How to Help Reverse Global Warming
Climate Change And Global Warming and What You Can Do.
A look at how tree planting can sequester carbon and take CO2 out of the atmosphere. Easy ways to alter your lifestyle to help reverse global warming.Practical help.
Global Warming and its Impacts
Global Warming is the biggest issue facing the world today.
Almost all scientists now agree we need to take action quickly to reduce carbon emissions, and governments around the world have all recognised that this IS happening (even those who have not adopted the Kyoto Protocol!).
The clock is ticking. If we do nothing:
• Air temperatures are likely to have risen by 2 degrees Celsius by 2050 or sooner, and many leading scientists believe they could have risen by 5 degrees (NB a temperature rise of 2 degrees would threaten up to 40% of species with extinction).
• Up to 200 million people could become refugees through flooding or drought
In short, we have a MASSIVE problem and we have to take action NOW. We still have time to avoid worst impacts, but delay would be costly, both environmentally and economically.
Rich nations have caused global warming but the main sufferers will be poorer nations. Remedial action will cost 1% of GDP, but SAVE 1.32 trillion pounds Sterling (US$2.64 trillion).
Source: The Stern Report 2007.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Once we all recognise we have a problem, there is a lot we can still do to help the situation. While it is not realistic to ask people to stop driving a car, or going on foreign trips, you could consider minimising your carbon footprint by driving a car which has a good fuel consumption and produces the lowest possible emissions. You could use public transport and walk when you can. Think before you fly – could you take the train instead, or choose a destination closer to home, or use video conferencing if it is a business trip?
At home, you could wash your clothes at 30c instead of 60c and save 30% of the electricity. Or turn your heating down by 1 degree and use 10% less energy. You could also usefully insulate your home to the highest degree and install energy-efficient boilers and modern energy-efficient electrical white goods. Recycle whenever you can, and save water whenever you can. It’s really not that difficult, but we all have to buy into this.
THE NEXT STEP
Once you have reduced all the emissions possible, offset your carbon footprint. A simple but effective way to do this is to plant trees and help reforest the planet – they’re the lungs of the world. Trees breathe in CO2 and breathe out oxygen. In the Tropics vast forests are regularly being burnt to make land available for farming, and given our fossil fuel consumption in the Developed World, we are planting nothing like enough trees to compensate.
Given that – carbon sequestration aside – timber can be used to replace materials such as steel, oil and coal (which all add to global warming significantly) in construction and as a source of renewable energy, there’s never been a better time to plant trees – millions of them.
There is an excellent UK charity option for cost-effective tree planting. They raise money to plant trees specifically chosen and planted to do the best to mitigate CO2 and reduce global warming.Though Scottish-based they are also involved in planting in Cambodia, Cameroon, Ecuador and the USA.
Founded by property entrepreneur, Peter Grant, who was inspired by listening to Bill Clinton’s speech on Global Warming, he decided to do something about it, and the charity Global Trees was born. (And how’s this for a story? When Clinton read in the press what Grant had done, he invited him over to New York to an intimate dinner party, and they discussed in detail the work that the Clinton Foundation is doing in the area of climate change and global warming, and now they’re corresponding buddies!).
From a business point of view global warming is a massive threat. The recent UK government- commissioned Stern Review on ‘The Economics of Climate Change’ (Oct 2006) predicted that the global economy is likely to shrink by a staggering 20% according to best scientific and economic consensus.
So, what can a business do?
· Set targets for emissions reductions and measure performance regularly
· Benchmark your business against competitors on emissions reductions
· Use the most efficient fuel in the most efficient way and use renewable energy (ie solar, wind) where possible
· Invest in new energy efficient technology as it becomes available
· Calculate your company’s carbon footprint and once you have reduced emissions, offset the balance to become carbon neutral.
Whatever you do, at home or in business, we all have to do SOMETHING! And don’t forget, these reductions will also save you money as well!
Further Info
Offset here. Learn facts about global warming, calculate your carbon footprint and offset it through sustainable tree-planting schemes with independent CO2 verification.
UK-specific website:
Energy Saving Trust – helps advise small and medium sized businesses to make best use of energy resources, and also helps a business access tax incentives.
