An Incovenient Truth trailer
Al Gore Interview
david suzuki
talks about canadian Global Warming
David Suzuki
Interview
Global warming
Docum
Global warming
Docu
What is global warming?
Global warming is the rise in temperature of the earth's atmosphere.
It's said that by the time a baby born today is 80 years old, the world will be 6 and a half degrees warmer than it is now.
Is global warming bad?
The earth is naturally warmed by rays (or radiation) from the sun which pass through the earth's atmosphere and are reflected back out to space again.
The atmosphere's made up of layers of gases, some of which are called 'greenhouse gases'. They're mostly natural and make up a kind of thermal blanket over the earth.
This lets some of the rays back out of the atmosphere, keeping the earth at the right temperature for animals, plants and humans to survive (60°F/16°C).
So some global warming is good. But if extra greenhouse gases are made, the thermal blanket gets thicker and too much heat is kept in the earth's atmosphere. That's when global warming's bad.
What are the greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are made out of:
water vapour
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
ozone
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
They are all natural gases, but extra greenhouses gases can be made by humans from pollution.
How are extra greenhouse gases produced?
Extra greenhouse gases are produced through activities which release carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). These activities include:
Burning coal and petrol, known as 'fossil fuels'
Cutting down of rainforests and other forests
Animal waste which lets off methane
What's the 'ozone layer' got to do with global warming?
The ozone layer is another important part of the atmosphere.
It's made up of ozone (a type of oxygen) that protects the earth from too many harmful rays called UVB.
So what could happen?
If Earth gets hotter, some of the important changes could happen:
Water expands when it's heated and oceans absorb more heat than land, so sea levels would rise.
Sea levels would also rise due to the melting of the glaciers and sea ice.
Cities on coasts would flood.
Places that usually get lots of rain and snowfall might get hotter and drier.
Lakes and rivers could dry up.
There would be more droughts making hard to grow crops.
Less water would be available for drinking, showers and swimming pools.
Some plants and animals might become extinct because of the heat.
Hurricanes, tornadoes and other storms which are caused by changes in heat and water evaporation may get more common.
Projected Change Projected Effects
Higher maximum temperatures; more hot days and heat waves over nearly all land areas Increase in heat-related deaths particularly among older adults and urban poor
Increased heat stress in livestock and wildlife
Shifts in tourism
Increased risk of damage to some crops
Increased cooling demand
Higher minimum temperatures; fewer cold days, frost days, and cold waves over nearly all land areas Decrease in cold-related deaths
Decreased risk of damage to some crops and increased risk to others
Increased range of some pests and diseases
Reduced heating demand
More intense precipitation events over many areas Increased flood, landslide, avalanche, and mudslide damage
Increased soil erosion
Increased flood runoff could recharge some floodplains
Increased summer drying over mid-continental areas and associated risk of drought Decreased water resource quantity and quality
Increased risk of forest fire
Increase in tropical cyclone (e.g. tropical storms and hurricanes) rainfall and peak winds over some areas Increased risks to human life, risk of infectious disease epidemics and other risks
Increased coastal erosion and damage to coastal buildings and infrastructure
Increased damage to coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves
What You Can Do
You release greenhouse gases as a result of using energy to drive, using electricity to light and heat your home, and through other activities that support our quality of life like growing food, raising livestock and throwing away garbage. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through simple measures like changing light bulbs and properly inflating your tires. This site provides 30 easy steps you can take to not only reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, but also reduce air pollution, increase the nation's energy independence and save money
Did You Know?
The current national recycling efforts reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50.8 million MTCE (this is equivalent to the annual GHG emissions from 40.3 million cars).
AT HOME
Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, increase the nation's energy independence 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
Change a light, and you help change the world. Replace the conventional bulbs in your 5 most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the ENERGY STAR label and you will help the environment while saving money on energy bills. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action we would prevent more than 1 trillion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Look for ENERGY STAR labeled products
When buying new products, such as appliances for your home, get the features and performance you want AND help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified products in more than 40 product categories, including lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances.
Heat and cool smartly
Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.
