industrialized countries have been the primary GHG emitters, they have the main responsibility for reducing emissions, and they can also play a role in helping developing countries shift to renewable energy sources and adapt to climate impacts. For more about how developing nations are addressing climate change, see Chapter 12.
Solving the Problem
Everyone can play a part in slowing down global warming, and humanity doesn’t have time to start small. Solving climate change requires a major commitment from everyone — from big business and industry to everyday people. Combined, the following changes can make the necessary difference.
Changing to alternative energies
Fossil fuels (see Chapter 4) are the primary source of the human-produced GHGs causing global warming. Although they’ve fueled more than a century of human progress, it’s time to leave them with the dinosaurs. Fortunately, a wide array of energies is waiting to take the place of oil, coal, and gas.
Geothermal: Jules Verne was wrong; the center of the planet doesn’t contain another world, but it does have plenty of heat. People can use that heat to boil water to produce steam that propels turbines and generates electricity. Even areas without geo-heat sources to boil water can heat homes through geothermal energy (the warmth of the earth).
Hydro: People can harness hydropower, or water power, to turn turbines and create electricity.
Solar: Humanity can use the sun’s warmth in a few ways. Solar cells, like you see on some roofs, can convert sunlight to electricity. People can also heat buildings and water with the sun’s direct heat.
Waste: Garbage is more than just trash. It offers astounding possibilities. People can harness the methane emitted from dumps, burn the byproducts of agriculture as fuel, and even use old frying oil as a type of diesel.
Wind: Remember that pinwheel you had as a kid? Giant versions of those wheels are popping up all over the world as wind turbines, generating clean electricity for homes, businesses, and entire energy grids.
Feeling charged up? Check out Chapter 13 to further explore the renewable-energy possibilities, and Chapter 17 to see how rapidly some of these changes are happening already.
Getting down to business
Big industry is the largest contributor to GHG emissions, and it can make the biggest contributions to the fight against global warming. Although some of the changes that businesses can make may have an initial impact on the businesses’ pocketbooks, many of these changes may even save businesses money in the long run.
Industrial-strength solutions
The greatest immediate change businesses and industries can make is to improve their efficiency. Companies waste a lot of energy powering antiquated equipment, heating poorly insulated buildings, and throwing out materials that they could recycle. Chapter 14 details some of the ways that companies can pull up their socks and make smarter use of energy, and it also shares some impressive success stories.
Ideally, renewable energy will ultimately power industry. Industry dependence on fossil fuels must rapidly decrease. Currently, some scientists and industries are trying to store carbon emissions underground. This solution is controversial, however. We consider the issue in Chapter 13.
Green fixes for forestry and farming
The forestry and agriculture industries can do more than just cut back on their GHG emissions; they can actually increase the amount of carbon that’s absorbed from the planet’s atmosphere. (See Chapter 2 to take a ride on the carbon cycle and understand the critical role that plants play in keeping Earth livable.)
Farming’s solution for global warming is dirty — or how dirt is treated. Believe it or not, a simple action like excessively tilling the land causes carbon to be released into the atmosphere. And when farmers add GHG-laden fertilizers to the soil, they release even more emissions. By cutting back on tilling the land and using less fertilizer, farmers can be a potent part of the solution to climate change. Regenerative agriculture (an approach to farming that works to rebuild topsoil) can play a big part in avoiding climate disaster.
Making it personal
You’re a vital part of the climate change solution, too. As a citizen, you can ensure that governments recognize the importance of global warming and follow through on their promises. As a consumer, you can support companies that are making the biggest strides in fighting climate change and encourage other companies to make reducing GHGs a priority. If you’re really passionate about having your voice heard, you might even want to consider joining a group dedicated to spreading the word about global warming. We tell you how you can get involved in Chapter 15.
Making your home more energy efficient: Better insulate your roof, basement, and walls; seal your windows; and replace your old light bulbs with LEDs.
Reducing the amount of garbage you produce: Take a reusable bag with you when you shop, buy unpackaged goods, and recycle and reuse materials.
Using energy wisely: Turn off lights and appliances when you’re not using them, use the air conditioner less in the summer, and turn down the heat in the winter.
Did you know that many of your appliances are gobbling electricity, causing
