhouse Effect To truly understand the Greenhouse Effect, you must first be willing to wade through some scientific concepts. The sun provides energy to the earth, though 30 percent of the sun's energy is reflected back out from Earth. The remaining 70% is absorbed by the Earth, warming the lands, oceans and atmosphere.
That 30% reflected back out is trapped in what's called "greenhouse gasses". These are necessary and when we talk about the "Greenhouse Effect" we are really talking about an enhanced greenhouse gas problem. That is, we are emitting more gasses into the atmosphere via fossil fuels, clear cutting of lands, and the like. The greenhouse gasses that occur naturally are actually beneficial but are created perfectly in balance in nature. As we, humans, add more gasses into the atmosphere, those gases are also trapped, and add more heat to the natural heat put off by the greenhouse gases. In fact, experts say, that without the natural greenhouse gasses, the basic temperature of the Earth would plunge to about minus 18 degrees Celsius, or 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The Earth's temperature instead is naturally set at about 16 degrees Celsius, or 60 degrees Fahrenheit thanks to the beneficial warming from the sun. There are several causes of the enhanced Greenhouse Effect we are now experiencing, with the major causes likely water vapor (accounting for 36-70% of the Greenhouse Effect). Carbon Dioxide emissions are the cause of another 9-26% (mostly coming from fossil fuel burning for coal and oil for cars, and deforestation). Methane is also a contributor, at a rate of about 4-9% as is ozone, which is responsible for 3-7%. The concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere have increased significantly since 1750, before the age of industry. It is reported that carbon dioxide levels have increased 31%, while methane levels have increased 149%. As we drive bigger cars and keep our large homes warmer, we send more and more of these gasses into the atmosphere to join the naturally occurring Greenhouse gasses, which in turn heat up the planet further. Hence, we begin to understand the efforts to encourage people to change their habits. Currently, however, it's been slow going for environmentalists, who warn that Global Warming is an ever present and ever dangerous condition. But yet much of the world remains unconvinced. What's the Effect? Scientists have reported that during the last 100 years, the average temperature of the Earth's surface has risen in small measure, but since the 1970s the Earth's surface temperature has risen by 1 degree Fahrenheit. This change is reflected in our weather, with minimum and maximum temperatures both adjusting upward. Experts say that our minimum temperatures have risen the fastest and average temperatures in the Arctic over the past 100 years have risen at a rate twice as fast as other global locations. These warmer temperatures have led to rising sea levels, because the warmer weather leads ice caps and glaciers to melt at a swifter pace than they would if the natural Greenhouse gasses were left as they naturally occur. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the world's sea levels have increased an average of 4.8 to 8.8 inches (12-22 centimeters). This, then, is causing us to lose precious land to the rising ocean tides. Also, according to the EPA: As our seas rise, our lands are depleted, and that, experts say, is the problem. What state are we leaving the planet in for our children, their children, their children's children? This no longer a problem for some far off generation, but today's generation and the generation we are raising. Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol is an international effort to reduce greenhouse gasses by encouraging countries around the world to sign the protocol and pledge to control its emissions. Created by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the protocol requires participating nations to reduce their emission of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gasses. If their levels maintain or are increased, they must engage in emissions trading. The UNFCCC held a conference in Bali the first two weeks of December, 2007 at which 187 countries agreed to progressive and aggressive measures to reach an international climate change deal. Issues to be negotiated until 2009 include ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and methods for adapting international efforts and response to the effects of negative climate change, such as floods and droughts. The discussions will be continued to 2009 so that new measures can be in effect by 2013, when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol expires.
By November 2007, 137 developing countries (including China, Brazil and India) had signed the protocol indicating they will monitor and report emissions. The Bali agreement is a major step forward in the international effort to encourage countries to address the mounting climate change issues and experts hope it's just one step toward many more, since as the world's population increases, the various climate issues will also exponentially increase. A recent study of China and India, in particular, indicate that if both countries as they develop further don't effectively control their global footprint, it could have devastating consequences. The Kyoto Protocol is designed to create global education among countries about the depletion of the Earth's resources and the role each world resident and each country can have on mitigating the devastation. That significant Bali decision is just one step forward and we can hope there will be many more. | ||||||||||
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