What can we (ordinary citizen) do to minimize the effect of Global Warming?

Answer 1

Here's a long answer which, as you can probably guess, I haven't just written. It's a condensed version of something I wrote a few months ago but it answers the question...

There are several things that can be done including reducing dependency on fossil fuels, recycling, becoming more energy efficient, offsetting carbon emissions and using technology to combat global warming.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT HOME
● 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 lights when not in use.

● Fit individual thermostats to radiators and don't heat rooms that aren't used.

● Insulate walls, lofts, hot water tanks and pipes.

● Turn your heating and air conditioning down, a small difference will be barely noticeable.

● Similarly, turn down water heating by a few degrees.

● Sign up to a green energy supplier, one that produces energy from renewable sources.

● Turn off heating and air-conditioning when the house is unoccupied.

● Wash full loads of 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 full loads in the dishwasher.

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

● Consider installing a renewable energy system such as solar panels or a home wind turbine.

● Use rechargeable batteries; don’t leave rechargers on for longer than is needed (including mobile / cell-phones).

● Boil only as much water in the kettle as you need.

● Buy locally produced organic food where possible, there's less transportation and the farming methods are more environmentally friendly.

● Look where goods were manufactured and avoid buying those that have been flown or shipped long distances.

● Recycle and reuse as much as possible. Sign up with mail preferential services to stop junk mail.

● Avoid buying products with excessive packaging.

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

● If your fridge or freezer is over 15 years old then consider replacing it (check with local authority regarding disposal of old one).

● Work from home where possible.

● Eat less meat and dairy produce, farming produces large quantities of greenhouse gases.

ENERGY EFFICIENT TRAVELLING
For many people a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved by driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Each gallon of gasoline burned produces 10kg (20 pounds) of carbon dioxide. A motorist driving 15,000 miles a year in a vehicle that delivers 30mpg will produce 5000kg of carbon emissions whereas a vehicle returning 50mpg will produce 3000kg.

● Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle, if you have more than one vehicle then use the most economical one more often.

● Consider walking or cycling when going to work or taking the kids to schools, if you have to drive then consider car sharing.

● Use public transport where possible and consider taking a coach or train instead of using domestic flights.

● When replacing your vehicle look at diesel and liquid petroleum gas models.

● Combine multiple journeys into one and do your weekly shopping in a single trip.

● Stagger journeys where possible to avoid rush hour traffic and hold ups.

FUEL SAVING TIPS FOR DRIVERS
By driving carefully and keeping your vehicle in good condition you can save up to 30% on your fuel bills and cut greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. Below are some tips for increasing fuel efficiency.

● Avoid harsh braking, accelerate gently and drive at a steady speed.

● Keep tyres inflated to the correct pressure.

● Remove bike and ski racks when not in use, also remove detachable roof racks, luggage boxes etc.

● Carrying unnecessary weight wastes fuel, declutter your vehicle.

● Use the correct gear and use cruise control if your vehicle has it.

● Keep your vehicle regularly services.

● Turn the engine off when stopped or waiting.

MORE ENERGY SAVING TIPS
Natural Resource Defense Council - http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy.asp
Energy Saving Trust - http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/
Carbon Footprint - http://www.carbonfootprint.com/index.html
Carbon Trust - http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy
Energy Quest - http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/index.html
US Government - http://www.energy.gov/energyefficiency/index.htm
Alliance to Save Energy - http://www.ase.org/
UK Government - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/DG_064371
Rough Guides - http://www.roughguides.com/savingenergy/
Salt River Project - http://www.srpnet.com/menu/energy.aspx

---------------------

CARBON OFFSETTING

Each of us leaves behind what is commonly referred to as a 'carbon footprint'. This is a measure of the environmental impact in terms of the amount of greenhouses gases produced; it is measured as the equivalent number of units of carbon dioxide. The global average is 5 tons per person per year, in developed nations the average is 11 tons and in the US it is 19 tons.

