Have you observed how warm the winter was this year? Or for that matter, the sun pinching your skin relentlessly even though peak summer is some time away?
These are not random incidents, but are a fallout of an event which I am sure you must have heard of time and again. The effects of Global Warming are slowly being felt over the world, and while people are aware of this term and concept, precious little is being done about it.
It is a time bomb which is waiting to explode, unless all of us come together to tackle this grave problem.
Sample this: An increase in the earth’s temperature by around a few degree Celsius (3-4 degrees Celsius) can cause sea levels to rise due to melting of ice caps in the polar regions of the earth. Additionally, there cold be a significant increase in the weather patterns of many places, resulting in loss of agricultural crops, extinction of some species of animals and an increase in the range of disease carrying organisms.
When we hear that the surface temperature of the earth has increased by 3-4 degree Celsius, our first major reaction is – so what?
I mean what is the difference between 31 deg C and 34 Deg C? It’s just a little warmer, right?
WRONG!!!
While the temperature may increase slightly, one must realize that it is actually becoming warmer, because of the presence of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – not because the sun has started shining more brightly or burning more intensely.
Greenhouse Gases (predominantly CO2) have a characteristic of trapping the heat within the atmosphere, and not reflecting it back in space. This excess heat, when accounted from all over the world, is enough to trigger a set of reactions that have implications the world over.
Here are a few points that if everyone practices them diligently, could go a long way into facing this problem head –on.
At a very basic level we must:
- Use less of vehicles wherever possible. While this is impossible, in today’s scenario, keeping one’s vehicle update within the Pollution emission standards, goes a long way.
- Use CFL lights at home rather than bulbs. They help in conserving energy which is manufactured mainly from non-renewable energy sources. It also goes a long way in reducing your electricity bill.
- Indulge in tree-planting as much as possible. Plants utilize Carbon-di-oxide for their needs. It helps in reducing its levels in the atmosphere.
- Simple activities like not printing a document unless required, goes a long way in reducing the demand for paper, thereby reducing deforestation.
- Do not carelessly leave on any electrical appliances that may increase the utilization of power. In other words, do not waste electricity.
 |
It is also worth mentioning the Kyoto Protocol – an international environmental treaty driven by the United Nations. It enforces certain percentages of reduction of Green House Gases for different countries so as to enable them to adhere to some acceptable norms.
Typically, the “Annex 1” countries emit a lot of Green House Gases. The Kyoto protocol allows these countries to meet the acceptable norms by purchasing Green House Gases emission reduction credits through some projects from Non-Annex 1 countries. In other words, these countries have something known as “carbon credits” that can be sold to the Annex 1 buyers.
Through this, sustainable development is possible as Annex 1 countries would get an opportunity to acquire Carbon credits as cheaply as possible and Non-Annex 1 countries would be able to increase their credits.
While, it is possible only for the government to come out with far-reaching impact to control this problem, it is also left to the individual to combat this menace in our own simple ways.
