Global Warming: How can I help?

Question

I watched "An Inconvenient Truth" on TV and now I'm really concerned about Global Warming. I already recycle and drive a low emissions vehicle but I was wondering if there are any other ways that I can help try to improve Global Warming?

Answer 1

I saw it last night. Scared the willies outta me!

At least you're concerned, unlike the ostriches which answered your valuable question by "shooting the messenger". They obviously are part of the cabal which are responsible for all the greed and delusion which are crippling us and are preventing serious change from occurring.

They are also obviously unaware of the fact that Al Gore is offsetting his lifestyle by investing - heavily - in technologies to help reduce our emissions. I would seriously doubt their committment to the same offsetting!

Here's a list of things which I'm doing and that you may find helpful:

1. Eat organic / locally grown foods...stops the production of more harmful chemicals, cuts down on transport costs and it's better for you as well! Also, make sure that the eggs you buy aren't from a battery farm!

2.Try going vegetarian as well...cows and cow farming is a big environmental / ethical nasty. I read a report recently that suggests that cows farting accounts for 3 times the amount of emmissions that cars do!!!

3. Buy ethical and fair trade goods. This helps increase the poorer nations citizen's basic wealth which in turn helps them to afford to achieve these kinds of changes as well!

4. Try to break your addiction to your motor car. These beasts are one of the worst things for the environment that we've ever had the misfortune to deal with!!! Try using public transport or ride places you'd normally drive to.

5. Use low energy light bulbs in your home. Consider buying high efficiency appliances (fridges etc.). Use gas to cook toast and heat water - toasters and kettles are huge consumers of power!

6. When it gets cold, put another jumper / sweater and thermal leggings on instead of switching on your heater.

7. Turn your television off at the wall at night, rather than leaving it on standby. This simple procedure can stop about 40kg. of CO2 getting into the atmosphere every year.

8. Consider buying "green" power from your energy supplier. It's not really "green" per se, but the premium you pay is used to subsidise people who are building sustainable homes and installing solar or wind generation equipment. The power so created is fed back into the main grid. If you can't, ask your power company "why not?"

9. Go see your local politicians and question them about what they're doing in parliament to affect change. Tell them that you're worried and that their answers will shape how you vote in the next election. It's a long shot, but if you live in a country with a parliamentary system, it can be a grand way to get change happening. Look at the Green Party and the amount of effect they've had across the globe since their inception in the mid-eighties. It might not appear much, but at least we do have a choice these days! "Never underestimate the power of the individual".

10. Finally, do an "Ecological Footprint" Test...it will show you how much you consume, based on your own lifestyle and residence...it's pretty scary, but very worthwhile.

Please see the people who post replies that "Global Warming is a myth" as ostriches with their heads in the sand. we ALL need to wake up to what is going on and accept the evidence.

Hope this helps!

Love and Light,

Jarrah

Answer 2

Though global warming is a cycle as global cooling. The best thing we can do for our environment is to be aware of how much resources we spend. As a society we can invest in all sorts of technology and practices that are beneficial to our planet. However, this will mean nothing if we don't conserve our resources. An individual can recycle and utilize efficient vehicles, but again if you use them more than is really necessary for daily function, it won't be as effective. And unfortunately that is the hardest habit to break. We as a society are making some steps, but if we consume at the same rate, it won't have the same potential that it could.

Beyond using recyclable materials and utilizing efficient equipment (bulbs, furnace, water heaters, building material). An individual can document their daily habits and routines and this will help them monitor what was consumed, what material was used , how much time did this activity require, and money and approximate energy is being consumed. This will give an individual a better idea of which activities they can tweak in order to save resources and time or money.

Answer 3

We may not stop global warming but we can SLOW it down significantly. However, if we don't do anything, by 2050, we would spew out 2.6 gigatons of carbon emissions in the U.S.

Here are things to do to overall reduce it to 0.8 gigatons in 2050:
1. Building more energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
2. Building more bulidings that uses far less energy. This would mean using solar power on roofs, double non-adjacent layered windows.
3. Driving hybrids and fuel cells.
4. Designing cities so they will be able to have mass transit systems like subways. Also, designing more efficient big rigs.
5. Relying more on renewable energy like wind and biofuels.
6. Storing excess carbon from power plants and industrial activities.

So, if we do these six things, by 2050, we would have reduced the carbon emissions from 2.6 gigatons of carbon emissions to 0.8. This is LESS than the current U.S. emission of 1.8 gigatons. This makes a BIG SIGNIFICANCE because of our choices. This also shows how powerful we are.

Note: This is just an estimate and doesn't include the increased reliance on cell phones, Internet, teleconferencing, and other advanced communications. Also, it does not include the carbon offsets by planting trees. It would probably be LESS than 0.8 gigatons.

Answer 4

As an individual, the best thing you can do is reduce your energy use: Use compact fluorescent bulbs and turn them off when you leave the room. Buy more efficient appliances, especially your fridge. Buy a more efficient vehicle, and drive less. Better yet, move closer to work so you don't need to commute by car at all. Get a programmable thermostat so you won't be heating or cooling your house when you're gone. Make sure your house can be sectioned off so that you don't need to waste energy heating and cooling the unused areas.