Carbon Offsetting is one way to reduce or eliminate your carbon footprint; in most cases this involves calculating your greenhouse gas emissions and planting trees so as to absorb an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. Some websites where you can calculate your carbon footprint and purchase offsetting are:
The Woodland Trust - http://www.carbonbalanced.org/
Carbon Footprint - http://www.carbonfootprint.com/USA/calculator.html
The Carbon Neutral Company - http://www.carbonneutral.com/pinfo/carbonoffsetting.asp
My Climate - http://www.myclimate.org/index.php?lang=en
Atmosfair - http://www.atmosfair.de/index.php?id=9&L=3

Answer 2

Global Warming is an incovient truth,many people think its not serious but it is.Why do some people think Global Warming isnt serious?Becuz they're trying to ignore the fact that if we dont change our lifestyle...who knows what'll happen,something not good thats for sure.Think of some of the animals...Polar Bears are drowning because the ice is melting.As temperature rises,so does the the heat-related illness and even death for the vulnerable human population.Global Warming will cause intence rainstorms.Another consequence of Global Warming is deadly heat waves and the spread of disease.
We can make a difference by doing the following things:if you have to go to the market//store try walking there walk more,you can recyle,replace your incandescent bulbs with flourescent bulbs they might cost more but they eventually pay for them selves becuz they dont burn out,recycle,instead of turning on your AC open your window,whenever possible use a clothing line instead of a dryer,unplug electronice from the wall whenever you're not using them,plant a tree.

"Global Warming is one of the most serious threats facing our country and our planet today. Scientists agree that global warming is real and caused by human activities and many say we have only 10 years to take action before we cause irreversible harm.
Excessive resource and energy use and a growing demand for raw materials are largely responsible for the depletion of natural resources worldwide and the acceleration of global warming – which is contributing to rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, extended droughts and floods, disappearing glaciers, and increased health risks.

Fortunately, there are many things we can each do to respond: use less energy, drive greener cars, green our homes, and demand that corporate leaders and our elected officials act today.

40% of the world’s resource and energy use is linked to the construction and maintenance of buildings, and about 33% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from transportation. By reducing our energy consumption at home and at work, by building green buildings that are more energy efficient, and by driving and demanding more fuel-efficient vehicles, we can begin to make a difference. " --From PLANETGREENGAME.COM

Answer 3

Nothing....even using all of the above suggestions (even all the ones from the first answer)....even if all of the humans on earth did this and all of the big companies would shut down....it would change nothing. Humans have been around for a relatively short period of time, in relation to the age of the Earth and the age of the Universe. Temperature fluxations on Earth and on other planets have occurred numerous times (Ice ages followed by global warmings) long before humans ever came around. It is egotistical to think that we have anything to do with this process. It is natural, and we should quit trying to "save the world" when it can save itself, and focus on people dying in the streets, and terrorists blowing up anyone representing freedom. What is something you can do? Support the troops!

Answer 4

Move next door to a nuclear power plant to illustrate the reality that they are safe and don't pollute (other than a small amount of waste heat in the discharge water.)

Answer 5

We need to pressure our governments to take real action against the major causes of greenhouse gases, not just token efforts here and there, token agreement with the Kyoto Protocols, etc.

Sure the U.S. and Bush are a stick-in-the-mud and are not moving on that. People need to pressure their governments to combat the two big culprits to global warming, EVEN THOUGH these are allied to huge financial interests. You are up against people who stand to make lots of money here, but you must be firm and tell them they can't.

The two culprits are:

--the oil companies, burning animal remains that are millions of years old and releasing carbon back where it was happily sequestered for millions of years. Lots of money to be made with stupid, stagnant internal-combustion engine technology. But peak production of oil has passed in the U.S.; there is no place to go but import more and more expensive oil for the gasoline. Pressure your government to put a stop to it, to develop new alternatives long before the oil companies want you to.

--The sinister forces which promote Third-World immigration. A Third-Worlder is a low-polluter in his own country, but sinister immigration forces make it their lucrative business to import him into the wealthy countries for no very good reason. Then he becomes a massive consumer, buys an SUV and becomes a high-polluter like the rest of us. He may even send consumer products back to his real home and they start to pollute too. We are trying to conserve, but any conservation we try to make will be wiped out by the new added population of Third-World immigration. Plus they bring other social problems; for example if they are Muslims at least SOME of them will be radical and will try to take us over like Body Snatchers, or bomb us when we refuse. So for the sake of the planet we must turn all immigration departments of the world into immigration CONTROL departments where the philosophy is that less is better. People may squawk, scream, call you "racist", but the immigration complex has no inherent right to make money off it when it harms the rest of the country. It's as much greed as the oil companies, but the greed is distributed into individual lawyers and social-workers and the greed of the Third-Worlder himself, chickening out and leaving his dysfunctional country to make money off us, but polluting the whole planet more overall.

