Global warming is one of the problems that we cannot overlook anymore. The surface temperature of the earth had always been on the increase; there have been volcanoes, solar variations and other natural reasons. These changes over a period have resulted in the evolution of life as we see it today. In the past the rate of increase was so small, that Mother Nature could adjust with it over the time. But what is alarming now, is that, the earth is heating up too fast and Mother Nature is having great difficulty in adjusting to it.
The Main Culprit
Human beings and their advancement in the last 100 years is one of the main reasons for global warming. After Industrial Revolution, the burning of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum has increased, leading to the increase of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. On the other hand, the rise in population and their demands have led to cutting down of vast tracts of forests, which suck the carbon dioxide present in the air. As a result there has been 75% annual increase in the percentage of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. All these have led to a rise of over .6°C in the last 100 years.
The Vanishing “Snows Of Kilimanjaro”
Kilimanjaro has always been a nature’s wonder; it is the only snow-capped mountain to be present in the equatorial region. But sadly, that will soon be the stuff of the legends if global warming is not tackled with right now. The snow is melting at such a speed that between 2000 and 2006, the mountain has lost 1/4th of its snow. Kilimanjaro is not the only victim of global warming; all over the world, glaciers in snow capped mountains whether in Andes or in Himalayas, are receding at an alarming rate. The rivers coming down from these glaciers are also being affected, as is the world surrounding them.
Global warming is also leading to the melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice. Already the sea level has increased by 10 to 20 cm in the past 100 years. If it goes on increasing at such rate, then islands and low laying countries like Bangladesh will exist only in history books. There will be changes in atmosphere leading to floods in one part of the world and deserts in another part.
Act Now
We have to act today on global warming and stop it from becoming worse. The three main changes we can adopt are: Reduce, Recycle and Renew. We must reduce our burning of fossil fuels as well as our consumption. We must make recycling a way of life and lastly we must renew our environment by planting more trees and turn to renewable sources of energy. With the right attitude and global support, global warming can be controlled.
Related Web Directory Categories:
[...] Saving energy is not about being a miser, but being caring enough to save this planet from the effects of Global Warming. Our elders were more conserving than we are; they lived during the wars when resources were scarce. However, the post war generation, especially in western developed countries, became a very consuming society, where the motto was ‘live for today.’ The result was that in the last 20 to 30 years, the ‘greenhouse gases’ that causes global warming have increased to an alarming level and a natural phenomena that made life possible in this planet, became a crisis, threatening the planet. [...]
Pingback by Save Energy To Reduce Global Warming — October 1, 2007 @ 7:19 pm