Counteracting Climate Change By Adrienne Moreno

Is climate change happening? Our Earth is warming. Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.4°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 2 to 11.5°F over the next hundred years. Small changes in the average temperature of the planet can translate to large and potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather. The evidence is clear. Rising global temperatures have been accompanied by changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves. The planet's oceans and glaciers have also experienced some big changes - oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising. As these and other changes become more pronounced in the coming decades, they will likely present challenges to our society and our environment.

Main Greenhouse Gases Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Fossil fuel use is the primary source of carbon dioxide. The way in which people use land is also an important source of CO2, especially when it involves deforestation. Methane (CH4) - Agricultural activities, waste management, and energy use all contribute to methane emissions. Nitrous oxide (N2O) - Agricultural activities, such as fertilizer use, are the primary source of nitrous oxide emissions.

What actions are necessary Emissions of greenhouse gases needs to be reduced as soon as possible In order to do this we need a large-scale long term goal to stop the damage that is being done to our eco-systems and people. The Two Main Solutions The first solution includes people wasting and consuming less material goods. The second solution is to quickly develop and adopt alternative energy technologies These solutions are both needed in order to reduce the amount of dangerous emissions

Solution 1 Solution one is people consuming and wasting less Many things today are already working with rating systems that help people buy appliances that consume less energy or fuel. These efficiency measures are promoted as casual money-saving techniques to lowering emissions and today many people voluntarily adopt these approaches without it negatively influencing their life. People may engage in simple everyday energy saving techniques such as unplugging electronics they are not using or by turning off lights when they leave. People may waste less by recycling and reusing. Recycling plastic can reduce some of our waste Although, it might not be as easy as it seems to adopt this less wasteful lifestyle. In Britain an effort to consume less energy, 42 million energy saving light bulbs were given, free of charge to homes in Britain. The bulbs were five times more efficient than normal bulbs but most are believed to be unused.

Solution 2 Some long term solutions include: The second solution will work parallel with the first. After the consumption and wasting slows we create long term plans to reduce the output of dangerous emissions. This will cause a short term spike of emissions. Some long term solutions include: Reforming the way we transport. By making public transportation more appealing and reliable, the emission of carbon dioxide would slow since more people will use public transportation. Changing our agricultural practices. Our agricultural practices account for 14% of the methane and 8% of nitrous oxide emissions. Saving and planting trees. Trees naturally absorb our carbon so the more deforestation there is the less gases that are being taken away naturally.

Taking the necessary steps There is no doubt the climate is changing and we need to start adopting these new life styles and attitudes. The evidence is clear. The temperatures are rising and there are effects that have been seen, from melting ice caps and more rainfall and without change, the consequences could be devastating