CLIMATE CHANGE
0.Talking about the size of the problem
Crisis: Climate change is a crisis that cannot be ignored by governments.
Record levels/amount: Despite the claims of some scientists, we are now producing record levels of CO2 and there is no dispute about the connection between this and global warming.
Disaster/disastrous: It is not an exaggeration to say that the effects of global warming are disastrous.
Global: Although some areas are relatively unaffected now, climate change is a global problem.
Irreversible: The major concern is that the effects of our actions on the climate will be irreversible.
Long-term: The effects of our use of fossil fuels today may last for generations and it is almost certain to have long-term consequences for humanity.
1.Negative Effects
Ill-health: It sometimes goes unnoticed that there is a clear connection between climate change and ill-health.
Floods/rainstorms: One result of the rising temperatures is that floods and rainstorms are now a frequent occurrence.
The Polar ice cap: One major concern is that rising temperatures in the Arctic are causing the Polar ice cap to melt, which in turn is leading to rising sea levels.
Heatwaves and droughts: Most experts agree that there is an increased risk of heatwaves and other extreme weather conditions.
The natural world: Climate change will not only have a severe impact on people, but also devastate the natural world and lead to the extinction of important species.
Food shortages: We are already seeing in many parts of the world that climate change is leading to food shortages as a direct consequence of extreme weather conditions.
Housing/homelessness: One side-effect of rising sea levels is that more and more people who live by the coast will become homeless.
Conflicts/wars: If no action is taken on climate change, then it is likely that there will be more conflicts between nations, especially over water supplies.
Cost: It has been shown that any delay in making emission cuts will increase the cost of reducing carbon dioxide by almost 50%.
2.Causes:
Human activity: It is no longer possible to say that human activity does not affect weather conditions.
Greenhouse gas emissions: If we are to halt climate change, we need to make substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Power stations: One of the leading causes of climate change is the number of dirty power stations using fossil fuels.
Carbon emissions: Carbon emissions are still rising year by year and are at record levels.
Illegal logging and deforestation: It should not be forgotten that illegal logging in the Amazon Basin is still a major factor in climate change.
Burning fossil fuels: Individuals can make a small contribution by not burning wood and other fossil fuels.
CO2: The root cause of much global warming is the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
3.Possible solutions:
Wind and solar power: An obvious solution is to deploy much more wind and solar power.
Renewable energy: Wind farms and other sources of renewable energy will help to reduce Co2 emissions to an acceptable level.
International action/cooperation: International action on climate change could have a significant impact.
Quick/immediate action: Any action should be immediate because this is not a problem that can be delayed.
Investment: There should be greater incentives to invest in renewables and to reduce the current reliance on fossil fuels.
Decommission power stations: It goes without saying that coal-fuelled power stations should be decommissioned.
Protest/campaign: Individuals can help force governments to act by taking part in legal protests against the continuing use of fossil fuels.
Energy efficiency and waste: A greater emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing waste would undoubtedly mean that less fuel was consumed.
4.Ways of taking action:
Avert: Investment in renewable energy will help avert the impact of the CO2 emissions.
Prevent: The only way to prevent the disaster is to reduce these emissions to zero.
Act/take action: Governments should take decisive action to halt global warming.
Fight/combat: A way needs to be found to make combatting global warming that is affordable.
Sustainable and affordable: The key is to ensure that all countries around the world have the chance to adopt energy
5.How individuals can help:
Lobby MPs: If enough of us lobbied our MPs and other elected representatives then they would have to bring in legislation.
Participate in peaceful protests: Another possibility is to take part in marches and other peaceful protests to apply pressure on governments and raise awareness of the issue..
Community projects: In some areas there are small-scale community projects to encourage local residents to install solar panels and, in some places, help pay for them.
Share transport: We also have the responsibility to consider how we contribute to global warming by making unnecessary car journeys. We can always cycle to work, have a joint school run with other parents and even share a car on the daily commute to work.
Diet and our carbon footprint: Reducing food wastage is perhaps the way individuals can minimise their carbon footprint and so help global warming.
Energy-efficient lightbulbs: Another small way in which we can use less energy is to switch to energy efficient lightbulbs.
Solar panels: There are an increasing number of solar panels on the market and these can not only reduce energy bills but also mean that less carbon fuel is consumed.
Heat insulation: Likewise, it is important that people insulate their houses well so that less gas and electricity is consumed.