Global warming how to stop

How You Can Stop Global Warming

EDITOR’S NOTE: On April 4, 2022, the IPCC released the Working Group III Sixth Assessment report on climate change mitigation. The report describes how, despite gains in the clean energy revolution, nations are falling far too short of reducing climate pollution quickly enough to avoid severe damage, cost, and upheaval. “The good news is that we have the climate solutions needed, and they work,” says NRDC president Manish Bapna. “For our economic and national security, and for the future of all life on earth, lawmakers must act without delay.” Read more about the IPCC report here.

Rising sea levels. Raging storms. Searing heat. Ferocious fires. Severe drought. Punishing floods. The effects of climate change are already threatening our health, our communities, our economy, our security, and our children’s future.

What can you do? A whole lot, as it turns out. Americans, on average, produce 21 tons of carbon a year, about four times the global average. Personal action is, of course, no substitute for meaningful government policies. We still must limit carbon pollution and aggressively move away from dirty fossil fuels toward cleaner power.

But it’s important to remember the equally vital contributions that can be made by private citizens—which is to say, by you. “Change only happens when individuals take action,” says clean energy advocate Aliya Haq. “There’s no other way, if it doesn’t start with people.”

Here are a dozen easy, effective ways each one of us can make a difference.

1. Speak up!

What’s the single biggest way you can make an impact on global climate change? “Talk to your friends and family, and make sure your representatives are making good decisions,” Haq says. By voicing your concerns—via social media or, better yet, directly to your elected officials—you send a message that you care about the warming world. Encourage Congress to enact new laws that limit carbon emissions and require polluters to pay for the emissions they produce. “The main reason elected officials do anything difficult is because their constituents make them,” Haq says. You can help protect public lands, stop offshore drilling, and more here.

2. Power your home with renewable energy.

Choose a utility company that generates at least half its power from wind or solar and has been certified by Green-e Energy, an organization that vets renewable energy options. If that isn’t possible for you, take a look at your electric bill; many utilities now list other ways to support renewable sources on their monthly statements and websites.

3. Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize.

“Building heating and cooling are among the biggest uses of energy,” Haq says. Indeed, heating and air-conditioning account for almost half of home energy use. You can make your space more energy efficient by sealing drafts and ensuring it’s adequately insulated. You can also claim federal tax credits for many energy efficiency home improvements. To help you figure out where to start, you could also get a home energy audit, which some utilities offer free of charge (alternatively, you can hire a professional to come to your home and perform one). The EPA’s Home Energy Yardstick gives you a simple assessment of your home’s annual energy use compared with similar homes.

4. Invest in energy-efficient appliances.

Since they were first implemented nationally in 1987, efficiency standards for dozens of appliances and products have kept 2.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide out of the air. That’s about the same amount as the annual carbon pollution coughed up by nearly 440 million cars. “Energy efficiency is the lowest-cost way to reduce emissions,” Haq says. When shopping for refrigerators, washing machines, heat pump water heaters, and other appliances, look for the Energy Star label. It will tell you which are the most efficient. (There may also be rebates to earn from your purchase of Energy Star–certified products.)

And when you’re ready to swap out your old machines, don’t just put them on the curb: Recycling an old refrigerator through the EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal Program can prevent an additional 10,000 pounds of carbon pollution because the global-warming pollutants in the refrigerants and foam would be properly captured rather than vented to the air.

5. Reduce water waste.

Saving water reduces carbon pollution, too. That’s because it takes a lot of energy to pump, heat, and treat your water. So take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, and switch to WaterSense-labeled fixtures and appliances. The EPA estimates that if just one out of every 100 American homes were retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, about 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year would be saved—avoiding 80,000 tons of global warming pollution.

6. Actually eat the food you buy—and compost what you can’t.

Approximately 10 percent of U.S. energy use goes into growing, processing, packaging, and shipping food—about 40 percent of which winds up in the landfill. “If you’re wasting less food, you’re likely cutting down on energy consumption,” Haq says. As for the scraps you can’t eat or the leftovers you don’t get to, collect them in a compost bin instead of sending them to the landfill where they release methane. Recycling food and other organic waste into compost provides a range of environmental benefits, including improving soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling nutrients, and mitigating the impact of droughts.

