Global Warming

Archive for the ‘Global Warming’ Category

We always hear the term global warming. But do we really understand what is global warming? Global warming in layman’s term is the increase in the earth’s atmosphere.

This increase in the temperature will affect the earth and all its proponents forever.

What causes global warming? The continuous increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that is brought upon us by fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture and human activities cause global warming.

What are the effects of global warming? The main effect of global warming is the increase in sea levels because of the ice that is continually melting due to the increase in the earth’s atmosphere.

If you have read all of the above, you will notice that everything is in full circle. What you have done to earth will always come back to you. It is the karma principle. So even if we cannot change what has already been done, let us stop contributing to the damage and change our ways that may have damaged the earth’s atmosphere before it is too late. If we can stop endorsing products that are contributing greatly to global warming, then we should stop using them. We should do everything in our power to do so.

It is time for a change.

Carbon Credit Trading is a process whereby organizations purchases carbon credits to neutralize their Carbon Dioxide impact on global warming.

Each carbon credit represents the sequestration of one ton of carbon emissions from the Earth’s atmosphere.

All countries which are signatories to the Kyoto Agreement of 1997 (ie. have ratified the Kyoto Protocol), have agreed to  limit their carbon emission to a predetermined amount. Alternatively, they can offset their omissions through the process of Carbon Credit Trading. This involves buying credits from someone else. The reason for Carbon Credit Trading is compelling – an undeniable fact about global warming is that carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is, via the greenhouse effect, warming the earth’s surface. Global warming is the major reason for the phenomena of climate change. And its climate change that carbon credit trading is trying to manage through the introduction of an emission trading scheme,  by setting a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60% by 2050.

Those countries supporting the Kyoto Protocol believe that Carbon Credit Trading will reward all organizations and governments that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. And those that don’t reduce carbon emissions will be punished. Those that are being rewarded will generate carbon credits equal to the emission reduction. The companies which don’t reduce emissions  will then need to purchase carbon credits from the companies which have reduced their emissions. The net effect of this carbon credit trading is the increase in profitability on the more environmentally companies. All parties are therefore  encouraged to reduce carbon emissions.

There are many arguments against carbon credit trading – so even go as far as saying that the Kyoto Protocol is counter productive, and has the opposite effect in that it INCREASES global warming. This is the general logic: Countries without carbon limits are free to participate in carbon trading. They can therefore generate infinite carbon emissions without incurring a penalty, and can also sell credits. For example, build a plant which generates massive carbon emissions and then  add equipment to reduce those emissions! This effectively taxes responsible corporations while providing financial advantages to uncooperative organizations. The system therefore encourages further global warming along with the intensification of agrochemical based agriculture.

There is a need to support the creation of a system of  carbon taxes and incentives that systematically, destructively  and positively discourages the excessive use of traditional fossil fuels. The alternative is that global warming will continue at a rapidly accelerating pace.

Climate change facts is a phrase that many of us have heard used to describe the research conducted on climate change. Many academics write extensively to ways to minimize the effect of climate change.

New techniques, such as Carbon Credit Trading, are continually mooted in our attempt to reduce our carbon footprint in an attempt to global warming.

These are some of the undisputed facts or signs of climate change:

Fact 1 – Heat waves increasing common and extreme heat is perhaps the most common sign of climate change, and also signs of global warming. It is true that there have been periods of warming and cooling over the last 5 billion years, but the change has never been so extreme. Global warming has raised the temperatures in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in the melt down of ice glaciers.

Fact 2 – Melting of mountain glaciers Over the last 150 years, scientists have been monitoring mountain glaciers and have reported that they are indeed shrinking. This is particularly true of glaciers at the lower latitudes where many of them have simply disappeared. If climate change continues all existing glaciers will have disappeared within 100 years.

Fact 3 – Ocean warming Over the last 100 years, sea level has increased to 25 cm. It is projected that over the next hundred years sea levels will rise even higher – to about 100 cm. This rise in sea levels is attributed to the melting of ice glaciers due to warmer temperatures. What does this mean? Beaches are set to lose about 50 square feet for every foot the sea level increases. Many Pacific islands will simply disappear!

