GLOBAL WARMING

ROSELLE S. SALAS

There is only one thing permanent in this world and that is change.

In fact, it inevitable.

We must learn to accept and bear with its impact and consequences. But, we cannot, and we must not remained callous either. Should there be some remedies, at least, even just to cushion its effect, so find it and grab it. Or tomorrow, it maybe late-a catastrophic damage is already right before us. Unless, we do something from here-NOW. The truth is, there is.

Allow me, to elucidate, even from just a mentor vantage point of view or academic insight. Aptly, this principle apply to Global warming commonly known to us as Climate change.

How do we know that there is, anyway, in the first place? Based on research, “glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forest are dying and wildlife is scrambling to keep pace. It is becoming clear that most of the causes of global warming for the past century is because of humans themselves and aptly, we! But how?

By releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. It is called greenhouse gases, there level is higher than the past 650,000 years. It causes the set of changes in earth’s climate.

So as the living things have to cope-up with swirling heat. If we cannot stop, at least, slow it down-the warming. Greenhouse gases absorbed naturally makes concentrations and temperature would be fairly stable. This would allow human civilization to develop within a consistent climate. Other factors like volcanic eruptions and el Niño temporarily cool the earth’s surface but these would not have lasting effect. It is short and unstable.

Why are we concern about this?

The reason is the rapid rise in greenhouse gases is a problem it is changing the climate faster than some living things could adapt and a new and unpredictable climate poses a unique challenge to life. That would greatly affect our very existencesurvival. The greenhouse effect is what keeps the earth’s climate livable. Without it, the earth climate would be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. The planet is warming due to human influence but can human innovations save it also? Economics, sociology and politics are all important factors in planning to solve future problems relative to global warming.

Our goal, according to scientist is stabilize GHS concentrations around 450-550 part per millions (ppm) and this is the point where the most damaging impacts of climate change can be avoided. Current concentrations are about 380 ppm, which means, there is not much time to lose. According to IPCC, we have to reduce GHG emissions by 50% to 80% of what they are in track to be in the next century to reach this level.

Is this possible? Yes. Many people and government are already working to cut greenhouse gases and everyone can help.

How? Research findings have suggested what they call, “stabilization wedges”. This means reducing GHG from variety of sources of technologies available rather than relying on enormous change in single area. They suggest 7 wedges that could each reduce emissions and all of them together could hold emissions at approximately current levels for the next 50 years putting us on a potential path to stabilize around 500 ppm.

Wedges includes improvement s to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy (so less energy has to be produced), increase in wind and solar power hydrogen produced from renewable sources, biofuels (produced from crops) natural gas and nuclear pow er.

There is also the potential to capture the carbon dioxide emitted from the fossil fuels and store it underground- a process called “carbon sequestration”. In addition to reducing gases we emit to the atmosphere, we can also increase the amount of gases we take out of the atmosphere.

Plants and trees absorb CO2 as they grow, sequestering carbon dioxide naturally. Increasing forestlands and making changes to the way we farm could increase the amount of carbon we are storing . Some of these technologies have drawbacks and different parts of the world will choose to rely on certain kinds of energy for different reasons, but there are variety of options to put us on a path toward stable climate.

Ant that is the bottom line. We have to get our acts together to save mother earth and we do so, we save humanity even our own lives-the very lives of our loved oneseven our coming generations who will suffer the brunt of our inaction today-while there is time left for us to move or else, as scientist and even the holy scripture teaches and warns, “man will eventually destroy their own race in the coming days.”

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The author is Teacher III at Caluluan High School, Concepcion, Tarlac