7. Buy better bulbs.

8. Pull the plug(s).

Taken together, the outlets in your home are likely powering about 65 devices—an average load for a home in the United States. Audio and video devices, cordless vacuums and power tools, and other electronics use energy even when they’re not charging. This «idle load» across all U.S. households adds up to the output of 50 large power plants in the country. So don’t leave fully charged devices plugged into your home’s outlets, unplug rarely used devices or plug them into power strips and timers, and adjust your computers and monitors to automatically power down to the lowest power mode when not in use.

9. Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle.

10. Maintain your ride.

If all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, we could save 1.2 billion gallons of gas each year. A simple tune-up can boost miles per gallon anywhere from 4 percent to 40 percent, and a new air filter can get you a 10 percent boost. Also, remove unnecessary accessories from your car roof. Roof racks and clamshell storage containers can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 5 percent.

11. Rethink planes, trains, and automobiles.

Choosing to live in walkable smart-growth cities and towns with quality public transportation leads to less driving, less money spent on fuel, and less pollution in the air. Less frequent flying can make a big difference, too. “Air transport is a major source of climate pollution,” Haq says. “If you can take a train instead, do that.” If you must fly, consider purchasing carbon offsets to counterbalance the hefty carbon pollution associated with flying. But not all carbon offset companies are alike. Do your homework to find the best supplier.

12. Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

In the United States, the average person generates 4.5 pounds of trash every day. Fortunately, not all the items we discard end up in landfills; we recycle or compost more than one-third of our trash. In 2014 this saved carbon emissions equivalent to the yearly output of 38 million passenger cars. But we could be doing so much more. “Reduce should always be the number-one priority,” says NRDC senior resource specialist Darby Hoover. And to reap the environmental benefits of “recyclable” goods, you must recycle according to the rules of your municipality, since systems vary widely by location. Search your municipality’s sanitation department (or equivalent) webpage to learn exactly what you can place in the recycling bin, as counties and cities often differ in what they accept.

30 Easy Ways To Stop Global Warming

Global warming is a serious issue affecting our world today. Modern society has become a wasteful society needlessly expending toxins into our air that contribute to climate change and environmental destruction. Global warming is caused by air pollution in the atmosphere that is similar to a sheet or a shield, in that the pollution is trapping heat and warmth from the sun. When the atmosphere is full of pollution, there is a constant wrap around the planet trapping heat. The constant heating of the planet has caused temperatures on Earth to increase at the fastest rates ever recorded!

In a scientific term, global warming is often written as ‘climate change’, although climate change and global warming are the same concern. Due to global warming, the temperature of the Earth rises, air and water currents move heat that will cool some areas of land or heat other areas of land. The Earth does not always become warmer during climate change. Certain areas of Earth may become colder depending on air and ocean currents. Due to this fact, global warming must also be referred to as climate change.

Global warming must bee seen as an economic and security threat.

What Causes Global Warming?

What causes global warming you ask? Coal burning power plants and automobiles are the top two contributors to global warming. The weight of carbon dioxide pollution these two sources release are in the billions of tons. To slow the warming of our climate, the population needs to take into account the needs of our coasts, forests, farms and snow-capped mountains. The weather patterns that change to due global warming affect the natural landscape that have existed long before humans began to inhabit this world.

How can I help alleviate global warming and climate changing initiatives?

How does one alleviate global warming? By reducing one’s carbon footprint! You can reduce your own waste and encourage those around you to reduce their waste as well. You can also advocate for clean energy solutions, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce water and electricity usage.

Reducing carbon emissions and energy usage sounds difficult and overwhelming to many people. However, alleviating global warming is everyone’s responsibility and can be done on an individual basis. Every choice made by an individual can relate to climate change in either a positive or negative manner. Choosing to impact global warming n a positive manner simply means altering your lifestyle a little bit each day to reduce your carbon footprint effectively.