Fact 4 – Wild Storms Storms are occurring more frequency and with higher intensity. Counter intuitively, water in the soil will evaporate faster, resulting in dryness between rain periods. Dry regions will become drier. In addition, hurricanes will be more severe and winds are expected to blow stronger. Wind patterns may shift.

These undisputed and compelling climate change facts will assist your understanding of how global warming works. The only real question which needs to be addressed is what you, as an individual can do. New technologies such as Clean Coal or Carbon Credit Trading, is available to organizations and governments.

The dramatic impact of global warming is continually debated in the scientific community; it’s a concern that there is no broad political, economic, social and geographical approach to solving this problem. Quite literally, there is nowhere to hide.

People have been complaining of the heat.

The temperature is hotter than usual. In fact, you can fry an egg on the pavement during the mid-afternoon! It is so hot that people despise going out under the sun. There is always a chance to get heat stroke. Scientists and environmentalists say that the cause of the additional heat in the earth’s atmosphere is global warming.

People have an idea of what global warming is. Although some might not be aware of the exact details of the cause of global warming or the damaging effects of it. One thing is for sure, although men in general may be the reason for it, environment has also contributed to the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. Mankind cannot therefore be entirely blamed for the global warming phenomena .

Even if men are not wholly to blame, there should be a conscious effort not to contribute to the worsening condition of global warming. The fact is if the temperature continues to rise and it continues to melt the ice over at Antarctica, the ice will turn to water and it will cause the drastic increase in the sea level which will cause floods in low lying areas. When that happens, it is going to be very dangerous for the planet and all the life it supports.

What will it take for people to take notice of the fact that the earth and everything on it, is in danger?

The natural calamities and the climate changes that are happening all over the world are two distinct signs that we are in a lot of trouble. We should all take notice of the fact that global warming is caused by us. Let us all take a proactive step towards ending it by learning about global warming solutions.

The key to ending global warming is to spread the word. So let us help by imparting all the knowledge that we can about what it is and how we can help in ending it. There are a couple of global warming solutions that each of us can do such as planting trees. It is a known fact that plants remove carbon dioxide from the air. So by planting trees in our backyard or joining or even organizing a plant-a-tree project in the community will really help a lot in fighting global warming. Other simple global warming solutions you can do are the following: driving less and walking more or riding a bike or forming a carpool session every week or even taking a public transportation can really help a lot. Do you know that by driving less, you will be saving at least one pound of carbon dioxide for each mile that you do not use your car? If this does not convince you not to use your car daily, well you should at least check your tires so you will be able to save gas by at least 3%. For every gallon of gas saved, you prevent 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the environment. Thus, have your car checked regularly for fuel efficiency. These are solutions that you can do easily. It will not only benefit the environment but it will benefit you too. Think about it. Let us become part of the solution and not the problem.

Global warming is having a dramatic impact on our lives. Put simply, our planet is heating up at a rate which in unsustainable. The problem is not simply that our days will be getting hotter and therefore more uncomfortable.

No, it’s much more serious than that: the very existence of life as we know it on earth is under serious threat: Rising sea levels, droughts and flash flooding, massive crop failures, rising air pollution levels, uncontrollable fires, and the extension of animal and plant species which in-turn place additional strains on our environment.

Different global warming issues need our urgent consideration as some of the causes of global warming are due to our action, bad habits and lack of awareness. For example, one way that we contribute towards the global warming issues is by deforestation. We all know that trees in rainforests were the lungs of the world. By cutting down large amounts of trees to supply timber for our unnecessary consumer goods, reduces the amount of trees. When large tracts of trees are cut down in one place the balance is lost. The remaining trees can’t absorb all of the carbon which is floating in the atmosphere. Carbon levels therefore rises. This is also why deforestation can be seen as one of the causes of global warming.

One way to reduce carbon levels in to participate in the various carbon trading schemes available today. Carbon credit trading is a process where individuals or organizations purchase carbon credits to neutralize their carbon dioxide impact on global warming. Each carbon credit represents the sequestration of one ton of carbon emissions from the Earth’s atmosphere. When buying buy carbon credits, businesses are encouraged to cut greenhouse emissions. The theory is that the process of carbon credit trading will encourage businesses to invest in forest sinks or other activities that reduce carbon emissions. The goal is of course to deliver positive environmental outcomes and minimize the risk of global warming through climate change.

