Figure 1:  IPCC report of different scenario’s dependent on 
emissions of greenhouse gases (Source: www.IPCC.ch)

Global warming, just hearing the phrase frightens many and can make one feel hopeless in the ability to do something about it. Well, there is some encouraging news coming out of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which has released its latest report describing a slowdown on the rate of global warming during the past 12 years1. This study also gives rise to the improved data and climate models from technology that is available now compared to that of the last decade. Emissions from greenhouse gases mainly carbon dioxide, methane, and refrigerants remain the main player in climate change, but with a more efficient way to measure allowing for more accurate results. Climate scientists are perplexed with this slowdown and attribute it to the 1987 Montreal protocol coupled with reduction of methane emissions2. Montreal protocol restricted the use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons which was once a widely used refrigerant and since 1987 has been regulated2. Scientists also concluded that reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are effectively slowing the rate of warming in the short term, which shows there are steps we can all take to help this slowdown. 

The bottom line why it is important to do something now can be modeled by the IPCC, which shows that the average surface temperature would rise by 2 degrees Celsius by the year 20503, which may not sound like much but would have catastrophic effects. These changes would include rising sea levels, increased acidity of our oceans and severe weather events which would harm crops and food supplies. We can all be reminded of what can happen, but on a larger scale with the current drought we are experiencing here in California, not only is it effecting water supply but also prices on produce. So plant a tree, carpool with a friend or do something that can contribute in a positive manner towards slowing down the rate of global warming.
Figure 2: Projected changes in surface temperatures in the year 2081-2100 compared to surface temperature from 1986-2005 are shown in the figure this model is one that shows what can happen without regulation of emissions these are all things that are being addressed from world leaders.
source: chemical and engineering news


Sources:
1.     http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i51/Climate-Scientists-Refine-Study-Global.html

2.     http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i45/Study-Finds-Ozone-Treaty-Helped.html

3.     http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1/#.UrCDzuL9z2t



Written by Henry Velasco