30 Easy Ways to Stop Global Warming

1. Replace your light bulbs! Using CFL light bulbs uses 60% less energy than old fashioned light bulbs-which in turn reduces your contribution of three hundred pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Simply changing your light bulbs in the house can create a lasting impression.

2. Use a programmable thermostat. Utilizing a programmable thermostat reduces wasted energy and electricity. Turning the thermostat up or down accordingly not only saves on heating costs but reduces your household carbon footprint in one of the easiest methods available.

3. Replace air filters. Using fresh air filters reduces two thousand pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Why force your furnace and air conditioner to work harder than needed?

4. Use energy efficient appliances. Specially made appliances are created to reduce energy and increase efficiency. Simply purchase an item with an energy star label and make a small (but large) contribution to reducing global warming!

5. Turn off appliances. Televisions left in standby mode use 40% of their total energy while idle.

6. Insulate your water heater. Water that is already warm needs less energy to hear.

7. Place your refrigerator and freezer in a cooler area of the kitchen and away from heat sources. Your appliances that are used to cool will use more energy if near an appliance used to warm.

8. Leave windows open in the home for a few minutes and let sunlight come in.

9. Use double glazed windows rather than single glazed windows to reduce your energy output by half.

10. Have a home energy audit completed! You can reduce your energy usage by thirty percent! Knowing where your problem areas are at home can help alleviate wasteful energy sources.

11. Cover pots when cooking or use a pressure cooker or steamer to save up to seventy percent of energy usage. One must cook nearly every day. When cooking, make a simple choice to cover pots and pans and watch your energy usage drop with minimal effort expended.

12. Run washing machine and dishwasher with full loads. Running multiple loads in washing machines wastes water, electricity, and energy. Reducing loads and combining washing is the best utilization of time and energy.

13. Use the shower rather than the bath and reduce wasting water and energy. A shower requires much less water than a bath and less energy required for the water heater.

14. Use a low flow shower head.

15. Reduce usage of hot water. Rather than always washing clothes in hot water, use cold water. Simply changing the temperature setting can alter a great amount of energy expended through your washing appliances. Hot water is not needed for all washing cycles.

16. Use a clothesline and save power from the dryer by using power from the sun. Hanging clothes to dry is a wonderful resource and also adds freshness to your clothing the dryer cannot replicate.

17. Insulate your home and windows. Do not let energy escape!

18. Recycle! Recycling just half of the waste your household produces can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

19. Compost wasted food and biodegradables. Rather than wasting your waste, utilize your waste and create soil. Rather than buying soil from the store and forcing further waste, create soil through composting.

20. Purchase products made of recycled materials.

21. Purchase products that have little packaging. A surprising amount of energy is wasted simply in the creation of excess packaging.

22. Reuse shopping bags. Reusing shopping bags alleviates waste of a product and waste of energy to recreate new bags.

23. Plant trees! One tree can absorb a ton of carbon dioxide during its life. The tree with also provide a sense of shelter, shade, and heat protection naturally.

24. Use solar panels. Using the power of the sun rather than electricity allows you to harness energy rather than waste energy.

25. Use wind created energy when possible. Just as harnessing energy from the sun makes sense, harnessing energy from the wind makes sense. The wind will always blow; why not use this technology to the best of our modern ability?

26. Buy locally grown produce. Most food in the nation travels over 1,200 miles to reach your home. Locally grown food reduces energy waste and carbon dioxide emissions.

27. Buy fresh food rather than frozen. Frozen food utilizes ten times the energy to create than fresh food.

28. Carpool! Rather than having ten cars and trucks on the road using gas and creating toxic emissions, having two energy efficient cars or trucks on the road can really reduce the global warming taking place today.

29. Eat less meat. Eating less meat allows less transportation of animals, less care needed for animals, and less toxic gas released by animals into the atmosphere. If less animals were needed for consumption, less emissions would be in the atmosphere.

30. Drive a fuel efficient car. A car is the second largest cause of global warming today. Not only the production of the car itself is wasteful, but the fuels, oil, and electricity needed is wasteful. In the end, the car will further produce waste through toxic emissions. Making the choice to drive a fuel efficient car will aid the aid in environment in less toxins, thereby reducing your carbon footprint.

