What can we do to slow down Global warming?

Answer 1

The simple answer is to release less CO2 into the atmosphere. There really is no other practical solution. Therefore we have to reduce and then as soon as possible stop using fossil fuels to generate our energy. By the way there will be a new program about Global Warming on the Discovery Channel on Sunday July 16th at 9:00PM PST and several other times as well the schedule is linked below.

The quickest way to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels is through conservation. Conservation has proven very effective in California where the per capita energy consumption is much lower than the national average, but there is much more that could be done. Two of the most effective conservation steps are to choose a better mileage car the next time you purchase one, and the second is if all new homes were built with a combination of passive solar heating design and also solar electric panels preinstalled. Homes like this are often called Zero Energy homes. They consume far less energy than conventional homes.

Another step that would help accelerate the whole process would be to change the tax system so that instead of taxing income we tax generation of CO2 that would create a strong market demand for energy efficient products and for alternative energy that does not generate CO2.

We need to make improvements in how we use fossil fuels such as implementing clean coal and clean diesel technologies. Converting the entire economy from fossil to renewable energy is a huge undertaking that will take decades to fully complete and so we will need to continue to rely on fossil fuels in the interim and clean fossil fuel technologies can help reduce their negative impacts.

We need to accelerate the switch of our economy away from fossil fuels and towards alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, bio fuels, ocean wave, tidal generators, and hydroelectric. These energy sources will need improvements in battery technology, fuel cell technology, the electric grid and other energy storage technologies to become primary energy sources and so we need to work on those areas too.

The earlier work done to conserve energy will help prepare vehicles, homes and businesses to make the best use possible of alternative energy sources as they become increasingly available.

There is a great deal that can be done and fortunately many people are already working on all of the items I listed. The more people that help with this effort the faster it will happen.

Finally it is worth pointing out that all of this activity will be great for the economy. Millions of new jobs will be created in the process of developing and implementing new energy technologies.

Answer 2

We need do create a global market for alternative fuels. It is all well and good to guilt people into riding bikes and car pooling, which I think is a great idea, but this solution will only do so much for so long. Asking a consumer not to consume is like asking a hornet not to sting. It is in the nature of humanity to use what resources are available to attain the necessities of life, even when those things are only perceived as necessities.

In order to affect true global change, there must be a societal reason to make the change desirable to those that may have the money but not the understanding of the global impact of their actions. The great masses do not understand the concept of effort now paying off in the future, our species is all about the now, and always has been.

If one were to isolate a type of clean and renewable energy they would be one step closer to this goal, however what many do not understand is that until that energy is cheap, and better, than the fossil fuels it will not overtake the current market.

The reason solar has not taken off is due to the large initial investment needed to start collecting the energy. Most people are not willing to drop that much money even if it means they will save money in the future.

With the advent of such technologies as the quantum dot PV cell we will see more solar collectors in the future, this technology costs a tenth the amount of a silicon based PV (Photovoltaic) cell, and collects roughly 3 times the energy. The technology is not yet at the marketable stage, but look for this in the future.

There is also a new technology called Catalytic Polymerization that takes any material and reverts it to it's base elements (gold, lead etc), and extracts any hydrocarbons from the mix, allowing for separation into Hydrogen and Carbon. Look for this in the future as well, since this can be used to process the trash from a landfill into raw materials and fuel, and will provide a source of energy while only using 10% of that energy to power itself. There are also no emissions from this product.

Answer 3

Slow it down?

Simple answer is reduce the amount of GHG we put into the Atmo. But slowing it down now will not change what the Earth is about to do. It is about to re-distribute the water available in a ways that will cause humanity a lot of headaches. Yup. No way to avoid that now.

The Ph and Level of the oceans are about to have a drastic change in the next 20 - 30 years. Most of us will see it like being in a train that derails over a bridge.

We will hear a lot of screaming and crying and prayers, as well as, accusations why the track was sabotaged or not maintained. We will have the sinking feeling of helplessness as the train slides over the edge and falls towards the ground below.