But as an individual, you can't do it all. Talk to your representatives at the local, state, and national level, and tell them that you expect something to be done about global warming. Ask them to create policies that encourage investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy. And ask them to support market-based policies to limit CO2 emissions, like "cap and trade" programs, or carbon taxes (if you're concerned about high taxes, ask them to make sure the revenue is used to reduce existing income or sales taxes)

Answer 5

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.

SOLUTIONS
if you want to help the planet ,plant a tree every week ,if everyone on the planet did we we would be able to reverse the destructive processes

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 capture of carbon and the production of water and assist the aquiferous manta.

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.

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´populaion

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

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

,more dams.regulations and control for public behaviour

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

recicling wastes,limit water use



Source(s) Lester E Brown is the director and founder of the global institute of Environment in the United states .he has compiled a report based on all the satalite information available from NASA,and all the information that has
come from Universities and American embassies WORLD WIDE ,
his little book--a planet under stress , Plan B has been trans lated into 50 languages and won the best book award in 2003.

Answer 6

There are many things individuals can do to reduce their carbon emissions and reduce the impact of global warming. Living in a tent, travelling by bike and stopping breathing are three steps that could be taken. There are less drastic measures.

DRIVING ECONOMICALLY
You can improve your vehicles fuel efficiency by as much as 30%. Drive gently avoiding harsh braking and sudden accelerating, drive at a steady speed, keep tyres correctly inflated, don’t carry excess weight, use the correct gear, use cruise control, remove bike and ski racks when not in use, keep your vehicle serviced, turn the engine off when stopped or waiting.

DRIVE LESS
Walk or cycle short journeys – no fuel emissions, healthier and saves money. Stagger journeys where possible to avoid rush hour traffic and hold ups. Use public transport.

HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
When replacing appliances buy energy efficient ones, turn off electrical appliances when not in use, don’t use the standby option. Use energy efficient light bulbs and switch off when not in use. Wash clothes at a lower temperature, modern machines and detergents are just as effective at lower temperatures. Dry your clothes outdoors instead of in a tumble drier. Wash in full loads at a time.

Insulate your home and block draughts around doors and windows. In the UK this is free to many people.

Turn your heating and air conditioning down. A 1°C difference will be barely noticeable but will produce a substantial saving in terms of energy used.

Buy electricity generated from renewable sources and consider installing a renewable energy system to lower your electricity costs and reduce pollution.

Use rechargeable batteries; don’t leave rechargers on for longer than is needed.

Buy local food where possible, much food is flown or shipped half way around the world before it reaches us.

Recycle waste and avoid buying products with excessive packaging.

Sign up with mail preferential services to stop junk mail.

Don’t have your fridge and freezer set lower than they need to be, regularly defrost your freezer, don’t put hot food into your fridge or freezer.

There’s lots more tips and advice on these sites...

Natural Resource Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy.a...
Energy Saving Trust http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/
Carbon Trust http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy...
Energy Quest http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_ene...
US Government http://www.energy.gov/energyefficiency/i...
Alliance to Save Energy http://www.ase.org/
UK Government http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/environmenta...
Rough Guides http://www.roughguides.com/savingenergy/...
Salt River Project http://www.srpnet.com/menu/energy.aspx...

Answer 7

Adopt TAGP(tm)

1) Use at least 10 times as much electricity as the national average.
2) Take a limo when you need to go across town.
3) Take a private jet or fly first class when you need to travel longer distances.
4) Pontificate endlessly on what everyone else must do to solve the problem.

Answer 8

Limit use of toxic chem. for household cleaning and in gardening. Use natural bath and toiletries instead of chemical based items. Use biodegradable papers.
No aerosols
Thumbs up to everyone who is concerned - every little bit makes it's mark.
We didn't inherit the planet from our ancesters,
We borrowed it from our children.

Answer 9

You could get a private Gulfstream jet to take you from Tennessee to California everyother day. You can also use twelve times the amount of electricity that the average user does. You can get a huge petrol guzzeling motor. You would then be just like Gore.

Answer 10

in case you desire to receive supply money for climate study, do you think of which you will get a cheque in case you're saying," i desire the supply, as i think of that i will coach that the figures that the present paradigm relies upon are incorrect" ? the great environmentalist, David Bellamy, has been silenced, and refused airtime. there continues to be no shown causative link between the quantity of Co2 in the ambience, and a upward push in international temperatures. The WWWF pictures of the polar bears swimming have been taken in the Arctic summer season; while the ice cap in part melts, as they could no longer upward push as much as image in the wintry climate. The ice replace into too thick! The East-Anglian uni study figures. "Oh! The figures do no longer tournament our expectancies. Oh nicely. save quiet. because of the fact all of us be attentive to that we are suited." while the theory, and the religion is greater significant than squarely dealing with the valid doubts of distinctive non supply-supported scientists, technology has been superceded with the help of non secular zealots. As Oliver Cromwell colourfully suggested." I pray thee, in the bowels of Christ, evaluate that thou mayest be incorrect."