What can we do to slow or stop global warming?

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There is no one-size-fits-all approach to stopping or slowing global warming, and each individual, business, municipal, state, tribal, and federal entity must weigh their options in light of their own unique set of circumstances. Experts say it is likely many strategies working together will be needed. Generally speaking, here are some examples of mitigation strategies we can use to slow or stop the human-caused global warming (learn more):

Note that NOAA doesn’t advocate for or against particular climate policies. Instead, NOAA’s role is to provide data and scientific information about climate, including how it has changed and is likely to change in the future depending on different climate policies or actions society may or may not take. More guidance on courses of action can be found in the National Academy of Sciences’ 2010 report, titled Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change. Also learn more here, here, and here.

Thanks to low friction between train wheels and tracks, and level train tracks with gradual turns, trains have high energy efficiency. Photo from National Park Service Amtrak Trails and Rails.

Stabilizing global temperature near its current level requires eliminating all emissions of heat-trapping gases or, equivalently, achieving a carbon-neutral society in which people remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as they emit. Achieving this goal will require substantial societal changes in energy technologies and infrastructure that go beyond the collective actions of individuals and households to reduce emissions.

How to Stop Global Warming | Ideas, Theories and Solutions

As the weather continuously rises and more and more fossil fuels are released into the atmosphere, the growing concern over global warming is continually rising. Arguments related to climate change vary from 1 – 2 degrees Fahrenheit to as much as 10 degrees by the end of the century.

The concerns over rising temperatures are many, from the polar ice caps melting to increases in severe weather, heavy rainfall, and longer drought periods. If the temperature keeps rising, these issues may cause additional global stress, reduce food supplies and limit some of our most important natural resources.

Because of the growing concerns associated with global warming, there have been several solutions and ideas on dealing with this situation.

A quick overview of global warming

Global warming is the continual rise of the earth’s climate caused by the release of gases created from fossil fuels, waste, and other hazardous materials into the atmosphere. Global warming begins with the sun shining down on the earth.

As the sun shines, it releases energy and heat that helps the earth maintain its temperature. As the sunlight and energy make their way to the earth’s surface, some of that light/energy bounces off of the planet and back towards outer space like a mirror.

While some of the sunlight and energy leave the earth, part of that energy bounces off the earth’s atmosphere and returns to the earth, keeping it warm and keeping our Ecosystem in balance.

The atmosphere is essential for keeping the earth warm; however, as more and more gases get released into the atmosphere from garbage, fossil fuels, and other carbon/methane-producing materials, our atmosphere gets more polluted, keeping more of the suns energy from escaping and making the earth warming and warmer.

The continual rise of the earths temperate can have severe consequences that include severe weather, heavy rainfall, longer droughts, shrinking ice caps, and imbalances in available food and resources. To deal with these issues, we need to find sensible, reliable, and, most importantly, earth-friendly solutions.

Global warming solutions, ideas, and theories

When it comes to stopping the global warming situation, numerous ideas, theories and solutions can help promote cleaner living.

Many of these solutions and ideas include using renewable energy sources, producing Eco-friendly products, finding better ways to filter toxic chemicals and waste, reducing, recycling, and reusing more materials, using energy-saving products, producing alternatives to fossil fuel, and finding better storage options for pollutants, harmful gas emissions and garbage.

Below we will discuss several solutions that have been mentioned and implemented to stop global warming and improve the environment.

Note: The rest of this article focuses on reducing fossil fuels and other carbon-based emissions that can affect our atmosphere and cut down on waste that can contribute to the global warming condition.

Using renewable energy

Some of the most common solutions provided by scientists revolve around the idea of using natural/renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind, rain, and flowing water.

By obtaining our energy from solar panels, wind turbines, and hydropower, we can harness energy from the world’s natural resources without creating pollution or releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere.

Cutting down on factories that provide services that can harm the atmosphere can greatly increase air quality and reduce harmful emissions that can enter the atmosphere.