But there is nothing we can do about it now. The train will hit. Many will survive, but many will not. In the end, the survivers will find a way to keep going and look for the nearest town for help.

But I can help with what comes after the wreck. :)

Jimmy Higgins

Answer 4

First of all...what coused the ice age? man didnt even have machines...and volcanoes can produce more gases with one eruption than the whole civilized industrial age of mankind...its only been the last 50 yrs that people thought of global warming...it started when the ice age ended...50yrs out of 4billion is a spec of dust....i think its a scam made up by special interest groups to come up with special emision controls and taxes...now dont get me wrong...i love clean air and water to swim in and drink...but until we get china and indonesia and mexico on board and other countries...thiers nothing we can do except what we are doing now....Global Warming is a cycle of the earth and is not created by people...

Answer 5

Think globally act locally. Recycle, walk or ride a bike whenever possible, buy a car that does not consume so much fossil fuel, Do not leave your electricity or air conditioning on unnecessarily, ask your employer if there are things they can do to help reduce consumption of electricity, etc.

Answer 6

Global warming is in theory reversable,but it will mean global co operation between all countries ,and taking into account human nature and the world politics ,it is unlikely that this will happen,

At least not untill we are all in the middle of planetary disastres and it becomes a battle for the survival of humanity every where.

However
Almost all governments in the first world and many others who deal with them,are already working on this for a long time ,
In Mexico many farmers are being persuaded Agro forestall farming which includes trees ,like shade grown coffee

and many countries like Germany and the USA ,for example have made heavy commitments to reduce carbon emissions
Countries like Australia ,Denmark,USA and South Africa to name but a few are spending a lot on alternative energies ,

but all of this is still far to slow
greed to further exploit the petrolium business prevents fast positive advancement

SOLUTIONS
if you want to help the planet ,plant a tree every week ,if EVERYONE on the planet did this, we would be able to reverse the destructive processes,and start creating more biomass again.

reduce carbon emisions,and they are already working on that by alternative forms of energy and regulations on carbon producing materials,aerosol cans,burning rubbish,industrial chimneys,powerplants etc.

the world bank pays large subsidies for reforrestation to capture carbon and the best tree for this is the Pawlonia

Waterharvesting projects ,such as millions of small dams.to redirect over ground waterflows from the rains into the ground to supply subteranian water supplies.

the protection of existing forrests.and the production of water

stop building more highways,urban planning to include vegetation stop building cities encourage people to return to the land to conduct their business from there which now has become possible thanks to the internet.

education to motivate people to auto sufficiency by building more home food gardens.

education on environmental awareness
education on family planning to curb over´population

Agricultural education and improvements to follow the principals or sustainability and soil management.

more land design to prevent bush fires,such as--fire breaks

regulations and control for public behaviour

alternative effeciant public transport to discourage the use of the internal conbustion engine

recicling wastes,limit water use

Answer 7

end the spread of huge Oil Propaganda. They wade through from the greed-ailment and could lie for income. lowering using CFC's has already helped the completed in the Ozone on the South Pole. We people are wise and inventive and can make transformations. lowering CO2 somewhat at a time will make a large difference. one element which could help is planting extra timber. They eat co2. i comprehend i'd really walk by using a park or woods than a grimy city.

Answer 8

Stop burning coal, that would help lot.

Coal is dirty and the environmental impacts that we have yet to have to pay to mitigate negate it's falacious corporate mythology as "cheap" energy.

The billions of ton's of carbonaceous particulates its use as power plant fuel pumps intoo the atmopsphere is a major problem few are willing to address.

Answer 9

Research more efficient and renewable fuel sources, maintain and promote public transportation. Promote higher "R" value aggricultural insulation alternatives.
Turn off your a/c when not at home.

Answer 10

use less power. use less fuel. buy items that do not have tons of packaging. ride your bike and let weeds grow around your car. elect responsible government officials and vote out the idiots who think your concerns are "bad for business".
recycle. plant trees and bushes.