CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GASES EMISSIONS by Prof. Liwayway Memije-Cruz We are on a struggle. Struggle to survive and to prosper. And one of the greatest struggles the human race has ever faced is that, which concerns our only one planet where we live – the fight against climate change. Most scientists regard anthropogenic (human-caused) global climate change to be the most important and most urgent environmental issue of our times. evidences gathered by the scientists around the world suggest that global climate is already changing as a result of human actions. They found out that in the past century, precipitation has increased by about 1 percent over the world’s continents. High altitudes are expected to see more rainfall, while in some tropical areas precipitation has actually declined. Apparently, warmer temperatures are causing more water evaporation. We are expecting this to produce more severe rainstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons and even floods. In 2003 at least 30, 000 people died in Europe’s hottest summer since 1540. In addition to natural climate variability observed by different noted climatologists and scientists over comparable time periods, climate change has been attributed directly and indirectly to various human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere. The rise in temperature has been caused by human activity and due to increase in the release of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It may seem mind boggling to think that people can actually change the Earth’s climate. However innumerable studies done by scientists confirmed that human do send greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that make the planet warmer. Agricultural and industrial practices during the industrial revolution started the altering of climate and environment. Prior to this, human activity released very few gases into the atmosphere. At this time, attributable to population growth, fossil fuel burning and deforestation, we are all upsetting the mixture of gases in the atmosphere. WHAT CAN BE DONE? 50% of the world’s population is located in urban areas, and it is projected to increase to over 60% by 2030. Cities are considered as one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Urban authorities should then implement urban greenhouse gas mitigation program so as to prevent the impact of climate change in their respective areas. Considerations should be given to waste site, water supply systems, lighting, public buildings and transport initiatives. Greenhouse gas emissions opportunities in the waste sector consist of methane avoidance and collection from landfills, biogas generation and recycling. In the area of transport, increasing the share of greenhouse transport, defined as public transport, walking, and cycling, along with switching vehicle fuels and promoting higher efficiency vehicles can generate significant volumes of emission reductions. Opportunities to increase energy efficiency exist in building sector, lighting, water pumping, and district heating, cleaner technologies for co- and tri- generation and integrated planning for heating and cooling supply. Replacing fossil fuels and utilizing renewable energy sources for generating electricity, like wind, solar and geothermal can also contribute to a large extend to reduction of gas emissions in cities.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 01:44:05 +0000
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