Furthermore, these forms of energy can be stored for use when needed or drawn directly from the power source as they gather energy, and in some cases, these methods are fairly self-sustaining with some human involvement.

Solar energy

Solar energy is obtained through the sun, often through solar panels, and transformed into usable energy that can power our devices via electricity or heat water.

Solar panels can either be attached to or nearby a home or building to supply it with power. It can be part of a large solar farm whose primary function is to build up and store power to be distributed to residential areas or places requiring energy.

In some cases, people who have their own solar panels may even sell some of their energy to electric companies to make a profit and provide a healthy alternative to some of today’s current methods of obtaining energy.

One of the most alluring features of solar energy that it can store energy from the sun, so the only thing required is sunlight.

Solar energy does not require fossil fuels or other harmful/toxic resources. Once the solar panels are in place, they require regular maintenance to ensure everything is running properly.

As solar panel technology and stored capabilities improve, solar energy will likely become a strong candidate for alternative/renewable energy.

Wind turbines

Wind turbines are another popular method for obtaining energy through natural wind currents. As the wind passes over the fan blades, it turns the fan which produces energy stored to be used immediately or in the future. Unlike solar panels, wind turbines do not need sunlight to obtain their power. Instead, they rely on wind.

The great thing about this energy source is that energy can be gathered in areas that lack sunlight or in places known for their strong winds. As with solar energy, wind turbines do not require toxic/harmful resources to operate, so the energy created is Eco-friendly and renewable.

Hydropower

Hydropower refers to obtaining energy from moving water. This energy can be gathered through various methods, such as using a dam that uses gravity and water flow to create energy that powers a generator that either store the energy or distributes it to other necessary sources.

Hydropower can be an extremely effective way of gathering energy as running water from dams are generally very consistent, and water runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Depending on the dam’s size, the strength of the water flow, and the technology being used to harness the energy, the amount of power a dam can generate will vary with larger, new dams providing higher amounts of energy than smaller, less powerful ones.

In addition to using dams for hydropower, a dam can also be used to store and distribute water to various locations, making it extremely effective as a water management system and a way to separate certain bodies of water.

When constructed in the right location, dams can be a handy resource; however, poor placement of a dam can isolate certain animal species and threaten their existence or habitat.

Another way to collect energy from the water is through water turbines and/or watermills which also use the flow of water to generate energy; however, these methods are less common in locations that require a lot of power as they are much smaller in size and generate less energy.

Developing Eco-friendly products (waste prevention)

Another way to improve the global warming situation is to develop Eco-friendly products that do not harm the environment when used.

This can include recyclable/recycled components, biodegradable materials, Eco-friendly fertilizers and pesticides, Eco-friendly cleaning products and scented candles or other scented products, reusable shopping/grocery bags, using biodegradable plastics, and developing vehicles that do not need fossil fuel to run, such as electric cars.

In addition to developing environmentally safe products, companies can also find ways to reduce the number of components and materials required to create their products, saving time and money and minimizing waste. By creating eco-friendly and disposable products, we can minimize our waste, eliminate harmful materials, and reuse/re-purpose the materials we already have.

Reduce, recycle, reuse

Reduce, recycle, reuse is a powerful phrase with equally powerful opportunities for maintaining a clean world. By reducing the number of materials, we use in our daily lives; we can cut down on our costs and waste.

This may include buying fewer products that are unnecessary and create clutter, eliminating unimportant mail and/or switching to email (which also helps minimize the number of trees that are being cut down), and buying less clothing or footwear that isn’t necessary, among other things.

If you enjoy buying clothing and don’t want to reduce the number of clothes you buy, you can also donate your used clothing when done rather than throwing it away. Not only does it prevent waste, but it also goes to a good cause 🙂

Recycling glass, plastics, and paper materials is another great way to cut down on waste and reduce costs, making economic and environmental sense.

Lastly, reusing/re-purposing some of your products can also help cut down on waste and expenses. Cleaning up and reusing old furniture and decorating old jars, using them for storage, or using them as Eco-friendly candle holders are just a couple of examples you can use as a way to reuse your products.

