Energy consumption and the environment

• Global Warming
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Global Warming        temperature is beginning to rise. Adults       About today have already felt the average global Global  Warming temperature rise more than a full degree Fahrenheit (0.8°C) during our  lifetimes. Global warming is the term used to describe a For a global system that is delicately gradual increase in the average temperature balanced, the rise in temperatures will pose of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a serious  threats: change that WILL permanently upset the Earth's CLIMATE FOREVER,-unless we all - Rising sea levels, leading to more coastal start working toghether, and immediately to erosion, flooding during storms, and avoid  this.-  Ã‚ permanent  inundation While many view the effects of global warming - Increased drought and increased incidence to be more substantial and more rapidly of  wildfires occurring than others do, the scientific consensus on climatic changes related to - Severe stress on many forests, wetlands, global warming is that the average alpine  regions, and other natural ecosystems temperature of the Earth has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 °C over the past 100 - Impacts on human health as mosquitoes and years. The increased volumes of carbon other disease-carrying insects and rodents dioxide and other greenhouse gases released spread diseases over larger geographical by the burning of fossil fuels, land regions clearing, agriculture, and other human activities, are believed to be the primary - Disruption of agriculture in some parts of sources of the global warming that has the world due to increased temperature, water occurred  over  the  past  50  years. stress, and sea-level rise in low-lying areas such as Bangladesh or the Mississippi River Scientists from many parts of the delta world,-carrying out global warming research have recently predicted that average global Other projected impacts include increased temperatures could increase between 1.4 and intensity  of  hurricanes; 5.8  Ã‚°C  by  the  year  2100.  The long-term destabilization of the Changes resulting from global warming may Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, include rising sea levels due to the melting leading to much greater sea level rise; the of the polar ice caps, as well as an increase acidification of the world's oceans; and a in occurrence and severity of storms and vastly  increased rate of species extinction. other  severe  weather  events. Wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef and Earth is naturally insulated by a delicate the Amazon could collapse under the weight of balance of heat-trapping (or "greenhouse") just a few more degrees. And hundreds of gases in the atmosphere. When the sun shines millions of people may be forced from their on the Earth, some of that heat is absorbed, homelands as the climate shifts, creating keeping  Earth  warm  enough to support life. increased political and economic instability. The problem is that over the last century, we According to a study led by a humans have been releasing more and more distinguished British economist, Sir Nicholas carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases Stern, suggests that under business-as-usual into the atmosphere when we burn fuels and scenarios climate change could reduce overall cut down forests. These additional gases have economic activity in the range of 5 to upset the natural balance of our atmosphere, 20%-more likely on the high side of this trapping more heat than is healthy for the range.  Think Great Depression, or world war. Earth. We can - and must - act urgently if we are to The result is human-caused global warming, limit and eventually halt the impacts of which brings serious threats from increased global warming on human communities and flooding to the spread of disease to the natural ecosystems. The greater the magnitude disruption of agriculture in many parts of and rate of warming, the greater the chances the  world. are for truly devastating - and potentially irreversible - changes in the Earth's climate Scientists tell us that stopping global system. Even by acting today to reduce our warming is urgent -- we have just a few years emissions from cars, power plants, land use, to turn around the growth of greenhouse gas and other sources, we will see some degree of emissions in order to avoid the worst continued warming for a period of time effects. The good news is that we can achieve because past emissions will stay in the these emissions reductions with effective atmosphere  for  decades  or  more. national policies and international treaties. We must insist that businesses and  But, the window for effective action is governments join individuals around the world closing fast and responding to the climate to greatly increase energy efficiency, widely crisis will take commitment and ingenuity. adopt renewable energy, and commit to The actions we take in the next several years stopping climate change. Success is possible, will determine the kind of world that will but  we  need  your  help. survive.- No human challenge is so potentially uniting WE MUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY as the climate crisis. Our human drive to DOING THIS FOR US, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN, invent and build has led to extraordinary GRANDCHILDREN,  AND  FUTURE  GENERATIONS.- advances and great technological promise. It's also had grave, unintended consequences. We have lacked full global leadership and And unless we face the climate crisis with political will to implement these ingenuity, resolve, and a sense of urgency, solutions,- even if our future depends much of the world as we know it will begin to on it. But now we need to insist that unravel  before  our  eyes. businesses and governments all over the world join individuals in taking the steps needed The warning signs are plain to see. The 10 to get the job done. We need to help citizens warmest years on record have all occurred everywhere understand how the choices they since 1990. Mountain glaciers are fading on make in their daily lives can make a real every continent and the sea ice is melting. difference, and we need to provide incentives The seas have begun a slow but menacing rise. for  all  of  us  to  make  better  choices. The science behind global warming is often The climate forces we have set loose are portrayed as enormously complex, but some of great indeed. But the world we build as we it is quite simple. It begins with a ray of move forward to meet this challenge will be a light, shot through space from the staggering sight to behold. This is our opportunity to inferno of our sun. That sunbeam delivers come together and make a real energy to earth, giving us light and warmth difference,- "BUT WE MOST START TO ACT and  life. NOW"  Ã‚ !!!! As some of this energy radiates back toward WHAT  WE  CAN  DO: space as heat, a portion is absorbed by a delicate balance of heat-trapping (or =============== "greenhouse") gases in the atmosphere that create an insulating layer. Without the MOST PEOPLE don't realize that solid temperature control of this greenhouse waste reduction and recycling help address effect, the Earth's average surface global climate change. How? The manufacture, temperature would be 0°F distribution and use of products - as well as (-18°C), a temperature so low that management of the resulting waste - all the Earth would be frozen and could not result in greenhouse gas emissions. Waste sustain  human  life  as  we  know  it. prevention and recycling reduce greenhouse gases associated with these activities by The most abundant of the greenhouse gases is reducing methane emissions, saving energy, water vapor. In addition, there are other and  increasing  forest carbon sequestration. powerful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide. Each of THEREFORE,  YOU  CAN  HELP  IN  MANY  WAYS: these is a natural part of the never-ending cycle of life, death, and decomposition on =================================== Earth. 1)  Seal  and  Insulate  your  house.- But since the onset of the Industrial Revolution humans have been pumping out more 2)  Heat  and  cool  "Smartly" and more of these and other greenhouse gases. Scientists are clear: human activities are 3)  Reduce,  Reuse,  and  Recicle (the 3 R's) contributing to global warming by adding large amounts of heat-trapping gases to the 4)  Have  more plants and trees in your yard. atmosphere. Our fossil fuel use is the main source  of  these  gases. 5) Use water efficiently.- Save on the use  of  water. Every time we drive a car, use electricity from coal-fired power plants, or heat our 6) Use fuel economy vehicles, to homes with oil or natural gas, we release eliminate  air  pollution carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the air. The second most important 7)  Avoid  using your car when ever possible. addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is related to deforestation, 8) Avoid using plastic or paper bags when mainly in the tropics, as well as other grocery shopping.- Bring your own land-use  changes. shopping bags,- like ones used to go the beach.  But we can look back even further. By drilling into the deepest glacial ice we can 9) MOST OF ALL - SPREAD THE WORD !!!! measure CO2 deep into time. And this ice  library shows more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than at any time in last 650,000  "lLets just hope that it is not too years. late, and we still have a chance to SAVE OUR PLANET !!!! 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