What is it and do we need to bother about it?
It is the gradual rise in temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. This is produced by ‘greenhouse gases’ trapping too much heat in the atmosphere. Out of the 5 gases the main one is carbon dioxide at 80%. The next is methane, much of which is produced by cattle.
The problem is that the rapid rise of temperature and heating of the atmosphere is leading to the melting of glaciers and a rise in the levels of sea water.
This means that if we do not reduce global warming, water from melting glaciers will swamp low lying parts of many countries. It will also lead to extreme weather events that vary in intensity and frequency. We are seeing this in the UK and northern Europe as well as in the rest of the world. Wildfires, droughts, food and water scarcity will lead to loss of lives, homes, clean water, food, jobs and careers. It will affect all aspects of health and daily living including the transmission of infectious diseases.
Imagine the Thames flooding parts of London! Or the River Ribble flooding our valleys. We might have to get a boat across the Ribble to Waddington from Clitheroe. According to many scientists there is no time left for us to be slow coaches. We all need to be playing our part in reducing our carbon footprint.
Whilst some people deny that global warming is happening, the science seems to be compulsive and overwhelming. Yes, the world has experienced swings in temperature between ice ages and intense heat. Yes, natural events like volcanic eruptions can have an effect too but these do not explain the current rapid increase in the temperature.
Present global warming appears to be a manmade issue. Apart from the Stone Age it seems that when mankind initially started seeking to make better living conditions the improvements would have led to effects on the environment. At that time there were very few humans around. The Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Romans would all have left a carbon footprint of sorts on the Earth. However, since the start of the Industrial Revolution (IR) 250 years ago – increased population sizes and different types of pollution are all affecting the average temperature of the Earth’s surface at a more rapid rate.
Some say the UK plays a part in the historic responsibility of global warming – due to us being the cradle of the Industrial Revolution but it would have happened somewhere else at a later date.
It seems to be more and more apparent that catastrophic events will affect more humans and other animals if we do not realise how much is at stake for ordinary people in all countries. We need to address the issues immediately.
The Earth is warming faster now than at any point in recorded history. (nrdc org www 18/2/2024). Evidence apparently abounds in drilled ice cores, rocks, tree rings and satellite information.
Climate change touches every aspect of our lives: politics, economics, health and life expectancy, wine lists, the cost of food, insurance and travel to name but a few. Communicable diseases like malaria may become commonplace near our rivers. Trade routes like the Panama Canal may dry up. If lakes dry up, food and therefore the family income source disappears and lives are threatened. Even our daily cup of coffee is not immune. Growing it is affected by rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns (Economist 18/2/2024 www). By the end of the century between 35 -75% of coffee growing land in Brazil could be unuseable.
The target of “1.5 0celsius to stay alive” by 2050 is expected to be breached based on recent temperatures. Accurate predictions of who will be affected and when and where are impossible to make.
We need sustainable energy sources and most of all we all need to make changes in our lives where we only buy what we need. We need to consider things like, how it is made. Is it from a sustainable source? Where does this stuff go at the end of its life?
Preventing Global Warming or Climate Change
There appears to be a general agreement that if global warming is to be limited then we must ditch fossil fuels as fast as possible. Some economists favour putting a price on carbon which allows the market to identify the cheapest unit of greenhouse gas to cut. This means that societies can fight climate change at the lowest cost (economist 1/10/2023).
The best way is to stop using fossil fuels like oil and gas and switch to renewable energy sources. These technologies include solar, wind, turbine, tidal and geothermal power. It needs a huge change in ‘thinking and wanting’ for this to happen.
Industry needs to change ways of producing and transporting goods and therefore needs to invest. Governments need to invest in renewables and pressure all businesses to be more eco friendly.
We can all help
Almost every activity humans take part in has a carbon footprint and therefore an effect on global warming. Think of all the daily activities that you do that need power and of all the things you use in your home that have needed power and water to make them. Think of all the transport costs involved.
Travel by car, plane, shipping, delivery vehicles and the use of oil and other fossil fuels is a major contributor. Deforestation, agriculture and farming are also held to be at fault.
Landfills where all our rubbish ends up that is not biodegradeable are also a producer of methane – a greenhouse gas.
Look elsewhere on our website to see what you can do to help.
All world governments need to grasp the nettle and be brave in legislating for the reduction of global warming. We need collaboration and a collective global response to make the changes easier and cheaper. (Imperial College London).
We must continue to ask our councils and governments, MP’s and businesses, what they are doing to reduce global warming.
Saying that it is “too late” to save the planet is said by some to be a global myth.