Australia realizes while the UK makes changes.

 Australia is one of the biggest emitters to global warming. Before 2006, they were a bit skeptic, so they just went along, adding to the pollution to the world. It wasn’t until a drought struck Gurrundah, Australia in 2002. The drought cut growth in the country’s gross domestic product by 0.7 percentage point and lasted for about 4 years. The government announced 1.1 million Australian dollars, or $850,000, in assistance for farmers, bringing the total over the past four years to almost 2.3 billion dollars. It is mostly short-term assistance, in part to stave off farm repossessions by the banks, which many fear could cause a collapse in land prices. After the drought, the people begin to worry and they start to make amends. The previous Australian Government, along with the United States, agreed to sign the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate at the ASEAN regional forum on July 28, 2005. They are currently trying to make amends for all the submitted for the past years.

The United Kingdom is currently a part of the Kyoto Protocol. Which means that they believe that global warming is a huge concern. The energy policy of the United Kingdom fully endorses goals for carbon dioxide emissions reduction and has committed to proportionate reduction in national emissions. On March 13, 2007, a draft climate change bill  was published after cross-party pressure over several years, led by environmental groups. They are currently doing what they can to slow down the process of global warming. They expect to cut down 20% of carbon dioxide emissions from 1990 by the year 2010. Many believe the UK will be able to cut down to up to 60% by 2050 and that the UK is likely to become the first country to set such a long-range and significant carbon reduction target into law.

This was Australia’s and the United Kingdoms actions and view on Global Warming, no what’s yours? If you believe in Global Warming, do something about it. 

The gathered information was brought to you by:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol#Australia

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/07/news/drought.php

What about the animals?

While most ask the question, what will the future be like for us, we should also ask, what will the future be like for the animals? They are also dealing with the effects of global warming and some sort of attention should be put onto them.

A article from an Australian newspaper pointed out that the arctic is shrinking five times faster than the rest of the world. Penguins are a large part of the arctics animal population. Populations have dropped significantly for all of the penguin species ranging between 30-70%. The warmer temperatures and stronger winds mean that the penguins have to raise their chicks on thinner sea ice and many of the eggs were blown off before hatching.

Global warming may not just be killing off species, it can also bring unwanted species to different areas of the world.  Antarticas waters remain too cold for sharks to live in and is dominated by soft-bodied, slow moving invertebrates. However, global warming has pushed these temperatures up by 3 degrees in the past 50 years and eventually the water will be warm enough for the sharks. Crabs are already beginning to move closer to the continent for the first time in millions of years and will disrupt the composition of archaic marine communities. The article warned that a return of these shell cracking predators would be a tragic loss for biodiversity in one of the last wild places on earth.

While these little changes don’t seem like a huge deal, in the long run they could cause serious problems. We need to keep focusing on the harm that we are doing to ourselves but also focus on the animals whose ancestors were here long before ours.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23223810-5005961,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22907432-5005961,00.html

The Future Effects of Global Warming

Currently many people are worried about the effects that Global Warming is causing. But have you thought of the future effects of Global Warming? Scientists predict that the sea level is expected to increase dramatically during this century. Other shocking effects scientists expect are, a reduction in crop yields in tropical areas, the U.S. and even parts of Asia– all this because of an expected drought caused by Global Warming. In sub- Saharan Africa even small increases in temperature would dramatically reduce crop yields. These changes could lead to food shortages on top of problems the world is already facing such as famines.

Weather Changes

The weather is expected to become more severe. Floods and severe storms are expected to inflict serious damage along coastlines. An increase in precipitation is also an expected change. The precipitation levels will increase in high altitudes, and it will decrease in most sub-tropical land regions.

