The Earth's Climate
What is global warming?
Global warming is one of the most serious challenges facing us today. The temperature of the earth’s surface is rising and there is evidence to suggest that this is occurring because of human activities. The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), plus agricultural practices and land clearing is altering the chemical composition of our atmosphere, creating a build-up of greenhouse gases that are blanketing the earth and trapping in heat.
What is climate change?
The earth’s temperature has risen between 0.6 -1 degrees in the last century. This may not seem much, but this increase has affected our weather system, our ecosystems and in turn us. The 20th century's 10 warmest years all occurred after 1985. This has resulted in decreases in snow cover in the northern hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean. It has caused heat waves and is implicated in an increase in catastrophic weather events like hurricanes. Sea level has risen globally 10 to 20 cm over the past century and rainfall has increased worldwide by about one percent. Some plants or animals have changed the location or the timing of their seasonal activities. Scientists now all agree that the average global surface temperature will continue rising, causing escalations in these phenomena.
What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the earth's atmosphere. They act like a blanket that keeps the sun's warmth inside our atmosphere; in just the same way that glass keeps a greenhouse warm. As a result, they maintain the earth’s temperature at a level that supports life. However when human activities cause an increase in these gases they keep too much heat in, causing the earth's temperature to rise in an enhanced greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse gasses that humans generate the most are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide but our greenhouse gas emissions also include various artificial chemicals such as halocarbons.
Today some of our normal everyday activities, like driving cars and electricity use, are responsible for these elevated greenhouse gas emissions.
Visualise your greenhouse gas emissions
* A kilogram of carbon dioxide would fill a large family fridge.
* A tonne of carbon dioxide would fill a family home.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is a United Nations agreement that sets international standards to combat Climate Change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto agreement is made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The countries that ratify this treaty commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and the five other greenhouse gasses or to engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases. Emissions trading is where ecnomic incentives are provided to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
As of August 2006 the Kyoto Protocol included more than 165 countries globally and it represents 61.6% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Notably, Australia and the United States are the only two industrialised countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
What is Green Electricity?
Most of our electricity comes from burning coal and other fossil fuels. In contrast, Green Electricity is obtained from renewable sources such as the sun, the wind or hydro power.
Generally, Green Electricity comes from sources that cause fewer emissions, are often more local and usually contribute to reducing chemical, radioactive, and thermal pollution.
Most electricity suppliers in Industrialised countries now offer a Green Electricity option. It can vary in how renewable it is so it is wise to check exactly how your electricity company sources its supply.
By switching to Green Electricity, in most regions you would no longer create any greenhouse emissions from your electricity.
An average Australian or American would save around 20kg per day; an average Western European about 5.5kg/day.
How does renewable energy work?
Wind Generation uses the energy in wind to turn blades on windmills to produce electricity.
Solar Generation uses solar cells to convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Because the sun is an almost infinite energy source, solar energy is regarded as being one of the cleanest forms of energy available.
Hydro Generation uses flowing water to turn turbines which generate electricity. Renewable hydro generation is electricity generation obtained from running water without damaging the environment in the process.
Ocean power is energy derived from waves and also from tidal flows.
Biomass Generation is electricity generated from using organic sources – such as plant material or methane gas from rubbish tips.
Geothermal energy is derived from hot dry rocks, magma, hot water springs, natural geysers, etc.
What are safe levels of Greenhouse gas emissions?
Scientists say that to stabilise our greenhouse gases we should only create 3.5 tonnes per year – that’s 9.6 kg per day. The average world citizen including third world countries creates 19.2 kg per day (7 tonnes a year). The average Australian creates 68.5kg per day while the average American creates marginally less. The average Briton creates around 32kg per year.
Global warming is one of the most serious challenges facing us today. The temperature of the earth’s surface is rising and there is evidence to suggest that this is occurring because of human activities. The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), plus agricultural practices and land clearing is altering the chemical composition of our atmosphere, creating a build-up of greenhouse gases that are blanketing the earth and trapping in heat.
What is climate change?
The earth’s temperature has risen between 0.6 -1 degrees in the last century. This may not seem much, but this increase has affected our weather system, our ecosystems and in turn us. The 20th century's 10 warmest years all occurred after 1985. This has resulted in decreases in snow cover in the northern hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean. It has caused heat waves and is implicated in an increase in catastrophic weather events like hurricanes. Sea level has risen globally 10 to 20 cm over the past century and rainfall has increased worldwide by about one percent. Some plants or animals have changed the location or the timing of their seasonal activities. Scientists now all agree that the average global surface temperature will continue rising, causing escalations in these phenomena.
What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the earth's atmosphere. They act like a blanket that keeps the sun's warmth inside our atmosphere; in just the same way that glass keeps a greenhouse warm. As a result, they maintain the earth’s temperature at a level that supports life. However when human activities cause an increase in these gases they keep too much heat in, causing the earth's temperature to rise in an enhanced greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse gasses that humans generate the most are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide but our greenhouse gas emissions also include various artificial chemicals such as halocarbons.
Today some of our normal everyday activities, like driving cars and electricity use, are responsible for these elevated greenhouse gas emissions.
Visualise your greenhouse gas emissions
* A kilogram of carbon dioxide would fill a large family fridge.
* A tonne of carbon dioxide would fill a family home.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
The Kyoto Protocol is a United Nations agreement that sets international standards to combat Climate Change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto agreement is made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The countries that ratify this treaty commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and the five other greenhouse gasses or to engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases. Emissions trading is where ecnomic incentives are provided to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
As of August 2006 the Kyoto Protocol included more than 165 countries globally and it represents 61.6% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Notably, Australia and the United States are the only two industrialised countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
What is Green Electricity?
Most of our electricity comes from burning coal and other fossil fuels. In contrast, Green Electricity is obtained from renewable sources such as the sun, the wind or hydro power.
Generally, Green Electricity comes from sources that cause fewer emissions, are often more local and usually contribute to reducing chemical, radioactive, and thermal pollution.
Most electricity suppliers in Industrialised countries now offer a Green Electricity option. It can vary in how renewable it is so it is wise to check exactly how your electricity company sources its supply.
By switching to Green Electricity, in most regions you would no longer create any greenhouse emissions from your electricity.
An average Australian or American would save around 20kg per day; an average Western European about 5.5kg/day.
How does renewable energy work?
Wind Generation uses the energy in wind to turn blades on windmills to produce electricity.
Solar Generation uses solar cells to convert the sun’s rays into electricity. Because the sun is an almost infinite energy source, solar energy is regarded as being one of the cleanest forms of energy available.
Hydro Generation uses flowing water to turn turbines which generate electricity. Renewable hydro generation is electricity generation obtained from running water without damaging the environment in the process.
Ocean power is energy derived from waves and also from tidal flows.
Biomass Generation is electricity generated from using organic sources – such as plant material or methane gas from rubbish tips.
Geothermal energy is derived from hot dry rocks, magma, hot water springs, natural geysers, etc.
What are safe levels of Greenhouse gas emissions?
Scientists say that to stabilise our greenhouse gases we should only create 3.5 tonnes per year – that’s 9.6 kg per day. The average world citizen including third world countries creates 19.2 kg per day (7 tonnes a year). The average Australian creates 68.5kg per day while the average American creates marginally less. The average Briton creates around 32kg per year.
