Benchmark Services writes:
The Greenhouse Effect
As NASA states, we live in a greenhouse - meaning life on Earth depends on the Sun’s energy. Scientists have determined and shown evidence that the major factors causing climate change are land-us changes, aerosols and the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is the process where Sunlight reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, passing through the air and clouds onto the surface. Whilst we know this as “daytime”, this is the agrometeorological time where the sun is absorbed and radiated upwards in the form of infrared heat. About 90% of this heat is then absorbed by the greenhouse gases (i.e. Nitrous Oxide, Water Vapour, Carbon Dioxide and Methane) and radiated back towards the surface.
This has been building up for millions of years, and our human activities have not been helping. In fact, it’s only made our Earth worst. Now, over 11,000 Scientists have signed an agreement in support of a new publication, which presents more than 40 years of data on climate change and makes a bold statement that this crisis is unexpectedly progressing fast.
The scientists say: “The climate crisis has arrived and is accelerating faster than most scientists expected. It is more severe than anticipated, threatening natural ecosystems and the fate of humanity.”
The paper was published in honour of the 40th anniversary of the first world climate conference, held in Geneva in 1979. Published in BioScience, this analysis represents information collaborated from dozens of scientists - discussing ‘profoundly troubling signs’ of the increase in major factors such as world population, air transport and meat production. If these factors continue to rise, the world would simply be in serious danger, so it is vital we take action.
The Plan
Furthermore, the contributing scientists outline six steps to diminish the human-induced activity causing climate change:
- Replace fossil fuels with renewable energy - Today, nearly every service and products people use has a fossil fuel involved somewhere in its production or distribution. One of the most popular examples is transportation - petrol for cars, jet fuel for planes etc. In recent years, electricity has come to be generated as an efficient alternative in terms of the environment and costs. However, it has been discovered that renewable energy dominates the efficiency of the electric substitute.
- Reduce climate pollutants - Climate pollutants refer to any atmospheric compound able to remain in the atmosphere for a shorter period time than Carbon Dioxide, yet their potential to warm the atmosphere can be much greater. By reducing highly potent pollutants like methane, tropospheric ozone and black carbon, we can cut long-lived greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Restrain land clearing - This includes reducing the process of removing trees, stumps, stones and other environmental obstacles for crop-producing land or construction sites. Emissions from land use, clearing and forestry make up approximately 22% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. So by reducing this, we are making a huge difference in the carbon cycle already.
- Restrict the consumption of animal products - Humans need adequate food to survive, and it might be argued where we can only retrieve this food using animals. As many animal products contain the dense amounts of the right nutrients in comparison to other foods, meat and dairy essential. This point does not mean, “convert the global society to veganism”, but rather discusses the idea of consuming meat at a reduced rate. For instance, animal products are essential for very young children growing or people looking to gain weight etc.
- Shift economic goals away from GDP growth - Whilst this isn’t something we can and should stop, steering economic goals away from economic growth could solve a lot of problems. The gross domestic product takes into account our country’s entire economic output and production of goods and services, but it has occasionally been known to get to our heads, and an appropriate resolution can prevent drastic economic growth.
- Stabilise the global population - This will depend on the removal of physical and social barriers that prevent women from using family planning services and control unwanted fertility. Population stabilisation will require poverty alleviation and removal of the need for large families.
The Encouraging Signs
Despite the worrisome statistics that suggest our climate destruction, scientists have identified a few encouraging signs that suggest “it’s not too late”. These signs include:
- £tn assets stripped from fossil fuels increased.
- Carbon price increase.
- Fertility rate decrease.
By continuing to decrease global birth rates, energy consumption, deforestation, and increase fossil fuel divestment, we can make a transformative change and turn around the fate of our Earth.
At Benchmark Services, we have a passion for Science and we like to regularly keep up to date with the industry. This news particularly interested us. It’s important our worldwide community immediately drives their attention to global heating, wildlife extinction and pollution urgently.
Thank you for reading.