Assignment # 4

Prominent book authors said that technology is the biggest contributor to climate change, in you capacity as an IT student, how would you address this global problem? Enumerate steps and actions to be taken. (at least 3,000 words)

Global problems can be extract into broad categories. One of the global problems in today’s life around the world is the environmental problem. However there are also some people that sees environmental problem not a problem anymore yet they are quite concerned about the clean air, water, and land. We want to care for our health and environment as well as to preserve the environment as much as possible. There are governing bodies that help the nature clean in general. In order to have a clean air we should control the air emission. To have a safe drinking water we should control the quality of drinking water that will keep the water clean and the oil pollution control to prevent and take action to disastrous oil spills mostly coming from factories. Another complex global problem and the most common global problem is the Earth’s Climate or what we called climate change. With this Global problems affect everyone and are not open to a single or a local solution. Since it is a global problem it is also needed a global solution. Global Problems is associated with cause and effect. Impact is experience as severe stress that drives continual change globally.

Who is the biggest contributor to climate change? Or I rather ask, what is the biggest contributor to climate change? I have searched from the internet some issue about the contributor to climate change. Before answering that question let us first understand the idea of climate change. Differentiating weather and climate is important because sometimes these words are understood having the same meaning which is supposed to be not. Weather is what is happening in the atmosphere at a particular place and time while climate refers to the average pattern o weather in a region. What climate change is? According to wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, climate change is any long-term significant change in the average weather that a given region experience. What is that average weather? These are the average temperature, precipitation and wind patterns. What we have experiencing right know is an end result of a climate change. A change in normal condition of the atmosphere over period of decades to million of years. There is no constant weather condition that we can experience. Most of the time we experienced weather change. Who causes this change? Us? We are the one taking actions that can change the earth and our climate in different ways. Our innocent ways have given results to climate change. An effect of climate change that we are experiencing right now is the Global Warming. Global warming is the increase of the average temperature of the earth. As more carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere, the temperature of the earth will rise. This is cause by people of the past hundred of years who have been burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil in ever increasing quantities. Carbon dioxide that is released are taken up by the plant life and absorbed into the ocean, but not all carbon dioxide is taken up by plants and ocean, in the short-term about half of it remains in the atmosphere. Not only the burning coal and oil but also other industrial activities also have been releasing several other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. If global warming takes place, not every day or every place will be warmer. But on average for the most part of places will be warmer. This will cause changes in the amount and pattern of rain and snow, in the length of growing seasons, in the occurrence and harshness of storms, and in sea level. Farms, forests, and plants and animals in the natural environment, will all be affected