Seal up your home with better insulation and duct-work
Close up any visible cracks and gaps in your house, install adequate insulation, check that ducts are sealed and choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows when replacing old windows. Not sure where the cracks and gaps are? A home energy auditor can also help to identify areas with poor insulation and evaluate the energy efficiency of your home. By taking these steps, you can eliminate drafts, keep your home more comfortable year round, save energy that would otherwise be wasted, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Use green power
Green power is environmentally friendly electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun. There are two ways to use green power: you can buy green power or you can modify your house to generate your own green power. Buying green power is easy, it offers a number of environmental and economic benefits over conventional electricity, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, and it helps increase clean energy supply. If you are interested, there are a number of steps you can take to create a greener home , including installing solar panels and researching incentives for renewable energy in your state .
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Use products in containers that can be recycled and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.
Be green in your yard
Use a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you do use a power mower, make sure it is a mulching mower to reduce grass clippings (PDF, 8 pp., 1.59 MB, About PDF). Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. See EPA’s GreenScapes program for tips on how to improve your lawn or garden while also benefiting the environment. Smart Landscaping can save energy, save you money and reduce your household’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Use water efficiently
Everyone can save water through simple actions. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth. Do not use your toilet as a waste basket for toiletry items - water is wasted with each flush. And did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Repair all toilet and faucet leaks right away. See EPA's WaterSense site for more water saving tips.
Spread the Word
Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Tell 5 people and together we can help our homes help us all.
On the Road
The burning of gasoline and diesel fuel 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 foreign oil, make the air cleaner 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
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 and is more reliable and safer! Keep your car well tuned, follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule and use the recommended grade of motor oil. More details, including potential savings from these actions, are available on the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.
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. More details on the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.
Give your car a break
Use public transportation , carpool or walk or bike whenever possible to avoid using your car. Leaving your car at home just two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year. The American Public Transportation Association’s Public Transportation Web site provides links to information about public transportation in your state.
Combine your trips
When running errands, combine trips. Several short trips taken while your car’s engine is cold can use twice as much fuel and produce twice the amount of greenhouse gas emissions as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. More information and ideas are available on the Fuel Economy Guide Web site.
Telecommute
Check out the Best Workplaces for Commuters Web site to learn about commuting choices that can benefit the environment, reduce the stress of commuting, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money. Also consider options to work from home via phone or over the Internet instead of holding face-to-face meetings that involve travel.
Use Alternative Fuels
Find out if you own a Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV). FFVs can be fueled with a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol or with traditional gasoline. Ethanol is produced from renewable crops such as corn and therefore using it as a fuel for your car can lower greenhouse gas emissions. There are approximately 5 million FFVs on the road today. To find out if you own one of them, go to the Alternative Fuels Data Center. The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator will help you locate alternative fuel stations in your area.
What is KYOTO
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Countries that ratify this protocol commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases, or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases.
Australia and the US: Kyoto spoilers
America is the largest polluter in the world. With just four per cent of the world's population, it discharges a quarter of the world's carbon dioxide. Unbelievably, Australia emits even more carbon dioxide per person than the US. But President Bush and Prime Minister Howard have tried to sabotage the Kyoto Protocol.
In negotiations, the Australian government watered down the treaty and filled it with loopholes. These loopholes have effectively brought emissions reduction targets down and allowed countries to cheat on their targets. The targets agreed to are now only a fraction of what's really needed to stop climate change.
Even after these negotiations, Australia and the US still refused to ratify the Protocol.
Canadians use more energy than almost anyone else in the world.
Energy is vital to our economy and to life itself in a cold country — and energy use is a major environmental challenge.
In our northern climate, we use energy to heat our homes, offices and factories, as well as to provide light in the longer nights of winter months. Our resource-based economy is reliant on industries that are exceptionally energy intensive, such as mining, refining, steelmaking, forestry, pulp and paper and petrochemicals. And we use energy to transport goods and services over huge distances in a very large and sparsely populated country.