The Ocean is Also Changing

Researchers have found that the ocean is showing “dead zones” that extend from Oregon to California. Scientists say that this is due to a decrease in oxygen. There are also strong winds which promote the growth of plankton and it “holds low oxygen water on the continental shelf for longer periods.” Jack Barth an OSU professor of physical oceanography and a scientist with PISCO, stated that he expects Global Warming to generally cause stronger and more persistent winds. Jane Lubchenco, a marine biologist at Oregon State University, also supports Barth’s conclusion that the oxygen levels have decreased during the past fifty years. In 2006 says Lubchenco, the oxygen levels of the shallow shelf were completely lacking oxygen altogether. Both scientists say that these changes are unusual and are due to Global Warming.

So there you have it, for the future we can expect low oxygen levels and more dryness which will dramatically decrease crop yields all over the world. Global Warming will not create a very bright future for us.

Written by: Elvisa Daka

Sources:

http://unfccc.int/essential_background/feeling_the_heat/items/2905.php

http://www.ecobridge.org/

What can we do?

While most think Global Warming can be stopped, they aren’t doing a thing about it. There are simple things that you can do around your home to go “green” as they call it. If everyone were to try on eco friendly trend in their home, how much better could this planet be?

In a recent Real Simple magazine article, a couple in Los Angeles turned their house into an energy saving haven. They proved that you can live green without sacrficing style or comfort.  Transportation was a huge issue in their family. They purchased aToyota Prius for long distance driving, and when destinations are close enough, they ride their bikes or walk. They created a website,  www.Lowimpactliving.com, in which they show the world how they too can create an eco friendly living space.

Some of the hints they do give in the article include…

• Keep the ceiling fan on all ear long. Hot air rises, if you run the fan in reverse at low speed, it will help circulate the hot air.
•  Recirculating water pumps save 3-5 gallons of war everytime you use it.
• Buy used furniture, stop tree-felling.

There are many other things you can do like purchasing organic food, bath linens, and fabric. One step CAN change the world, you just have to try.

“GoingGreen”- Real Simple Article, March 2008

How You Can Contribute to Slowing Down Global Warming

Today many people know about Global Warming, and they worry about it, but they do not think that it would make a difference if they did something that could slow down this process. In fact there are many little things that anyone can do to slow down Global Warming. In Real Simple Magazine, an article talks about many things that people can do to their homes that will make the earth a little better off. For example the article states that you could make your house more energy efficient by insulating the attic with Green-fiber Cocoon. This is a product that is made mostly from shredded newspaper and it is treated with fire retardant. It is not very expensive either, if you thought there was a catch. This material is only 25 cents per square foot. Another example would be to buy an “organic rug” which is made from all natural fibers. It is free from synthetic dyes and it’s recyclable. Now I have a question, did you ever think that coffee grounds could be used to make fireplace logs? Well it is possible. These rugs burn cleaner than wood, they produce less tar and carbon monoxide, and they last for three hours!

All of those tips to make your house greener were for the living-room. Now for your kitchen, there are also some small changes you could make that could be very helpful. For example, the paint that most people use has toxic compounds in it, but there is a paint that contains organic compounds, and using that instead, is helpful to the environment and probably better for your health as well, because it’s not toxic. Water is another extremely important component in our lives, and with a simple faucet, you can reduce the amount of water you waste, because the faucet does not allow the tap to run at full blast. I think that this is a great tip, because many people waste water.

Lighting is also a big part of your house, and it can sometimes be costly to pay your energy bill. But there is a solution, at Energyfederation.org and at many other stores, fluorescent lights can be purchased. These lights could save the U.S. 8 billion kilowatt hours of energy if everyone had these lights in their homes. So there you have it, plenty of useful tips to make your house “greener”, and not only that but a chance to save money also.

by: Elvisa Daka

Sources:

http://energyfederation.org/consumer/default.php

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/homepage/flash/0,23022,,00.shtml

Fears of Global Warming in India & China

As India continues to develop its economy, their CO2 emissions grow as well. New scientific estimates are showing that the country’s dams are responsible for 1/5 of India’s total global warming impact. This study shows that hydropower projects are not “clean.” India’s dams are the largest global warming contributers compared to all other nations, and they lead the way with 45.8 million tons of methane per year. These dams contribute about 4% of greenhouse gasses.