Patrick Smith, an author of Ask the Pilot, said that technology is the biggest contributor to climate change. According to him, commercial planes account for only about 5 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas pollutants. This 5 percent gas pollutant also gives harmful effect to our ozone layer.
Another person that says technology is the biggest contributor to climate change is the author of “take pride in utah”. According to the author, Environmental conservation has always been a topic for lengthy discussions, but up until recent times, global warming and climate changes were vague subjects, with no hard proof. Not surprisingly, the previous lack of attention to these issues has created a very gloomy outlook on our future. So, considering all this, what could be the biggest contributor to climate changes through global warming? Transportation. These are the man-made iron horses, flying machines and sea monsters. The question we have now is how green is our transportation? The majority of the world’s vehicles are fueled by oil (petrol, diesel and kerosene). Even if they rely on electricity, the stations used to generate this electricity use fossil fuels for power. Excluding vehicle manufacture, transportation is responsible for 14% of the artificially created greenhouse emissions, mostly carbon dioxide. Automobiles, trains and planes are all responsible for this problem, but cars are the highest impact-makers. They release approximately six times more carbon dioxide than a plane and seven times more than sea vessels.
For me, it is really the human who is the biggest contributor to climate change, technology is just a tool used by human that give off pollutant gasses. Nobody wants this global warming however this is evitable since we are using technologies. It is not only technology that has something to do with the cause of this global problem. There are human activities that are contributors to possible climate change. The major contributor to possible climate change is the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas. When these are burned carbon dioxide is release, the most important greenhouse gas. The modest contributor to possible climate change is deforestation. When wood is burned, the carbon contained in the trees is released as carbon dioxide. When wood rots in swamps methane can be produced. Living trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Rice paddies, cattle, coal mines, gas pipelines, and landfills produce methane, another greenhouse gas, which today causes about 30% as much warming as carbon dioxide. Fertilizers and other chemicals release nitrous oxide, which today causes about 10% as much warming as carbon dioxide. Another significant cause of climate change aerosol spray cans, nuclear power, the space program, toxic waste.
Have you heard the campaigned about “clean-coal”? A stop coal for green peace. “Clean coal” is an attempt by the coal industry to try and make itself relevant in the age of renewables. Carbon dioxide is a symbol of the most important portion of greenhouse gases. Since coal is a very much polluting energy source because it emits much more carbon per unit of energy than oil, and natural gas, therefore coal is one of the leading contributors to climate change. From mine to sky, from extraction to combustion coal pollutes every step of the way. The huge environmental and social costs associated with coal usage make it an expensive option for developing countries. From acid drainage from coal mines, polluting rivers and streams, to the release of mercury and other toxins when it is burned, as well as climate-destroying gases and fine particulates that cause destruction on human health, coal is unquestionably, a dirty business. It is a major contributor to climate change. The biggest environmental threat we face. It is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, emitting 29% more than oil, 80% more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than gas. Mercury on the other hand, is a problem. Mercury and its compounds are highly toxic and pose a global environmental threat to humans and wildlife.
How fast will the climate change will it change? The answer depends in part on how people behave over the next several decades. If we carry on pretty much with business as usual, expanding the amount of energy each person uses, the developed world will continue to add large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. As developing countries like China and India continue to add population, and become more economically developed, they will begin to add even larger amounts of carbon dioxide.
In my capacity as an Information Technology Student, since it is a global problem, this should be addressed also globally. I will put a campaign for all developing countries to encourage them to lead and contribute the most to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. The problem of climate change is not a single problem. It is a massive number of problems that will be faced by many different groups with different needs and different concerns. Everybody must look at some of the specific things that might be done. What can be done to climate change?
Here are some steps and actions to be done to reduce emissions. Firstly, improving energy efficiency. If we can make things like cars and appliances do their job just as well while using less energy, then we do not need to burn as much coal and oil. Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil produces carbon dioxide. Increasing the energy efficiency in transportation, homes, offices, and factories is the best way we have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions without lowering our standard of living. Secondly, replacing coal, oil and gasoline with cleaner energy sources and technologies would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve efficiency. Instead of gasoline, use ethanol, hydrogen or electricity in cars and trucks. One of innovation of technology in my assignment number two is the separator of hydrogen and oxygen. Instead of using gasoline to run your car, use hydrogen. As what I have said that this technology is existing already. There are a lot of alternative fuels to run the cars, like the ethanol. Ethanol is a kind of alcohol made from corn. If ethanol were made from sustainable agriculture, or if hydrogen or electricity were generated by renewable means, converting all vehicles would eventually reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Another is replacing half of the existing oil and coal fired power plants with solar power plants, which is also the invention I presented. Using this solar energy to provide electricity, light, heat, and steam for buildings and industry wherever possible, it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly in agriculture, deforestation and other human activities are also responsible for significant quantities of greenhouse gas emissions. Reductions can be achieved through improved waste management, altered use and formulation of fertilizers, and changes in land use. Every time we cut tress, we should plant another seedling to replace it. We should avoid burning of woods of trees in the forest to get rid of carbon dioxide. Proper waste management should begin with our self. We will separate the biodegradable, non-biodegradable so that we can recycle whatever waste that can still be use. Improving waste management practices and changing agricultural techniques will reduce methane emissions. Though it accounts for only a small share of the man-made greenhouse effect, methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. By handling plant and animal wastes in a manner that reduces the amount of methane produced as they decompose. Such actions could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, the climate problem affects everyone, and everyone has a stake in deciding what should be done. It is for you to decide what actions you should take as an individual in your home, your car, and so forth. Equally important, as a citizen you must decide which policies to support or oppose. It may be tempting to decide that the climate problem is just too complicated to deal with.
