Are we living on a dying earth?
Many experts believe we are abusing the world so badly that it might never recover. Global warming is a new term for a trend that has been developing for some time – in fact, even before the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s.
Are we living on a dying earth?
Many experts believe we are abusing the world so badly that it might never recover. Global warming is a new term for a trend that has been developing for some time – in fact, even before the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s.
Al Gore’s documentary, An Inconvienient Truth, released in 2006, was perhaps a turning point, causing many people to take notice at last. The shocking images of what has become of planet Earth over the past decade have forced us to take the matter more seriously. It is not so much a political issue as a moral issue. Our ability to live is what is at stake.
What is global warming?
Quite simply, global warming is the heating up of the earth’s surface. This occurs when greenhouse gases, the most common being carbon dioxide, lock sunlight into the earth’s atmosphere.
Just as a blanket creates heat underneath it, so greenhouse gases form a blanket around the atmosphere. Sunlight reaches the earth, but after heating it up, the left-over sunlight must be able to leave the earth.
Hot temperatures result because this sunlight cannot get through the blanket and this is known as the greenhouse effect.
Warm temperatures are necessary for life on Earth. Thanks to this blanket, people, animals and plants can live on Earth. Without it, we would experience permanent extremely cold temperatures.
The controversy of global warming is that it is a result of human activity. Since we caused the problem we are also responsible for the consequences, and depending on our response, we can control the amount of damage caused.
For example, carbon dioxide (one of the main greenhouse gases) is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels – coal, gas and petroleum – are burnt to produce electricity.
This produces about 66% of the world’s electrical power. We have come to depend on fossil fuels. Without them there can be no transportation and without electricity there can be no factory production.
Indirectly, the simple things we take for granted, such as tuning into our favourite TV programme, travelling, or eating out at our favourite restaurant, contribute to global warming.
What are the consequences?
It is said that the extreme temperatures that we have observed lately are consequences of global warming. Wide-ranging forest fires, the tsunami that hit Japan this year and even the floods experienced in the Eastern Cape only last month are symptoms of the rise in the sea level that is associated with global warming.
Plants and animals cannot survive in these changed conditions, which means we lose our sources of food. As a result, people around the world experience decreased food security, and hunger.
Floods, tsunamis and violent storms resulting from global warning leave people dead or injured, and homeless. And because insurance does not cover natural disasters, people are left with no means to recover their assets and restore their standard of living.
What is the South African government doing?
The government signed the Copenhagen Accord in 2004, committing to reduce air pollution in South Africa.
However, this country has been very slow in changing to new forms of energy – bearing in mind that we are the fourth-biggest coal polluter in the world. The carbon tax that is paid to the government is not earmarked for tackling climate change, but is instead used for other expenses.
Also, the tax is not compulsory. It would seem, therefore, that the signing of such agreements is often no more than the government paying lip-service to the idea of a green economy.
The Kyoto Protocol and Durban 2012
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement signed by countries committing them to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
It became effective on 16 February 2005 and will expire next year, when a new agreement will have to be negotiated.
Some criticisms about the Kyoto Protocol are its leniency, voluntary nature and weak enforcement of penalties.
The COP 17 conference, in Durban, from 28 November to 9 December, is to negotiate a new climate-change protocol, ahead of 2012.
What can people do?
Electricity can be generated from natural sources such as rain, sunlight and wind, that will not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These are renewable forms of energy which are, however, more expensive in the short term.
Citizens can get involved in climate change organisations, and participate in debates, conferences and petitiions to put pressure on authorities, aws well as educate themselves and heklp spread the awareness.
Ways to reduce global warming
- * Reduce, reuse, recycle
- * Avoid using heaters and air conditioning
- * Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs
- * Drive less
- * Buy energy efficient products
- * Use less hot water
- * Plant a tree
- * Encourage others to conserve