You can also experience global warming in our cities. Simply driving your car is sending out emissions of carbon monoxide. You just have to multiple this effect with that of the numerous other vehicles to understand that driving a fuel engine vehicle does contribute to global warming. A responsible action would be to replace the fuel used by your vehicle with Biodiesel. Homemade Biodiesel can be easily and cheaply made from a Biodiesel Kit. The main benefit of Biodiesel is that it burns cleaner than fossil-based fuel. This reduces global warming and has a positive impact on the environment.

Soy Biodiesel is Biodiesel fuel manufactured from the simple soy bean. While it is true that any vegetable oil can be used in Biodiesel manufacturing, soy beans do offer some excellent advantages.

Soybeans grow quickly, less than 6 months from sowing the seed to harvesting the bean. Soybeans also produce a high yield of Biodiesel – a single bushel of soybeans will produce almost 1.5 gallons of soy Biodiesel. As Soy Biodiesel is a clean burning renewal fuel there are the obvious benefits for the environment.

A word of caution before embracing this new “wonder fuel”:

Environmentalist groups fear that farmers do not use safe or sustainable practices when cultivating new crops such as soybeans. (For example, the planting of coffee, sugar cane and cotton to meet a new, consumer-based demand has had devastating consequences for the environmental.) This is particularly true for developing countries such as Indonesia where the fear is that farmers will destroy vast regions of old rainforest just to produce soybeans. This will impact the whole world through irreparable global warming. Growing soy for the purpose of fuel, rather than food, also present some ethical challenges.

When compared to regular petroleum diesel, Soy Biodiesel has some significant performance advantages. For starters, it increases engine lubricity by up 66% with only 2% additive. This has the effect of reducing engine vibration and therefore lowers engine wear, reduces engine repairs, and can significantly extend engine life. Also, the Biodiesel derived from 100% virgin soybean oil in the 2% blend meets ASTM standards.

Here are some key milestones in the take-up of Soy Biodiesel in the Unites States: 1993 – First soy Biodiesel vehicle fleet pilot. 1996 – Soy Biodiesel producers with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1998 – Soy Biodiesel deemed to comply with federal clean air regulations. 2001 – First fuel suppliers in the mid-west offer soy Biodiesel to farmers. 2002 - Soy Biodiesel demonstration vehicle makes return trip logging 300,000+ miles. 2005 – Federal tax incentive reduces cost of soy Biodiesel to the consumer.

Finally, lets restate the benefits of soy Biodiesel to the environment. Growing soybean plants adds oxygen to the air and help clean the air as the plants remove carbon dioxide through the process of photosynthesis. This can help reduce global warming. Soy Biodiesel has the added environmental benefit of reducing our dependence on petroleum fuel. This benefits the environment because the process of extracting crude oil destroys the ground surrounding the oil well. Processing petroleum also creates pollution in the atmosphere.

Let me explain how to make Biodiesel and why making it can go a long way in saving the planet. Climate change and global warming have added a sense of urgency to the search for alternatives to fossil fuel.

One such alternative which is cleaner to burn and produce is Biodiesel. Biodiesel fuel can be easily made from vegetable oil such as soy oil for soy Biodiesel. Using an inexpensive Biodiesel kits, I will now show you how to make Biodiesel easily and cheaply.

Some people like to make complex tasks out of the most simple. I will show how to make Biodiesel with or without Biodiesel Kits. Nothing could be easier!

To make Biodiesel one needs the transesterification of vegetable oil. This can be done at home using a Biodiesel Kit which essentially comprises of a mixing tank, methanol and caustic soda. Methanol is a specialized fuel used for racing which is available from all fuel agents. Caustic soda, a common cleaning agent, can be readily purchased at your local supermarket.

And here is how to make Biodiesel: mix the caustic soda with the methanol. Then mix the resultant brew into the vegetable oil. To make soy Biodiesel, use soy oil. Now settle the mixture in a tapered bottom mixing tank. As the Biodiesel, is lighter than the byproducts of the process (glycerin and detritus) will separate and move to the top. And that’s how to make Biodiesel!

