By Governments
Scientists around the world are now issuing urgent warnings that
global warming is a fact. No more is it a matter of conjecture:
it is real, it is serious, it threatens our lives and our
children's future.
But the same scientists also believe that it is not too late
to
avert
the most severe effects that will undoubtedly hit the
planet in the next hundred years or so - as long as we act now.
In 1992, a start was made. More than 150 heads of
government signed the United Nations Convention on Climate
Change that
seeks to
stabilize greenhouse-gas emissions and
slow
down
the rate of change to manageable proportions. They
committed
themselves to implementing programs that would
mitigate climate change, and to cooperate in research,
education, and training.
Since those
heady
days, however, the
pace
of progress
has slowed. It is now essential that governments across the
political spectrum take immediate and meaningful action that
will lead to cleaner energy production, better and more
efficient public transport, responsible industrial and
agricultural practices, careful
forestry
procedures, and far
more effective
waste
management. Not only that, but countries
throughout the world must also develop international standards
for energy efficiency and agree to legally-binding treaties to
reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.
By Industry
The 20th century has
given birth to the most exciting technological times the world
has yet known. Advances in health care, scientific research,
transport, telecommunications, food production, and methods of
mass manufacture - not to mention our steadily evolving
understanding of the environment - have reached frontiers we
would not have believed possible a generation ago. Now, in the
presence of a new millennium, the scope for
further experimentation and invention is
boundless.
Green electricity - power generated from renewable
sources rather than from conventional fuels - is available for
the asking. Power companies must invest in natural resources
such as water and wind. Various schemes are already under way in
the Netherlands and the United States, so a start has been made. WWF is developing an auditing service for companies currently
exploring renewable energy projects.
All industry can benefit from becoming more energy
efficient. This not only saves businesses money, but also helps
reduce the worldwide threat of climate change. So the industrial
sector must seriously turn its attention to developing and
manufacturing substitutes, such as vehicles powered by
alternative fuels. Architects need to design buildings that
tap
solar energy and have more reflective
facades, which help to
keep interiors cool. And all the time, we must plant more trees
in our towns and cities - to provide shade, keep temperatures
down, and absorb CO2.
By You
At the rate new technology is spreading to the home,
everyone can do something to reduce the threat of climate
change. Telephone banking is already common in many countries,
and ordering goods by cable television, the Internet, and other
electronic means is rapidly becoming the norm. Communications
technology is now so good that more and more people are able to
work from home and use video or telephone conferencing
facilities instead of travelling.
Cutting out
just one car journey a week will help the
climate crisis. So will
turning
the central heating
down
by
merely 1ºC. The use of
insulation, energy-saving electrical
appliances, and efficient light bulbs will make a difference
too: some bulbs can last 10,000 hours and use only 20 per cent
of the electricity consumed by conventional filament bulbs.
Choosing glass over plastic makes a substantial
difference: glass is relatively cheap to produce and its natural
components are plentiful, but many plastics are indestructible -
and burning plastic products usually releases toxic
fumes into
the atmosphere. And if everyone pressed for improved public
transport - and then used it - we would save millions of litres
of fuel. Other simple actions that will benefit the planet
include recycling paper, glass, aluminium, tin, and clothing,
and not buying disposable products or anything with excessive
packaging. All these improvements not only help protect the
environment, but also have the added attraction of saving
money. |