what have you done to help stop global warming?

Question

i always here people at my school talk about how global warming is such an important issue and all that, but each day they drive their cars to school because if they took the bus or carpooled they might not look "cool enough". am i the only one that sees the irony in that?

it seems to me like everyone is just waiting on some higher power to take control and, in the meantime, living as though everything's ok. to those who believe in global warming: what have you and haven't you done to help stop global warming, and what sort of transportation do you take to and from your workplace? again, from what i've seen, everyone i know just says that we shouldn't do this and that...but then they go out and do the same thing.

Answer 1

I've done nothing to help stop global warming, because there is really nothing mankind can do to stop it. It is largely a natural phenomenon caused by an increase in solar output over the last century.

The current warming trend on earth has followed several centuries of cooling known as the little ice age. During the little ice age, there were several "minimum" periods of solar output. These include the Dalton, Maunder, Sporer and Wolf minimums. These reductions in solar output led to cooler temperatures and increased glaciation over an approximately 500 year period. Over the last century, the irradiance of the sun has increased greatly, and the warming of the earth corresponds to that increase in solar output. Recent studies show that solar increases are directly responsible for 80% of the temperature increase over the last century, and that the increases in solar irradiance over the last 25 years as measured from satellites would be significant enough to cause the warming seen over the last century, if the trend lasted for the entire century. Mankinds influence of global warming is minor, thus, we really can't do anything to stop it.

Answer 2

Well I'm actually hoping to increase my energy use by getting a computer server. I got two cell phones, the i-phone and a blackberry, and I can't seem to just live with just one. Getting the lexus suv was one of the best decisions of my life. I'm able to drive through rain storms and the worst snow. I can also carry my musical equipment. I am power hungry, which is that I use lots of energy. My recording equipment is state of the art and I have six computers, all of which are put to use on a daily basis.

Now I have no intention of measuring my carbon footprint. I'm actually hoping to increase my carbon footprint. I'm not even living half as much as I want to live. I have no idea how I can personally help stop global warming.

edit to jeff m: don't be surprised if low and behold you don't produce enough energy and have nothing to sell back to the energy companies. That idea that individuals will produce a surplus of energy from solar and wind is a scam to get people to spend tremendous amounts of money on their products. I would get something in writing that what they claim is true or you get paid by the company. Then hope that the company doesn't go bankrupt.

Answer 3

Well for one, back about 30 years ago everyone was concerned about global cooling- now it's global warming. Also by the fact that the earth does have natural global warming and global cooling cycles. 300 years ago there was a little ice age. around 1000 years ago the earth was alot warmer remember when those scientists found that fossil of lucy down like 100 feet below the waterline...that means that at one time the ocean was lower than it is currently. Many will claim that our climate is regulated by the sun and other factors that doesn't include humans. Also you shouldn't be too worried about CO2, why won't the government do anything about cattle. They are one of the largest producers of green house gases-many whom are worse than CO2..... such as nitrous oxide and methane.

Answer 4

We try to do a little bit every day that will help the cause, e.g. limit lights, day and nite, use car only when necessary, hang clothes to dry (wish I could wash by hand as well, but it is not practical to do that), prepare meals that don't waste electricity, do not use plastic bags, recycle everything and try not to have any 'bagged' garbage. I do though, use water bottles and would like to stop...any suggestions on a practical, disposable type bottle that would take the place of plastic? We limit our shower time and use our water very carefully...plan things out and it becomes habit...the list does go on, but we are far from being practical and conservative because of the nature of the world...we need the manufacturing sector to help out! Why are items that are purchased (?) we should not purchase so much(?) have to come with so much protection against theft...you cannot even open something at times...we are definitely wasteful, this society, and require so much STUFF that it gets very stressful anymore....

Answer 5

I turned on my sprinkler, put out a lawn chair and got cool under the falling water. Then I fired up my charcoal-burning grill, plopped on a few steaks and a couple ears of corn ... then fired up a doob and drank a few Cervezas.

And, tomorrow, I'll fire up my diesel-powered Ford F350 and drive about 10 miles to work where I'll probably waste a few reams of paper doing the government's work.

