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.
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