In the past year, India has begun looking at ways in which they can make their country better. They would like to increase efficiency without undermining growth. Even thought India isn’t part of the Kyoto protocol, they do realize that there participation in cutting back on CO2 emissions is necessary.

The world shouldn’t just be looking at the developing countries as a problem for Global Warming. Even though they are part of the problem, the United States is a much bigger factor. President Bush has repeatedly rejected the protocol and can’t accept that Global Warming is happening. The United States should be leading the way in curbing global warming but instead our leaders deny its existence. I think it’s great that India is trying to make their county a cleaner and environmentally friendlier place to live. Now if only the United States could do the same.

Canada is another country that is truly trying to help the enviorment. In 2006, they introduced the Clean Air Pact and were the first federal government to introduce mandatory regulations on all industry sectors across Canada to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gasses. They want to reduce greenhouse gasses to about 45%-65% of the 2003 leavels by the year 2050.

Canada, in my mind, has always seemed to be a “clean” country. It’s really great that they are taking Global Warming so seriously even though they are not one of the larger contributers to the problem.

http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=89455

http://www.canadaglobalwarming.com/

http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/19/stories/2007051916941300.htm

 

By: Hannah Earl

Some Major Contributers to the Problem of Global Warming and an Opposer to the Whole Concept of Global Warming

Global Warming in China: New Documentation

China is one of the biggest polluters on our planet, although still a developing country, China’s cities have some of the most polluted air on earth. This huge nation plays a big role in the climate change for those reasons. It consumes the most coal and it is second in carbon dioxide emissions, after the U.S. Being one of the biggest polluters means that China is playing a big role in Global Warming.

I think that China needs to work on cleaning its air, because it is a very large country and it has caused and probably will continue to cause a lot of damage to the earth’s ozone layer.The Beijing Oplympics are coming up, and China has as one of its goals, to clean up its air before the Olympics. If China takes a few steps to reduce its air pollution, I think that it will do China a whole lot of good, and the rest of the world will benefit as well.

Japan Seeking China’s Cooperation to Cut Air Pollution

In Japan pollution is also a problem, but it is not one that Japan blames on itself. Japan blames its pollution problems on its large neighbor, China. Ozone pollution, is caused when sunlight reacts with emissions from cars and factories. According to this article, China’s pollutants have been found in the air in South Korea, Japan and even on the West Coast of the U.S. Japan is working towards its goal to get the international community to cooperate towards limiting greenhouse emissions.

Japan says that its ozone is polluted by its giant neighbor China. Although China is a big polluter and its pollutants may drift over to its neighboring countries, and even the U.S. I still think that Japan also plays a part in its polluted air. How can it not play a part? When Japan is an industrialized nation, and although it is not as large as China, Japan must make at least some pollutants, enough to pollute its own air at least. Now I’m not saying that China’s pollutants don’t drift over to Japan, but I am saying that Japan does play a part in its own air pollution. I bring this up because it is not mentioned in the article. With that said, I do like that Japan is trying to start on a new plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Urging all nations to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a good long term plan to at least slow down Global Warming.

Written by: Elvisa Daka

Sources:

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-09/2007-09-25-voa5.cfm?CFID=208120067&CFTOKEN=38277062

http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/chinareport.html

Hi and Welcome to Our Blog: Global Warming616

We are three students who are very concerned about Global Warming. We will be discussing the effects of Global Warming in order to inform people about this problem and to expand our knowledge on this topic. We will be using Google Reader to provide us with articles about this topic from a variety of sources. We are subscribed to many Global Warming National and International sources, such as BBC, CNN, The New York Times and other international sources. So we will always be up to date. This blog will last for the duration of this school year, and the topic of our blog is Global Warming as you may have noticed. If you have any comments or questions, please ask and also please listen to what we have to say.