Using Environmentally safe energy-saving products

As technology becomes, more advanced, more and more products are becoming available that are both Eco-friendly and energy-saving. This may include energy-saving light bulbs, high-performance windows, low-flow showerheads, energy-saving appliances, and high-performing Eco-friendly insulation. Not only are these types of products better for the environment, but they also save energy and save you money.

Better waste management/disposal

One of the leading causes of pollution and global warming is poor waste management and disposal. Unmanaged waste is harmful because the toxic materials can enter the earth’s soil and poison the ground, topsoil, crops, and plants or leak/spill into the ocean to spread through the lakes, rivers, and oceans affecting marine life and make our drinking water unsafe. There are several reasons poor waste management occurs.

Saving money

Companies, organizations, or waste management employees may choose to dump the waste on the ground or into the water rather than properly disposing of it or recycling the materials. It can also result from companies choosing not to spend the money necessary to purchase effective waste disposal tools.

Note: While this section mentions companies and corporations, individuals are also responsible for their own waste management.

Saving time

To save time, waste may be quickly disposed of rather than transported to a safe location or disposal unit.

Lack of proper waste management/disposal technologies

In some cases, waste may be poorly managed because there is no current alternative to dealing with the existing waste. In many situations, this can be seen in developing countries that cannot afford the technology necessary to dispose of their waste properly. Unfortunately, they may also be unable to filter their water, causing them to reuse the harmful/unsafe water available.

The solution

Some of these issues can be solved by creating inexpensive, environmentally safe, and/or biodegradable materials, as mentioned earlier; however, since we are discussing waste management and not prevention, let’s look at some of the ways we can improve on waste disposal and management.

While there are certainly more things that can be done to manage and dispose of the waste, we’ll focus on three main areas: having the proper disposal/management tools, being accountable for the waste produced, and looking for ways to minimize future waste.

To properly dispose of waste, it is important to have the right tools. This may include Eco-friendly vehicles, hazmat stations, recycling stations, storage containers, and other tools needed to deal with and dispose of the garbage safely.

Once the tools are available, the next step is to have responsible and accountable people for making sure the waste is properly managed. Having all of the right waste management tools available means nothing if no one is held accountable for its proper disposal.

Lastly, it’s essential to look for ways to reduce future waste, including reusing materials, purchasing Eco-friendly and/or recyclable materials, and eliminating unnecessary costs.

Inexpensive, high-quality filtration systems

Once our waters and air become polluted, it negatively affects our environment. Animals, plants, and even bacteria become affected by pollution and make a living in certain areas difficult or even inhabitable. Therefore, we need solutions that help us minimize pollution and reverse some of the pollutions that have already occurred.

Designing and using high-quality air and water filters/purifiers will help keep air/water pollution from entering the atmosphere and waterways by capturing some pollutants before they can escape. Inexpensive filtration systems can also improve the lives of those who live in underdeveloped countries by improving drinking water quality.

Reforestation

Lastly, reforestation and replanting in areas that have lost their trees and plants can significantly help improve the air quality of areas affected by air pollution. Trees have a natural ability to produce clean oxygen, which can help offset pollutions released into the atmosphere. And although trees are a great way to improve the air quality, they are not replacing fossil fuels, waste, and other air/water pollutants.

Solutions to global warming

How to stop global warming?

Global warming is likely to be the greatest threat of the 21st century. Find out its causes and effects, but most importantly the solutions to prevent climate change.

Climate experts are formal: the Earth is warming up at a steady pace. The reason for this is the increase in human-caused greenhouse gases, which has led to health, ecological and humanitarian crises.

Despite this, the fight against climate change is a real opportunity to transition to a low carbon society, creating jobs, innovation and social justice locally and internationally.

What is the meaning of global warming? What are the causes of global warming and its consequences? And finally what are the possible solutions?

Global warming solutions

The Solar Impulse Label is granted to innovative solutions to global warming that meet high standards of sustainability and profitability.

Each solution goes through a strict assessment process performed by independent experts.

