Solutions+to+Climate+Change

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions will require investments and changes to how we produce and use energy. But recent studies find that the price of doing nothing would be much higher because of the damage and suffering that unconstrained climate change would cause. Climate change will not disappear immediately, but the sooner we all become aware of it and take action against it, the better we will be able to take control of our destiny, live comfortably, and protect all the beauty and diversity of our planet for the future. 1. //Renewable Energy:// By using more renewable energy like HEP, wind, geothermal and solar and less fossil fuels (especially coal and oil) the amount of greenhouse gases should reduced.

2. //Use of Hybrid Cars:// Car manufacturers are increasingly making cars that are more environmentally friendly. Toyota Yaris is a hybrid car which runs of a combination of conventional fuel and electricity.

3. //Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:// If we started to use less electricity (energy saving light bulbs, power saving devices), reduce the amount of packaging and recycle, less energy will be used and therefore less greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere.

4. //Build More Sea Defences**:**// Build bigger and better sea defences to cope with rising sea levels

5. //Afforestation and Reforestation://  By replanting trees and reducing the rate of deforestation we can maintain and hopefully increase the rate of photosynthesis removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

6. //Carbon Sequestration:// This is the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or emission chimneys. Different methods of carbon capture and storage have been suggested including the use of algae in the oceans and empty aquifers underground.

7. //International Agreements**:**// International agreements like the Kyoto Protocol that came into force in 2005 (minus a US ratification) should help limit the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.

8. //Improved Meteorology:// Global warming will increase the frequency and severity of flooding, heat waves and tropical storms.

9. //Disease Treatment:// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">If the strength of the sun's rays intensify diseases like skin cancer and eye cataracts will increase.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">10. //Desalination//: Rising sea levels will reduce the amount of freshwater as glaciers and permafrost melt and saltwater intrusion pollutes aquifers.


 * The Role of International Organizations in combating Climate Change**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">In the 1980s, evidence of climate change was mounting and a number of international conferences raised worldwide concern about the issue. Governments realized how big a threat climate change was and that they had to do something about it. They also realized that they had to work together to have any chance of success. Climate change is a global issue because all countries will be affected by it and all contribute, in varying degrees, to greenhouse gas emissions. So, no country can solve the problem on its own.

//<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change //

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> In 1988, the United Nations set up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which brings together thousands of scientists from around the world. Their task is to assess existing research and knowledge about climate change and its effects and to provide comprehensive reports at regular intervals. Several years of work go into preparing each report. The most recent report, known as the Fourth Assessment Report, was published in 2007. It concluded that greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have increased mainly as a result of human activities, and gave a grave warning of the consequences if nothing is done.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">//The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change//

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">In 1992, governments agreed to form the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This international agreement has been formally accepted by 191 countries plus the European Union – almost all the countries in the world. The e objective of the Convention is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous, man-made interference with the climate system. Under the Convention, governments monitor and report the greenhouse gases they produce, develop climate change strategies, and help the poorer among them address climate change. They meet once a year to review progress and decide what to do next. The Convention was designed as an umbrella under which more action would be agreed in the future.

//<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;"> The Kyoto Protocol //

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">In 1997, in the Japanese city of Kyoto, gov’ts took the next step and agreed the important Kyoto Protocol. This treaty commits industrialised countries to reduce or limit their greenhouse gas emissions and reach certain emission targets by 2012. The Kyoto Protocol focuses on industrialised countries because they are responsible for most of the past and current greenhouse gas emissions and have the knowledge and money to reduce them. For example, the amount of greenhouse gases produced in the EU is around 11 tonnes per citizen every year, while developing countries produce only around 1 tonne per citizen each year.


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">//What you can do// **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Climate change is a global problem, and yet each of us has the power to make a difference. Even small changes in our behavior can save energy and resources and help prevent greenhouse emissions, without affecting our quality of life. In fact, they can save us money. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">• Recycle things. Recycling an aluminum can to produce a new one requires one-tenth of the energy needed to produce one from scratch. Paper factories use far less energy to make paper from old newspapers than from wood pulp. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">• Avoid foods that take a lot of water and energy to produce or transport, such as meat and processed meals.