As a consequence, energy consumption per person is 18 per cent higher than in the United States and more than twice as high as in Europe and Japan. Canadian energy intensity per dollar (US) of economic output in 2001 was 62 per cent higher than in the United States and, again, more than twice levels in Europe and Japan.
The Worst CO2 Polluters in the World
14 Aug 06
Further to an earlier post about Canada's poor environmental performance, here are some (slightly different) numbers on the top 10 worst CO2 emitting countries in the world. These are from the United Nations 2005 Human Development Report
The top 10 emitters, on a per capita basis, are:
1. Qatar 53.1 metric tonnes per person per year
2. Trinidad and Tobago 31.9
3. Bahrain 30.6
4. United Arab Emirates 25.1
5. Kuwait 24.6
6. Luxembourg 21.1
7. United States 20.1
8. Australia 18.3
9. Brunei Darussalam 17.7
10. Canada 16.5
The 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI)
T
he ESI is a composite index tracking 21 indicators, including natural resources, pollution levels, and environmental management efforts, that characterize and influence environmental sustainability on a national scale. The United States ranks 45th. This high-middle ranking reflects high performance on issues such as water quality and environmental protection capacity and low performance on other issues, such as waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Ranked from best to worst
Finland
Norway
Uruguay
Sweden
Iceland
Canada
Switzerland
Guyana
Argentina
Austria
Brazil
Gabon
Australia
New Zealand
Latvia
Peru
Paraguay
Costa Rica
Croatia
Bolivia
Ireland
Lithuania
Colombia
Albania
Central African Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Panama
Slovenia
Japan
Germany
Namibia
Russia
Botswana
Papua New Guinea
France
Portugal
Malaysia
Congo
Netherlands
Mali
Chile
Bhutan
Armenia
United States
Myanmar
Belarus
Slovakia
Ghana
Cameroon
Ecuador
Laos
Cuba
Hungary
Tunisia
Georgia
Uganda
Moldova
Senegal
Zambia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Israel
Tanzania
Madagascar
United Kingdom
Nicaragua
Greece
Cambodia
Italy
Bulgaria
Mongolia
Gambia
Thailand
Malawi
Indonesia
Spain
Guinea-Bissau
Kazakhstan
Sri Lanka
Kyrgyzstan
Guinea
Venezuela
Oman
Jordan
Nepal
Benin
Honduras
Côte d'Ivoire
Serbia and Montenegro
Macedonia
Turkey
Czech Republic
South Africa
Romania
Mexico
Algeria
Burkina Faso
Nigeria
Azerbaijan
Kenya
India
Poland
Niger
Chad
Morocco
Rwanda
Mozambique
Ukraine
Jamaica
United Arab Emirates
Togo
Belgium
Dem. Rep. Congo
Bangladesh
Egypt
Guatemala
Syria
El Salvador
Dominican Rep.
Sierra Leone
Liberia
South Korea
Angola
Mauritania
Philippines
Libya
Vietnam
Zimbabwe
Lebanon
Burundi
Pakistan
Iran
China
Tajikistan
Ethiopia
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Kuwait
Trinidad and Tobago
Sudan
Haiti
Uzbekistan
Iraq
Turkmenistan
Taiwan
North Korea
Table 2: High Population Density Countries – Countries and territories in which more than half the land area has a population density above 100 persons per square kilometer