Answer 6

forget about it (no really!!!)

focus on global Eden-ification
any would be stop-global-warming activities are still appropriate but instead they will be done with excitment in the heart rather than fear

Answer 7

So the question should be: how do we reduce carbon dioxide emissions? That is, which ways to reduce CO2 emissions cost the least? Which produce the smallest annoyance? Which cause the fewest dangers to humans?

There are a huge number of options to choose from:

Insulate homes and offices more.
Change thermostat settings and clothing to yield to the seasons.
Use waste heat from electricity generation for other purposes. (2/3 of energy used to make electricity ends up as waste heat.)
Turn off lights in rooms not occupied.
Turn down the amount of lighting in stores, especially when closed.
Use more efficient lights, such as the new white LEDs.
Install skylights in homes and businesses that are used during the day.
Drive smaller cars – or drive big cars instead of even bigger SUVs.
Carpool.
Live closer to work, or telecommute.
Take public transportation.
Ride a bicycle or walk.
Go back to small neighborhood stores instead vs. big regional shopping centers.
Use biomass energy (ethanol, methanol, charcoal, seed oils, etc.)
Build windmills.
Use photovoltaics.
Use active and passive solar heating systems.
And more!
Each of these options has some cost. Small cars and cycles are more dangerous than big cars. Mass transit can be slow and inconvenient. Raising the thermostat in the summer can be uncomfortable. Biofuels use up farmland that could be used for food or habitat. And so it goes.

Some of these costs are small – for certain people. But which people? A bicycle may be a great form of transportation for a college student living in a dormitory while being terribly inconvenient for a mother of several small children. Adjusting the thermostat works for some, but can kill others.

Who decides? How much? And when?

The simplistic approach to answering this question would be to appoint a panel of experts in various fields to commission a massive number of studies: What is the cost/benefit ratio for more insulation? Ditto for skylights in block stores? What is the inconvenience factor for riding a bus or a bicycle? And so on…And so on…

Technology studies could be done to estimate the production costs of various technologies were they to be mass-produced. Polls could be commissioned asking people what their preferences are. Demographic studies could be done on how often people change jobs and the cost of moving near new jobs vs. the fuel savings that come from living close to work.

Such studies could run into billions of dollars. The college professors in the audience are salivating! More money for think tanks! It’s time for smart people to get rich!

Even with billions of dollars needed for such studies, they would be worth the cost if they would work, but they won’t. Such studies would fail for the same reason that the Soviet Union’s five year plans failed: the information is not accessible from a top-down approach. And far worse than having a wrong set of solutions, the enforcement of such would require pounds of new laws and regulations, billions of dollars for lawyers and other experts for both enforcement and compliance. For the government to have sufficient knowledge to be able to micro-manage all these personal behaviors would require yet further erosion of civil liberties. And despite all these efforts, individuals and businesses will find loopholes in the finely crafted laws and regulations. (Case in point: when the government mandated that cars on average should get better fuel economy, big cars did indeed start disappearing – only to be replaced by less efficient trucks! The SUV craze was caused by environmental regulations!)

The simplistic approach is not so simple.

There is a far more elegant approach, one that appears simple on the surface but in fact involves billions of decisions by millions of individuals and businesses. It is an organic approach where we delegate the task to The People instead of hiring an elite core of experts.

The approach is this: raise the price of carbon-containing fossil fuels, and people will use less. Congress can simply go back to distributing pork and seducing interns while The People apply their creativity to the problem and work on millions of small solutions.

OK, so you big brains in the audience may find this too simple and boring. Indeed, the government’s role in this enterprise is simple and boring. But there will be plenty of opportunities to apply your brilliant ideas in the marketplace, either as entrepreneurs, writers, consultants or employees. True, you megalomaniacs in the audience won’t be able to apply your grandest designs, but if you find a billionaire sponsor you might be able to do something on the grand side. And the rest of us can breathe easier.

So how do we raise the price of fossil fuels? Simple! Tax them. Have a set of excise taxes and tariffs on fossil fuels based roughly on how much carbon they contain.

Answer 8

(Since I am younger) I started a Guild in the game Neopets so more kids/ppl become more aware. It may seem silly but getting more ppl to learn is something we can all do easily.

Answer 9

we can take full use of garbage and dont litter the earth with filth.try to keep our roads and other buildings clean.use less organic fuel and use solar energy.educate others.

Answer 10

Nothing. Man is not the cause.