Before you go out and purchase a Biodiesel kits, here is a quick and easy recipe to get you started. You will need the following ingredients:

* 500 ml vegetable oil. Soy oil for soy Biodiesel

* 200 ml of methanol alcohol. Make sure the methanol is
pure, with no additives

* 500 grams of caustic soda

* A 750 ml glass jar with a screw top

* A small glass jar and wooden stirring stick

This is what you do: Put 100 ml of methanol into the smaller jar. Add 2 grams of caustic soda. Use a wooden stirring stick to crush the caustic soda against the jar bottom and stir into methanol. (Important: this mixture is poisonous and a skin irritant, use gloves and eye protection. Perform this task near a water supply with fresh air flowing. Immediately flush with water if there is any contact with your skin.)

Now put the vegetable oil into the 500 ml glass jar. Add the methanol/caustic mix to the oil, screw on top and agitate for 5 minutes. Within hours the Biodiesel oil will separate. So, do your bit to reduce global warming my using this simple technique to make your own fuel. Unlike refining crude oil, this process is pollution free and will go a long way in managing climate change.

When deciding to buy carbon credits, businesses are encouraged to cut greenhouse emissions. The theory is that the process of carbon credit trading will encourage businesses to invest in forest sinks or other activities that reduce carbon emissions.

The goal is of course to deliver positive environmental outcomes and minimize the risk of global warming through climate change.

Buying carbon credits is a central component of the carbon offsetting process. This is an approach to compensating for emissions produced through everyday activities. There are 2 parts to carbon offsetting: the calculation of your “carbon footprint” and buying carbon credits from certain recognized carbon emission reduction projects.

There are many online calculators which will assist individuals in calculating their carbon footprint. Businesses will probably need to employ environmental specialists to determiner their corporate carbon footprint.

Armed with knowledge of the effect of your activities in terms of carbon emissions, you can now develop a strategy to minimize your carbon footprint through carbon credit trading. By buying carbon credits, you are essentially investing in emission reduction projects. Such projects either have (or will) prevent the emission of an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide as identified in your carbon footprint.

Certified Carbon Credits are derived from international climate exchanges. They are professionally audited and are made by companies that would otherwise be traded to other organizations in their attempt to meet their emissions targets. On the other hand, Voluntary Carbon Credits are not formally audited and traceable to specific carbon emission reductions. However, they are independently monitored. They include projects such as international tree planting programs. Through the process of carbon sequestration, plants reduce carbon dioxide. To put it simply, trees breathe CO2 and exhale oxygen!

One reputable supplier of certified carbon credits is the Chicago Climate Exchange. They are one of the largest voluntary carbon emission reduction exchanges, following strict independent auditing to ensure the carbon offsets meet minimum standards.

To buy carbon credits, it is important to ensure the credits are independently verified. The Chicago Climate Exchange does this by quantifying emission reduction using CCX protocols as developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development initiative. Emissions are reported annually, and are subject to external audit and verification by NASD.

Finally, its worth taking a leaf out of the book of Californian Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Earlier this year, it was reported that he plans to buy carbon credits to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from his extensive air travel. He uses the Pacific Forest Trust to offset emissions. Essentially, this trust sells the ability of trees to absorb carbon dioxide released when people, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, burn fossil fuels.

Back in the 80s, global warming was already being instilled in the minds of the youth and how there was a large hole in the earth’s atmosphere caused by hair sprays, styrofoam, among other things. Although everybody was concerned for awhile.

This empathy and concern became apathy during the 90s and up until this moment.

What should be done is to to inform all men all over again, just like what was done during the 80s. We should all be made aware of the effects of global warming such as the weird seasons that we are all experiencing. Summers become rainy and the rainy season becomes as hot as summer. There seems to be a shift in the weather and in the season. The fact that typhoons wreak havoc whenever there is one is one sign that there is an increase in global warming. Another grave effect of global warming is the extinction of certain animal species such as the polar bear, whales, penguins and others. And the gravest effect of global warming is the possibility that earth and all species all over the planet will cease to exist. The fact that the ice in the antarctic region is melting, there will be an increase in sea level of about 23 feet and we all know what that means.

So it is time to take notice of global warming and do something about it. Make a stand. It is the only way to survive.