1 Japan 57.3 8 Poland 45.0 15 Philippines 42.3
2 Germany 56.9 9 Rwanda 44.8 16 Lebanon 40.5
3 Netherlands 53.7 10 Jamaica 44.7 17 Bu rundi 40.0
4 Italy 50.1 11 Belgium 44.4 18 Trinidad & Tobago 36.3
5 Sri Lanka 48.5 12 Bangladesh 44.1 19 Haiti 34.8
6 Nepal 47.7 13 El Salvador 43.8 20 Taiwan 32.7
7 India 45.2 14 South Korea 43.0 21 North Korea 29.2
Table 3: Desert Countries – Countries that are more than 50% desert (WWF Biome Classification
1 Namibia 56.7 8 Niger 45.0 15 Iran 39.8
2 Israel 50.9 9 Morocco 44.8 16 Saudi Arabia 37.8
3 Kazakhstan 48.6 10 United Arab Em. 44.6 17 Yemen 37.3
4 Oman 47.9 11 Egypt 44.0 18 Kuwait 36.6
5 Jordan 47.8 12 Mauritania 42.6 19 Uzbekistan 34.4
6 Algeria 46.0 13 Libya 42.3 20 Iraq 33.6
7 Azerbaijan 45.4 14 Pakistan 39.9 21 Turkmenistan 33.1
Table 4: OAS Member Countries – Organization of American States member countries
1 Uruguay 71.8 9 Bolivia 59.5 17 Honduras 47.4
2 Canada 64.4 10 Colombia 58.9 18 Mexico 46.2
3 Guyana 62.9 11 Panama 57.7 19 Jamaica 44.7
4 Argentina 62.7 12 Chile 53.6 20 Guatemala 44.0
5 Brazil 62.2 13 United States 52.9 21 El Salvador 43.8
6 Peru 60.4 14 Cuba 52.3 22 Dominican Rep. 43.7
7 Paraguay 59.7 15 Nicaragua 50.2 23 Trinidad & Tobago 36.3
8 Costa Rica 59.6 16 Venezuela 48.1 24 Haiti 34.8
Table 5: ASEAN Member Countries – Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countriea
1 Malaysia 54.0 4 Cambodia 50.1 7 Philippines 42.3
2 Myanmar 52.8 5 Thailand 49.7 8 Viet Nam 42.3
3 Laos 52.4 6 Indonesia 48.8
Table 6: NEPAD Member Countries – New Partnership for Africa’s Development member countries
1 Gabon 61.7 15 Malawi 49.3 29 Togo 44.5
2 Central Afr. Rep. 58.7 16 Guinea-Bissau 48.6 30 Dem. Rep. Congo 44.1
3 Namibia 56.7 17 Guinea 48.1 31 Egypt 44.0
4 Botswana 55.9 18 Benin 47.5 32 Sierra Leone 43.4
5 Mali 53.7 19 Côte d'Ivoire 47.3 33 Liberia 43.4
6 Ghana 52.8 20 South Africa 46.2 34 Angola 42.9
7 Cameroon 52.5 21 Algeria 46.0 35 Mauritania 42.6
8 Tunisia 51.8 22 Burkina Faso 45.7 36 Libya 42.3
9 Uganda 51.3 23 Nigeria 45.4 37 Zimbabwe 41.2
10 Senegal 51.1 24 Kenya 45.3 38 Burundi 40.0
11 Zambia 51.1 25 Niger 45.0 39 Ethiopia 37.9
12 Tanzania 50.3 26 Chad 45.0 40 Sudan 35.9
13 Madagascar 50.2 27 Rwanda 44.8
14 Gambia 50.0 28 Mozambique 44.8
Table 7: EU Member Countries – European Union member countries
1 Finland 75.1 9 Slovenia 57.5 17 Greece 50.1
2 Sweden 71.7 10 Germany 56.9 18 Italy 50.1
3 Austria 62.7 11 France 55.2 19 Spain 48.8
4 Latvia 60.4 12 Portugal 54.2 20 Czech Rep. 46.6
5 Ireland 59.2 13 Netherlands 53.7 21 Poland 45.0
6 Lithuania 58.9 14 Slovakia 52.8 22 Belgium 44.4
7 Denmark 58.2 15 Hungary 52.0
8 Estonia 58.2 16 United Kingdom 50.2
Table 8: NIS Countries – Russia and newly independent states that were former republics of the Soviet Union
1 Latvia 60.4 6 Belarus 52.8 11 Azerbaijan 45.4
2 Lithuania 58.9 7 Georgia 51.5 12 Ukraine 44.7
3 Estonia 58.2 8 Moldova 51.2 13 Tajikistan 38.6
4 Russia 56.1 9 Kazakhstan 48.6 14 Uzbekistan 34.4
5 Armenia 53.2 10 Kyrgyzstan 48.4 15 Turkmenistan 33.1