NOT!

Disregarding the above, I know that I WON'T waste my time whining about something over which I have no control and running around like Chicken Little squeaking that "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!"

Dear Lord, save me from wusses and liberals!!

Answer 6

My main form of transport to and from work are my legs. After getting up I go the the bathroom, kitchen then office. It's a walk of about 30 seconds.

Where possible I work at home on the computer, everything is on an intranet so if I can work from home I do (probably about 2 out of 3 days). When I need to work with colleagues I do so mainly from one or two locations, one is about 30 miles away, the other is about 300 miles away. I also work at and from several universities, anything from 30 to 200 miles away. Usual mode of transport is by car, if more than one of us is going we tend to car pool.

I also act as and advisor to certain organisations and industries, this can take me anywhere from down the road to the furthest corners of the country. Sometimes I need to travel further afield and for this it's necessary to fly.

For field studies and research I sometimes go to the more extreme parts of the world and modes of transport include planes, helicopters, ships, skidoos, zhos (yaks), camels and a menagerie of other noisy, smelly animals.

It all adds up to a very large carbon footprint through the use of transportation. There is however no real alternative.

The car I mostly drive returns about 40mpg so it's quite economical and we've reduced our carbon footprint in the house by about 40% over the last few years and are hoping to become powered by a wind turbine soon (subject to planning permission), this will shave a further 30% off our carbon footprint.

Despite all this fossil fuel conspumption we are very much carbon negative thanks to a scheme we implemented last year which involved the planting of three small forests in Africa. After consultation with experts we planted the right variety of trees in the right places so as to sequester about 2000 tons of CO2 each year (that's the net figure even if in time all the trees end up degrading or being burned).

Answer 7

i don`t know if this has helped combat Global warming ,but my work has been mainly on behalf of the Environment ,and a healthy Environment and Global warming are inter related .

Until a few months ago i was a consultant for the department of Ecology for local Government in Mexico. ,which has now folded ,due to political unrest ,(the mayor has been at home for 3 months ,the offices are closed)

Now ,I answer lots of questions here in Answers about Environmental issues and peddle responsible Environmental behavior.

and am involved into setting up a couple of schools for farmers about organic and sustainable farming.

up to 7 years ago in Africa i made many
gardens ,Eco tourist places ,and food gardens in a couple of very poor settlements for Africans

Mexico Oaxaca lived with the Mazateca Indians made some gardens ,including one in a school.and lectured on preserving their trees

5 years ago started a Park with the help of about 2000 school kids and parents,in the Sierra above Acapulco

Last year,i was at the river with a bunch of school kids and putting up boards to forbid dumping rubbish and cleaning up a part of the river side.

sometimes I talk to schools about ecological awareness , have so far had more than 3000 visitors of school kids alone in my garden,not counting adults
talk about bio diversity

To farmers i talk about ,harmful farming practices,give alternatives that are sustainable ,and lecture on the importance of trees and soil management ,erosion,Aquaculture ,niches ,companion planting,water harvesting etc.

Last year we motivated all the schools to clean up the Town,and even the army lend a hand and we are about to do this again in a couple of weeks

Also, with all the fisher men and owners and families of the beach restaurants we cleaned up the Lagoon

and have planted many trees and made many gardens ,by now.

a Permaculture consultant

http://spaces.msn.com/byderule

Answer 8

It's a hot topic. Unfortunately most people want the government or big business to make this choice for them, and lets not forget about their image. Me I already recycle. (make a couple bucks ) got tired of waiting and made my own still and mastered what is involved in converting vehicles to renewable fuel. (when its widespread at gas stations I'll be the dude to convert your car or boat for $) and I'm in the process of remodeling my house to be super energy efficient with solar and wind generation (when I'm done the electric company will send me a check each month) Not to mention the energy creation tax credits.
make it profitable and everyone will do it.

Answer 9

I bought a huge 4 wheel drive SUV. I own 50 square miles of land that I had cleared of all the trees. I have a coal furnace. I don't conserve anything. I don't recycle anything. I also like to litter.

Answer 10

I ducted my air conditioner so that some of the cool air runs outside!

Every little bit helps!!