Global warming is a problem that needs to be faced head-on by the leaders of the nations of our planet. The call to arms has been sounded; many countries are now doing research into the causes of global warming, as well as committing to actions to help decrease the effects of global warming. In the United States, a Global Change Research Program has been crafted which represents one of the largest efforts ever pursued when it comes to understanding global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency is also in the fight, helping to partner with businesses and individuals to help try to achieve a baseline for curbing the problem so that we can all benefit. The United Nations has also drafted several proposals when it comes to climate change; the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has been created. This organization was formed to consider what possible actions we can do to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the convention was formed to help us to plan for what we should do if the inevitable temperature change happens.
The Kyoto protocol represents a firm commitment that many nations have signed, which targets countries when it comes to the responsibility of greenhouse gas emission. 163 countries have ratified the protocol thus far, and 35 of these countries still have a ways to go when it comes to reducing their emissions to a reasonable level. The targets specified in the Kyoto protocol estimate that the number of greenhouse gases emitted in total around the planet should face a 5% decrease. While this change isn't huge, it does represent a step in the right direction when it comes to facing up to our global responsibility.
Technology cooperation is another innovation that is helping the international community to deal with the problem of global warming. This strategy involves the sharing of developments of environmentally friendly technology between nations to help us adapt to the changes that we need to make to stop this problem. Also, the nations of the planet are working together to establish firm laws when it comes to land usage, changing land usage, and forestry. As the effects of global warming become more clear, more people will hopefully begin to understand the problem so that the nations of the world can cooperate in helping to save our planet.
Droughts, floods, hurricanes, desertification. Global warming is causing catastrophic change to the place we call home. You can curb these trends if you act now. The key is realizing that you need to make changes to your basic life style so that you produce a small portion of the greenhouse gases from your daily actions.
The earth is large but finite. The result of the enormous human population and the environmental impact of our current way of life is that we are rapidly extinguishing the Earth's biodiversity and degrading most ecosystems, creating a bleak future for ourselves.
There are numerous ways in which our learning to live with less will take place; there is no single, magic button solution that will solve the problem of global warming. The following tips discuss some of most potent possibilities, in that implementing them will cut out or reduce some of your most significant personal contributions to global warming:
Global Warming Prevention Tip #1: Sell your car
Yup, the past century of personal motorized travel has been a very convenient, luxurious, and enjoyable demonstration of grossly unsustainable human activity. According to the Energy Information Administration (http://www.eia.doe.gov/), the transportation sector overtook industry as the biggest US producer of carbon emissions in 1999, and motor fuel accounts for 60% of total US production of carbon emissions over the past 20 years. You probably contribute to these emissions in a variety of ways, but you have the greatest ability to reduce the role you play in this by changing how you relate to your car.
One of the best alternatives to owning your own car is to join a car co-op. In fact, car co-ops now operate in a growing number of cities around the world. Go here to find the closest car sharing option to you: http://www.carsharing.net/where.html
No care sharing going on in your area? You can start your own--check out http://www.relocalize.net/guide/carcoop for a primer.
If you cannot yet relinquish your car, make mileage efficiency the top deciding factor in choosing a vehicle, and start working now on any changes you need to make in your life to let you get rid of your car as soon as possible.
Public transportation is the only reasonable, long-term solution to the majority of our transport needs. It is slowly improving as US cities confront the impacts of an infrastructure built around cars and trucks. It will only get better when you demand adequate services; vote with your feet (and bring all your friends!) to demonstrate the need.
Global Warming Prevention #2: Buy local, eat local
You may have noticed the proliferation of farmer's markets around the country over the past decade or so. This is not just a quaint fad, but rather a vital, direct-action opportunity to reduce your global warming impact and increase local food security. When you purchase from your local area, you not only reduce the amount of carbon emissions required to support your lifestyle, you also help to keep money in your community.
The long-distance transport of food and other goods comes with a heavy ecological cost;the average meal on your plate in the US has traveled 2000 miles to get to you, which helps to explain why every calorie of food you consume costs an average of ten calories of energy to produce it. That imbalance is a major contributor to global warming, pouring carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at a far greater rate than the oceans and vegetation can store or reprocess them.
One great resource to help you buy and eat more locally is: http://www.localharvest.org/
A partial change is better than no change; you probably can't eliminate processed and imported goods from your life tomorrow, but the more needs you can meet locally, the more you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to the prevention of further global warming.
Global Warming Prevention Tip #3: Make your local government part of the solution
No politician interested in reelection is going to sponsor the kind of legislation required to alleviate our massive responsibility for global warming without an organized citizenry pushing for better climate legislation. Only when citizen activism shifts this topic into the mainstream will the government move to act on it substantively. Influcing the federal government on this issue may seem daunting, but pushing your local government to take action on global warming may bear fruit quickly (for help, check out http://www.coolcities.us).
Your personal action matters. Sell your car, buy your food from local sources, and pressure your governments to act. Most important of all, be vocal with friends, family, and strangers alike about why you're making these changes, and what is at stake.
The effort to prevent further global warming has already begun, but it needs your help. Start here and now. It can be done.
Both Kadence Buchanan & Nathan Brown are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kadence Buchanan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Science, Computers and The Internet and Public Relations. Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including , , and. Kadence Buchanan's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
Nathan Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Global Warming and Home Improvement. This article may be reprinted freely as long as this resource box is included. Nathan Brown is an activist creating a revolutionary movement by showing people