Understanding The Greenhouse Effect

www.bbc.co.uk/climate/evidence/green...

www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/green...


Global Warming

www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalw...
Some FAQ's

www.climatehotmap.org

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids

www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/
Photographic evidence

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandg...

www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/issu...

www.greenpeace.org.uk


CO2 Calculators
Calculate your carbon footprint, in other words the amount of greenhouse gases you are responsible for emitting. If it is quite large, there are many small things you can do to reduce it - see other blog entries.

The average British citizen's Carbon Footprint is 11 TONNES a year.

www.actonco2.direct.gov.uk

www.google.co.uk/carbonfootprint/ind...

Here are some of the effects of Climate Change which may happen if we don't start taking action now. Yes, they may sound dire and even unrealistic - but these have been put forward by scientists. Remember that every little bit you do to make you lifestyle greener makes a difference so keep going, together we can beat Climate change.

1. Ice at the Polar ice caps will melt, destroying the habitat of Polar bears, penguins and other animals and plants living at the Poles. It is likely that these species will die out if their habitat is destroyed.

2. Melting ice would mean rising sea levels. Many coastal and low-lying areas such as London and New York will be flooded. Small islands such as the Maldives are under severe threat from disappearing completely under the ocean, causing devastation to many.

3. Increasing temperatures will also mean changes in the environment in Britain, the USA and more. Native species which we are so used to seeing such as birch trees, bluebells and sparrows could become extinct as the climate will become too hot for them. Instead Britain will become home to plants such as palms and large mosquitos...

4. The proportion of the Earth covered in desert will increase dramatically. Most of the Mediterranean could become desert with unbearable tropical temperatures. Land will be too dry for growing crops meaning huge famines.

5. Rivers could also dry up in very hot places such as Africa which means that these people will have trouble getting any water for drinking let alone for washing and growing crops.

6. Hardships and unberable weather and famines will mean mass emigration to mild climates such as Britain and Scandinavia [although they may even have a Med type climate by that time]. These countires would find it very hard to grow.

7. A rise of just 2C, which looks inevitable at the moment, would mean the death of many fragile coral reefs including the Gret Barrier Reef with its huge diversity of wildlife.

8. At a global temperature rise of around 4C the luscious rainforest, home to the largest variety of plant and animal species in the worls, may start burning.

9. Due to food and water shortages prices for basic necessities would rise dramamtically, putting even more people into poverty and causing an economic collapse.

10. The seas and ocean act as huge 'carbon sinks' absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. However we are adding so much to the atmosphere that soon the oceans may become saturated. At this point they will become stagnat and acidic. Let alone us not being able to swim in them, all life in them will die also.

11. If we carry on not recycling we will run out of landfill space, and nobody has figured out a solution for this yet but recycling. Waste in landfill also emits greenhouse gases such as methane whereas when materials are composted or recycled they do not.

Don't destroy our planet - be aware of the effects and be motivated to take action.

Here are ten tips to do your bit to combat global warming, but without sacrificing or drastically changing your lifestyle.


1. Switch off lights when you leave a room, and don't have them on when you don't need to - for example when there is enough light from outside.

2. Where possible, ask your parents to buy energy saving lightbulbs and replace the old style ones with them. Not only will they make your family's electricity bills lower, but the es bulbs get less hot so you won't squeal when you touch one :p

3. Walk or cycle to places wherever possible. As well as helping the environment it is fun, makes you more independent and keeps you fit! If the distance is too far, rather then taking the car use public transport - less cars on the road mean less CO2 emissions.

4. Switch of appliances like your computer, TV, cd player etc. when not using them. Try not to leave them on standby either, as this uses as much energy as when the object is on! [If it is something like the TV which you use a lot, switch the power off overnight].

5. Don't leave your mobile plugged into the charger when its already charged! As well as draining the battery, this uses up a lot of electricity. Not doing this could cut you CO2 emissions by quite a lot.

6. On the computer, switch your monitor[screen] off when not using it.

7. If you are cold, don't switch the heating on, just throw on a jumper or coat. If you are hot, open the window instead of switiching on the air con. [And don't have the heating when its not winter/really cold!! No need!!]

7. REDUCE the amount of rubbish you produce in the first place - when you're going shopping, take a trendy canvas shopping bag, or similar bag, as long as its not plastic! Instead of taking the free carrier bags from shops put your stuff in there [for little objects like perfume, sweets etc. you can even use your purse/handbag].

8. REUSE materials instead of throwing them away. Reuse carrier bags [or better still take your own to the shop]. Customise those jeans or that tshirt which have gone out of fashion. Donate your old magazines to a doctor's surgery. Bored of that xbox game? Give it to a charity shop or sell it on ebay, so somebody else can use it.

9. RECYCLE if you can't reuse. Pretty much all councils have recycling centres close to peoples homes, if not a door to door collection. Many supermarkets have them as well. There are large containers for paper/card, cans, glass, plastic, and even clothes and shoes you don't want anymore. Sorting your rubbish isn't even that much bother - keep one box for each type, get the whole family involved.

10. Set up a compost heap in your garden. Here you can recycle natural/organic waste such as leaves, fruit and veg peelings, garden waste. If you are worried about the smell there are special composting bins avaliable, which you keep the compost inside until you need it. And tell your parents - Compost is FANTASTIC for keeping the bushes beautiful

Hope this helps you go greener...or consider it!