People have different views in global problem like the climate change which is the global warming. People who take no immediate action on climate change or greenhouse gas emissions. They may believe that the impacts of global warming will be very small, or may think that actions to solve global problems are too expensive. People who are so so or moderate. There goal is to slow greenhouse gas emissions and give society more time to solve the problem. Since gas emission is limited total emissions could still grow as the population or economy expands. Moderate action would not prevent climate change. But, if the entire world did it, there is a possibility that it would reduce the impacts of climate change. Tough concerned citizen who had the most ambitious in bringing to an end the emission of greenhouse gases. It aims to prevent climate change altogether. Unlike moderate or so so personality of people, this allows emissions to rise as the economy grows. Thus, in order for the world economy to grow and for living standards to rise in the developing world, ever more innovative ways to prevent emissions from growing would have to be found. If the entire world did it, tough discernment would prevent global climate change.
Again it depends upon us on how we think climate will change and what impact it brings. Whether it can be not bad, moderately bad, or very bad. Of course your judgment not only depends on what you believe about climate change, but also on what you value. People would rate the impact of climate change differently. In short, how you rate the impacts of climate change depends on what you value.
There are number ways you can do to reduce greenhouse gas emission that can cause climate change. At school, students, educators and school administrators can all play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to epa.gov, what can students do is, bring science to life, Explore and watch the climate change that bring to life the science and impacts of climate change. Learn about both the science of climate change and what actions they can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. High school students check your school's climate impact. High school students can investigate the link between everyday actions at their high school, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Using EPA's Climate Change Emission Calculator Kit, students can learn about climate change, estimate their school’s greenhouse gas emissions and conceptualize ways to mitigate their school’s climate impact. Students gain detailed understandings of climate-change drivers, impacts, and science; produce an emission inventory and action plan; and can even submit the results of their emission inventory to their school district. Get Involved at your College or University. College students can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions at their colleges or universities by reducing their emissions from energy they use in dorm rooms. Students can also work with school administrators to: increase energy efficiency on campus, reduce their school's greenhouse gas emissions by using green power, create a campus climate action plan, or develop an inventory of their school's greenhouse gas emissions. For Educators, teach students about climate change and ecosystems. Teac the students about the climate change so that they can learn about the science of climate change and its potential effects on our nation’s wildlife and their habitats. Engage middle school students in estimating emissions. Enhance critical thinking skills by introducing the Global Warming and other resources help students estimate household greenhouse gas emissions in order to encourage students to think about ways to reduce their personal, family, school and community contributions to climate change. Learn from other educators. Investigate what other schools and organizations are doing to educate their audiences on climate change. For the administrators, save money and the environment, Estimate your emissions and take the challenge, and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycle school or classroom paper, newspapers, beverage containers, electronic equipment and batteries. Reducing, reusing and recycling at school and in the classroom helps conserve energy reduce pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing and disposal. You can reduce, reuse and recycle at school or in the classroom by using two-sided printing and copying; buying supplies made with recycled content; and recycling used printer cartridges. For your old electronics, investigate leasing programs to ensure reuse and recycling or donate used equipment to schools or other organization.
On the road, what you can do to reduce greenhouse gas emission? The burning of fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change, but these emissions can be reduced by improving your car’s fuel efficiency. You can take the following actions to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the nation's dependence on oil and save money. For more information, there are also a number of transportation tools available to estimate emissions from transportation and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be reduced through specific activities. Buy smart, Drive smart, Tune your ride, Check your tires, Give your car a break, and Use Renewable Fuels. Buy Smart, before buying a new or used vehicle (or even before renting a vehicle), check out EPA's Green Vehicle Guide and the jointly-run EPA/DOE Fuel Economy Guide. These resources provide information about the emissions and fuel economy performance of different vehicles. The Green Vehicle Guide provides detailed information on emissions (including Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gas scores for each model) and the Fuel Economy Guide focuses on fuel efficiency (including side-by-side fuel economy comparisons and a customized fuel cost calculator). These Web sites are designed to help you choose the cleanest, most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. There are a wide range of cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles available on the market today that produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Drive Smart, Many factors affect the fuel economy of your car. To improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, go easy on the brakes and gas pedal, avoid hard accelerations, reduce time spent idling and unload unnecessary items in your trunk to reduce weight. If you have a removable roof rack and you are not using it, take it off to improve your fuel economy by as much as 5 percent. Use overdrive and cruise control on your car if you have those features. For more tips to improve your gas mileage, visit the Fuel Economy Guide. Tune your ride, A well-maintained car is more fuel-efficient, produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, is more reliable, and is safer! Keep your car well tuned, follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, and use the recommended grade of motor oil. Also check and replace your vehicle’s air filter regularly. Check your tires; Check your tire pressure regularly. Under-inflation increases tire wear, reduces your fuel economy by up to 3 percent and leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions and releases of air pollutants. If you don’t know the correct tire pressure for your vehicle, you can find it listed on the door to the glove compartment or on the driver's-side door pillar.
What you can do at home? Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and save money. Explore our list of nine simple steps you can take around the house and yard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Change 5 lights, Look for energy star qualified products, Heat and cool smartly, Seal and insulate your home, Use green power, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, Be green in your yard, Use water efficiently, Spread the Word.


References:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming#Feedback
http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/campaigns/climate-change/climate-impacts/coal/the-clean-coal-myth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
http://www.aip.org/history/climate/index.html
http://scienceblogs.com/framing-science/2008/09/mccains_biggest_contributor_al.php
http://www.takeprideinutah.org/category/world