Plug & Play Rollable Solar Panel

Solar blinds to reduce your carbon footprint and cut energy bills

Video Laser Scan

Clean, quiet and safe 3d measurement & digitalization of inaccesible environments

OTDC Switch-disconnector

A high-performing switch-disconnectors for pv and energy storage system applications

Synhelion Solar Fuels

Commercialization of economically viable, carbon-neutral synthetic fuels from co2 and sunlight

Next Generation Dry-air GIS

A simple, medium voltage gas insulated switchgear

Industrial Laser Cleaning

An industrial laser cleaning equipment for manual and automated use

One drop is enough

A novel lubricant oil additive to reduce friction and lowers fuel consumption

Packaging made Circular by Design

A software using ai to maximise recyclability, reduce weight and ensure durability in the design of packaging

Maxeff Induction Motor Generator

Industrial induction drive systems: resolving the power factor issue

OPtalys®

An inorganic oxygen buffer component for the advanced gasoline catalytic converters

Dynamic Agrivoltaic System

Real-time decision support for agricultural photovoltaic systems

Photovoltaic noise barrier

What can you do?

Submit your solution

As a company, you develop an efficient solution and you would like to get the Solar Impulse label

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Do you know an innovative company developing efficient solutions? Let our team know about them

What is global warming?

Global warming is a phenomenon of climate change characterized by a general increase in average temperatures of the Earth, which modifies the weather balances and ecosystems for a long time. It is directly linked to the increase of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, worsening the greenhouse effect.

In fact, the average temperature of the planet has increased by 0.8º Celsius (33.4° Fahrenheit) compared to the end of the 19th century. Each of the last three decades has been warmer than all previous decades since the beginning of the statistical surveys in 1850.

At the pace of current CO₂ emissions, scientists expect an increase of between 1.5° and 5.3°C (34.7° to 41.5°F) in average temperature by 2100. If no action is taken, it would have harmful consequences to humanity and the biosphere.

Global warming causes

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon. However, the increase in greenhouse gases is linked to human activities. It is thus no surprise that the world’s leading climate scientists believe that human activities are very likely the main cause of global warming since the mid-twentieth century, mostly because of:

The exploitation of forests has a major role in climate change. Trees help regulate the climate by absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. When they are cut down, this positive effect is lost and the carbon stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere.

Another cause of global warming is intensive farming, not only with the ever-increasing livestock, but also with plant protection products and fertilizers. In fact, cattle and sheep produce large amounts of methane when digesting their food, while fertilizers produce nitrous oxide emissions.

Modern life is highly dependent on the mining and metallurgical industry. Metals and minerals are the raw materials used in the construction, transportation and manufacturing of goods. From extraction to delivery, this market accounts for 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Finally, overconsumption also plays a major role in climate change. In fact, it is responsible for the overexploitation of natural resources and emissions from international freight transport, which both contribute to global warming.

Global warming effects

Here are some consequences that are documented in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming:

1. On biodiversity

Global warming therefore impacts biodiversity. It is the balance of biodiversity that is modified and threatened. According to the IPCC, a 1.5°C (34.7°F) average rise might put 20-30% of species at risk of extinction. If the planet warms by more than 2°C, most ecosystems will struggle.

Because of global warming, permafrost and ice are melting massively at the poles, increasing the sea level at a rate never known before. In a century, the increase reached 18 cm (including 6 cm in the last 20 years). The worst case scenario is a rise of up to 1m by 2100.

The acidification of the oceans is also of great concern. In fact, the large amount of CO₂ captured by the oceans makes them more acidic, arousing serious questions about the adaptability of seashells or coral reefs.

Human beings are not spared by these upheavals. Climate change is affecting the global economy. It is already shaking up social, health and geopolitical balances in many parts of the world. The scarcity of resources like food and energy gives rise to new conflicts.

Rising sea levels and floods are causing population migration. Small island states are in the front line. The estimated number of climate refugees by 2050 is 250 million people.

4. On the weather

For decades now, meteorologists and climatologists around the world have been watching the effects of global warming on the weather phenomena. And the impact is huge: more droughts and heatwaves, more precipitations, more natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, storms and wildfires, frost-free season, etc.