Teddy Bears! The thought brings back childhood memories. They are cute, cuddly and perfect play companions. We can buy them in different shapes, sizes, and colors from the shopping malls around us. But as we do so, how many times do we consider the fate of the real polar bears out there that are made of flesh and blood just like us? Unfortunately they have been declared as “endangered species” and to large certain extent “we”- the human species are responsible for it. Yes, our dearpolar bears are at risk of extinction as our actions are destroying their homes by causing the Arctic ice to melt due to global warming(GW)*.
Come to think of it, its not only the bears that are at risk, but bees are not honeymooning either. Bees are maneuvered worldwide to produce products for human use such as honey, beeswax, jelly, venom etc and increasingly bees are being destroyed due to industrial pollution, deforestation and pesticide poisoning. For that matter, if we analyze,almost every species be it plants or animals(including homosapiens aka- humans) are slowly heading toward extinction*.
*How did we get into this mess? Where did it all start?
Some scientists claim that it all began in the 1800s, when Karl Friedrich invented the first gasoline automobile powered by an internal combustion engine in 1885 in Germany, thus signaling the beginning of global warming. Well, the Germans are already blamed for instigating World War II and the holocaust, so global warming – what the heck why not? Its always easier to blame someone! WRONG! ** Sure Friedrich invented gasoline powered engines – but haven’t we all been a party to it over the years, upgrading it, generation after generation? We enjoy the luxury of our air conditioned cars, and can’t imagine commuting without them. As things stand today, automobiles are here to stay and we can’t abandon them. But are automobiles the only reason for causing global warming?There are some scientists who claim that global warming began around 8000 years ago with the increased chopping of trees. Over the years, the constant deforestation for housing, industries and agriculture, have contributed to pollution and depletion of the ozone layer collectively adding to the causes of GW.
Until recently, GW was a debatable issue and EVADING THE UNMANAGEBALE was the choice, not because it was right, but because it was the easier path. As things stand today – When the effects of GW can no longer be ignored, how do we MANAGE THE UNAVOIDABLE?
First lets talk about some of the effects we have already seen thus far:
Global climate change driven largely by the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation. Over the past 250 years there has been an increase in the release of gases such as carbon di oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane etc. The global average surface temperature has risen about 0.8°C compared to the year 1750, and continues to rise. The seemingly modest changes in the average temperature experienced over the 20th century have been accompanied by significant increase in the incidents of floods, droughts, heat waves and wild fires, in different parts of the world, particularly since the 1970s.
There have also been significant reductions in the extent of summer sea ice in the Arctic, large increases in the summer melting on the Greenland ice sheet and movement in the geographic and altitudinal ranges of large numbers of plant and animal species.
Significant harm due to global climate change has already started occurring and further damages are a certainty. Climate change during the 21st century is likely to entail increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather, increases in sea level and the acidity of the oceans that will not be reversible for centuries, large scale shifts in vegetation that cause major losses of sensitive plant and animal species and significant shifts in the geographic ranges of disease causing pathogens. Further, some research reports also suggest that the temperature of sun is actually increasing.
*The challenge now is to keep climate change from becoming a catastrophe.
*MANAGING THE UNAVOIDABLE
*O.k. so we messed up – What do we do now? We can’t go back to being cavemen, but is there anything we can do?
The Elements of a Road Map:
Transportation**:
a] Expand the use of biofuels in the transportation sector with particular attention to environmental impacts, biodiversity concerns, energy and water inputs. Improve efficiency in transportation sector through measures such as vehicle efficiency standards(get your car checked at regular intervals, by certified mechanics), fuel taxes and rebates that favor purchase of efficient and alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids cars.
b] Take the # 11 bus –i.e -walk to school, work or shopping if its within a walking distance. Its good for your health and you are doing service to the mankind as well.
c] If you have to drive to work, you can carpool with a friend or colleague(in this case less cars is more). If you drive alone, drive efficiently – Use limited a/c, turn off ignition if you are stuck in traffic.
d] If you have access to public transportation in your town, avail it by all means. A little sacrifice of privacy and comfort will go a long way. Besides, you get to check out if your tax money is actually being used for the right purposes.
Promote reforestation, afforestation, and improve land-use practices in ways that enhance overall productivity and delivery of ecological services while simultaneously reducing emissions of smoke and soot.
Energy Technology Innovation: Develop new clean energy technologies.
Utilize Advanced Building Designs which can provide emission-free conditioning(cooling and heating) that greatly reduce energy and water demands.
Implement Adaptive Disaster Mitigation Strategiesfor water resources, coastal infrastructure, human health, agriculture and ecosystems, which are expected to be challenged in virtually every region of the globe.
In conclusion, I would like to say that the task does appear daunting, but then Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Humanity must act collectively and urgently at all levels of society – NOW! Its our planet earth, our home after all!
