WHAT is global warming? It is the term used to describe the gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, meaning the air around us, and its bodies of water.
It is a change that is believed to be permanently changing the earth's climate. Some people think global warming is a hoax. The Inconvenient Truth of Mr. Al Gore connotes this. But global warming is real.
The changes on climate are happening in the past 100 years. Increase volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases as methane are released by the burning of fossil fuels (coming from originally organic substances) affect land clearing, agriculture, and many other human activities.
In the past 50 years, temperatures have increased between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees C by the year 2100. Earth changes from this phenomenon may result to the melting of the polar ice caps, the increase in the ocean levels and its heating. There will be an increase in the occurrence and severity of storms and other severe weather events.
Humans are mostly to blame in the recent reports of experts' studies for the changes on earth due to global warming. It has been reported that 95 percent of these changes like the warming oceans, rapidly melting polar ice, rising sea levels, warming of atmosphere have been observed since the 1950's.
Mitigating the bad effects, so far mentioned, is the duty of every citizen. We need not carry the burden of the whole problem but simple ways of conducting of our daily life will help solve the problem.
The young group of citizens are already entrusted the responsibility to turn over to the future generations of our country a clean and healthy environment. These are all doable if you try them.
Use of fossil fueled cars and other vehicles should be lessened. Walk instead of riding in cars or busses. This is even good as an exercise to tone up your muscles. Use a bike when traveling. It will lessen the carbon emission in the atmosphere and it is good exercise for you.
Use LED lights, a useful new invention, instead of the usual incandescent bulbs which increase heat in the atmosphere. You use aerosol for perfumes and fumigation material at home. Lessen these. Reforest barren areas around you. Stop deforestation done by illegal loggers. Use thermostats in your electrical appliances. You can add to this list by trying workable activities to lessen global warming.
In a bigger scenario, l will mention some workable practices by scientists around the world. They believe that global warming affects humans and the plants and animals which are of use to our survival. There are no single solutions to solve the problem. There is too much heat in the carbon dioxide, methane, and other nitrous oxides in the atmosphere. Some mitigating measures are already in the agenda.
Reduce emissions and fight misinformation is top in the list. Inspect the car or vehicle you drive. Consider first fuel economy. There are inventions which render fuel less toxic to the atmosphere. Use this even if they are more expensive. Buy and use programmed thermostats. Upgrade refrigerators and air conditioners with energy saving devises.
Change traditional incandescent light to LED lights. Save 15 percent of electricity. Wash clothes in cold water. Hot water uses five times more energy and create five times more emissions. Buy less stuffs or things you use.
Conserve remember the 3 R's - Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. This will reduce global warming. Practice less carbon living.
In the home front, I am inspired by this on- going series of conferences and fora all over the country sponsored by the Climate Reality Project Philippines founded by US Vice President Al Gore.
This youth program called "Filipino Youth Beyond Paris" is centered at Ateneo de Davao University. The conferences will focus on mentoring the youth in climate issues and developing a national youth statement on climate for submission to the 22nd of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marakesh, Morroco. This is the theme "Youths Demand Climate Justice."
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