World Environment Day is on June 5th every year.
CO2 – Kick the Habit – Towards a Low Carbon Economy is the theme of this year.
The United Nations urged the world on Thursday to kick the habit of producing carbon dioxide, saying everyone must act to fight climate change. U. N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said global warming was becoming the era's defining issue and would hurt rich and poor.
"Our world is in the grip of a dangerous carbon habit," Ban said in a statement on World Environment Day, which is being marked by events around the globe and hosted by the
"Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions," he said in the speech to reinforce this year's World Environment Day theme of "CO2 Kick the Habit
Why we need this?
Effects of Global Warming
Green house gases stay can stay in the atmosphere for an amount of years ranging from decades to hundreds and thousands of years. No matter what we do, global warming is going to have some effect on Earth. Here are the 5 deadliest effects of global warming.
5. Spread of disease
As northern countries warm, disease carrying insects migrate north, bringing plague and disease with them. Indeed some scientists found that Malaria can never be eradicated fully due to the changing effects of climate.
4. Warmer waters and more hurricanes
As the temperature of oceans rises, so will the probability of more frequent and stronger hurricanes. We saw in this in 2004 and 2005.
3. Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves
Although some areas of Earth will become wetter due to global warming, other areas will suffer serious droughts and heat waves. Africa will receive the worst of it, with more severe droughts also expected in
2. Economic consequences
Most of the effects of anthropogenic global warming won't be good. And these effects spell one thing for the countries of the world: economic consequences. Hurricanes cause do billions of dollars in damage, diseases cost money to treat and control and conflicts exacerbate all of these.
1. Polar ice caps melting
The ice caps melting is a four-pronged danger.
First, it will raise sea levels. There are 5,773,000 cubic miles of water in ice caps, glaciers, and permanent snow. According to the National Snow and
Second, melting ice caps will throw the global ecosystem out of balance. The ice caps are fresh water, and when they melt they will desalinate the ocean, or in plain English - make it less salty. The desalinization of the gulf current will "screw up" ocean currents, which regulate temperatures. The stream shutdown or irregularity would cool the area around north-east
Third, temperature rises and changing landscapes in the Artic circle will endanger several species of animals. Only the most adaptable will survive.
Fourth, global warming could snowball with the ice caps gone. Ice caps are white, and reflect sunlight, much of which is relected back into space, further cooling Earth. If the ice caps melt, the only reflector is the ocean. Darker colors absorb sunlight, further warming the Earth.
So what is the solution?
Attached pdf lists 10 things that we can easily do to save our Mother Earth to an extent.
2008 Poster
GLOBAL WARMING & TOP TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO
Individual choices can have a significant impact on global climate change. Reducing your family’s heat-trapping emissions does not mean forgoing modern conveniences; it means making smart choices and using energy-efficient products. Americans’ per capita emissions of heat-trapping gases is 5.6 tons—more than double the amount of western Europeans—we can all make choices that will greatly reduce our families’ global warming impact.
Though you may pay a bit more up front, you will see a return on your investment in terms of energy savings within a couple of years. Your efforts to stablize our climate is hard to put a price tag on.
1. Reduce, Reuse, Recyle!
Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (buy in bulk or the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans.
• Aim to recycle half of your household waste.
CO2 reduction = 2400 lbs/year
2. Conserve Water
You can reduce your energy consumption by using less hot water. Run your dishwasher only when full and use the air dry option.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water, never hot.
C02 reduction = 500 lbs/year
When it’s time to replace your washing machine, choose a new high-efficiency front-loader. You’ll see great savings on water, electricity, and detergent, and you’ll discover you can more safely wash delicate items, too.
• Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water
CO2 reduction = 350 lbs/year
3. Tame the Fridge Monster
New refrigerators use about 50% less energy than those made just 10-15 years ago. That’s important because refrigerators account for between 10 and 15% of total home energy consumption. The next time you buy a new refrigerator or any household appliance look for the Energy Star label to be sure you’re getting a high efficiency model. In the meantime, keep your refrigerator’s thermostat set to the recommended temperature and clean the condenser coil regularly. This one, very simple thing can improve the efficiency of your refrigerator by a third! If you own a second refrigerator, unplug it when it is not being used for special occasions.
4. Home Heating and Cooling
Reduce excessive use of home heating and cooling. Try turning up the thermostat in the summer and turning it down a few degrees in the winter. If you don’t have an automated thermostat, install one. Program it to adjust temperatures at nighttime. Try installing better insulation throughout the house. Seal up windows,
PROMOTING A CULTURE OF CONSERVATION BY CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE
close vents, and clean filters. If you really want to save energy, try to avoid using air conditioning on all but the very hottest days. You’d be amazed at how effective ceiling fans alone can be in making you feel cooler.
• Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy.
CO2 reduction (for each 10-degree adjustment) = 500 lbs/year.
• Wrap your hot water heater in an insulating blanket.
CO2 reduction = up to 1000 lbs/year
• Set your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer.
CO2 reduction = 2000 lbs/year
5. Change Your Light Bulbs
Switch from conventional incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescents. Or better yet, try to maximize your use of natural sunlight for daytime lighting needs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. If every
6. Think Before You Drive
Consider driving less by taking public transportation, walking, bicycling, or carpooling. Drive a more energy-efficient vehicle. When you drive, follow the speed limit and drive at a consistent speed. Take your car in for regular tuneups. Take off any rooftop carriers when not in use. Keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than three percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
• Leave your car at home at least two days a week (walk, bike or take public transportation to work instead).
CO2 reduction = 1,590 lbs/year
7. Plant a Tree
Plant leafy trees around your house to provide windbreaks and summer shade. Each year, the average yard tree cleans 330 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. An average tree absorbs ten pounds of pollutants from the air each year, including four pounds of ground level ozone and three pounds of particulates.
8. Buy Local
As much as possible, buy local produce and other goods. The fewer miles your fruits and vegetables have traveled, the less energy has been used for refrigeration and transportation. Whenever possible, select organic produce. The pesticides used to kill pests also kill the organisms that help keep carbon dioxide in the soil.
9. Stand Tall
Yes, your individual actions do add up! But with more consumer choices — such as the option to buy electricity from renewable sources, more and less expensive hybrid car models, among others — we can have an even greater impact. But we won’t be successful in reducing global warming pollution without strong federal leadership. These changes will come about only if you act. You can do a lot to press local and state government, and Congress to curb global warming. Stay informed, write letters to your leaders, raise the issue at Town Hall or district meetings, and support candidates who promise to take the aggressive and farsighted actions necessary to curb global warming.
10. Cut Emissions in Your Yard
Gasoline mowers are big polluters and greenhouse gas emitters. In one hour, a conventional lawn mower produces as much pollution as 40 late-model cars driving for the same amount of time. Try a manual or cordless electric mower, or be sure to tune up and maintain your gas mower so it runs with fewer emissions. Reduce the amount of lawn you need to mow by planting native species of ground covers, plants and wildflowers, or vegetables – that’s better for birds too! Plant trees for shade, CO2 absorption and improved air quality. Mulch gardens with pesticide free clippings. Take your yard organic and eliminate chemical inputs of pesticides and fertilizers. Nitrous oxide, a byproduct of nitrogen-based fertilizers, is a potent greenhouse gas.
National Audubon Society •
202-861-2242 • audubonaction@audubon.org • www.audubon.org
