Climate change - klimawandel
CLIMATE CHANGE
A WORLD PROBLEM
Global warming is the theory that the gases CO2, methane, water vapour
and ozone are collecting in the Earth's atmosphere and are heating the
planet. This effect, which is mostly caused by the relation of CO2, is also
called the Greenhouse Effect. CO2 is released by the burning of fossil
fuels, which are essential for human beings - at least nowadays.
There are many theories about the global warming, but only one is
unanimous: Global temperatures have risen about 1°C since the
Industrial Revolution in the mid 1800s. Compared to climate changes in
Earth's history this is frighteningly fast. And scientists found out that
climate changes have always been linked with CO2 emissions, which are
a world problem in the 21st century.
So many oil companies point to the
ice age, saying natural climate changes can happen. In fact, the
upcoming global heating is caused by the humans.
In the last years, scientists found out that the level of flooding, rising sea
and rain- and snowfall is increasing and also calculated that a
temperature increase between 1 and 3 °C would cause a rise of the sea
level between 15 and 120 cm, which is possible within the next 100
years. Any area 2m above sea will be at risk in only 30 years time. This
would mean that lots of important cities like New York, Boston, Miami
and Washington DC could soon be submerged in water.
But the effects are even bigger.
Hundreds of millions of dollars would be
necessary to develop unnatural beaches all over the globe to keep the
tourism alive. The Everglades in Florida would be as endangered as the
Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Russia and Canada would be
endangered by forest fires and pest attacks because of their CO2 -
trapping forests. And while lots of endangered animals would instinct, the
Mosquitoes would spread through the expanding tropical climate and
spread malaria and yellow fever. In fact a climate change would also be
a change for human life as we know it.
The USA have got a very important role in the global warming.
While
George W. Bush is holding speeches against terrorism, the U.S. leads
the world in CO2 emissions by releasing at least 25% of the planet's manmade
greenhouse gases. So many U.S.
citizens want Bush to be the
leader of the issue "World problem climate change". But up to yet, Bush
has managed to pass this responsibility.
The major problem concerning this issue are the power plants, which are
responsible for 33% of total greenhouse gases emissions. So it is
important to lobby the governments worldwide to get companies to use
renewable energy sources. There are many groups fighting for that
worldwide, like Greenpeace, the WWF and Friends Of The Earth.
But at least as important as this are everyday actions.
All means of
transport release about 34% of the CO2, so it would be much better to
take the bike to work or to school, or at least to use public transport.
Also companies are working for pro-environment products. So GM,
Toyota and Mercedes Benz already produce exhaust-free cars, and even
energy-conserving light bulbs are sold.
So, on fighting the climate change by using those and lots of more
methods you will know that you did the best to make the world a better
place in some years' time.
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