One major part of pollution is greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat on Earth, contributing to global warming.
- Every year, a total of over 36 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere.
- Over 27% of these emissions are from China alone.
- Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 45%.
- Carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas. Other gases such as methane are also contributing to global warming.
- Water vapor only lasts in the atmosphere for about nine days. However, carbon dioxide can remain in the air for thousands of years.
- Other greenhouse gases such as tetrafluoromethane can last for tens of thousands of years in the atmosphere.
- Out of all sources of greenhouse gases, anthracite coal releases the most carbon dioxide per amount of energy produced.
- Greenhouse gases cause ocean water to be more acidic, killing many animals and causing coral bleaching.
Global Warming
by JEMCDLX Beta
"Hello, I am joined with you today to discuss a matter of utmost importance to me and to many other citizens of the world. I am talking about global warming.
Global warming is a crisis so large that some people think that it can't be real. Others are so worried about it happening, they reject the idea that it will ever happen. This is not the case. Most scientists agree that global warming is not only coming, but is already here.
In case you are not sure how global warming works, I will explain. It is caused by certain gases that have been released into the atmosphere. These gases are called greenhouse gasses. These gases trap the Sun's heat, causing [Earth] to warm. Unless the entire world tries really hard to prevent global warming, the disaster will become too large to handle and it will be too late.
Some reasons that global warming is so horrific are that, when [Earth] warms, glaciers and other forms of ice (such as Antarctica) begin to melt. This slowly causes water to rise. This rising water affects the freshwater because the salt from the rising ocean seeps into the land and into fresh water. Now the water has salt in it and is not safe for drinking. Another way that this contaminated water is bad is that it is not good for farming and turns the soil bad. As you can see, climate change could affect food and water, but that is not all! As a result of the rising sea level, small islands will partially or even completely sink under water! As you can imagine, this highly alarms island-dwelling people. Some islands are already experiencing this traumatic occurrence.
As if you need more evidence that global warming is absolutely terrible, here is yet another paragraph about negative effects due to climate change. It will cause a rise in the mosquito population, more poison ivy, coral dying all over the oceans, lots of heat waves, stronger hurricanes and other storms, bigger and more common floods, many more powerful wildfires, [...] more volcanic eruptions, more malaria, Lyme disease and other illnesses, more ticks, droughts, and asthma attacks, worsening allergies, the possible extinction of hundreds of amazing creatures such as polar bears, penguins, frogs, and Koala bears, oh, and Greenland will melt. Yes, it already melts 52 cubic miles per year. Also, the glaciers, which hold 75% or three-quarters of our freshwater will melt into the salty ocean. And if that doesn't convince you, nothing will so I will stop there.
By now, you are probably hoping I will tell you how to fix this. Before I answer that, you should know that there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that there are only a few ways to reverse the effects of global warming, the good news is that we can stop global warming before it becomes overwhelming.
To potentially ease the effects of global warming, there are numerous steps you can take that are both simple and easy. Some things you could do are use water wisely or remember to turn electronics off when you are not using them. You can also ride a bike or carpool with friends. You could grow a vegetable garden. You can support the use of solar and wind power. You can reduce waste by recycling. You could also make sure to insulate homes or buildings so that the heating or cooling system has less of a job. You could even go as far as to host a "Help the Earth" event to spread your concern. Other ways to prevent disastrous levels of global warming would be to use less hot water, buy things with less packaging, or eat things made or grown locally. It wouldn't hurt to eat less meat either. One of the best [ways] that you could help [Earth] would be raising money to protect forests. Trees love to breathe in carbon dioxide!
Some of you may say, "Well, won't we have to change some of our ways of living to keep ahead of climate change?" Yes, we will, I won't deny it. But think of it this way: if global warming continues at the pace it is going right now, we will be in big trouble. We will have to change our entire lifestyles and even that might not be enough! So, let's prepare for the future and think of the good it will do you in the the long run!
Other people might say that, "Well won't it cost a lot of money to fix this crisis?" Yes, it will, but as much as it would cost to protect our home planet, we must, because as soon as this disaster gets out of our hands, there will be no amount of money that can fix it.
Wouldn't it be great if we could live in a world without worrying about storms and flooding? Wouldn't it be neat if you could walk out your front door and not have to worry about being infected by poison ivy, inflicted with Lyme disease or affected by worsening asthma? Wouldn't it be amazing if you could take a stroll through a park and see fresh grass and trees and crystal clear streams that are free of garbage and litter? Wouldn't it be wonderful if a visit to the zoo meant seeing amazing animals and not seeing creatures that are the last of their kind? Wouldn't it be marvelous if you lived in a world where people were working together to save the planet and were succeeding? Unfortunately, the way we are headed as a global community will not be like this.
I don't know about you, but I would sure like to live in this world. If you agree with me, you will be pleased to hear that this world is possible. Join with me to fight global warming and make this world a reality!"
~JEMCDLX Beta
by JEMCDLX Beta
"Hello, I am joined with you today to discuss a matter of utmost importance to me and to many other citizens of the world. I am talking about global warming.
Global warming is a crisis so large that some people think that it can't be real. Others are so worried about it happening, they reject the idea that it will ever happen. This is not the case. Most scientists agree that global warming is not only coming, but is already here.
In case you are not sure how global warming works, I will explain. It is caused by certain gases that have been released into the atmosphere. These gases are called greenhouse gasses. These gases trap the Sun's heat, causing [Earth] to warm. Unless the entire world tries really hard to prevent global warming, the disaster will become too large to handle and it will be too late.
Some reasons that global warming is so horrific are that, when [Earth] warms, glaciers and other forms of ice (such as Antarctica) begin to melt. This slowly causes water to rise. This rising water affects the freshwater because the salt from the rising ocean seeps into the land and into fresh water. Now the water has salt in it and is not safe for drinking. Another way that this contaminated water is bad is that it is not good for farming and turns the soil bad. As you can see, climate change could affect food and water, but that is not all! As a result of the rising sea level, small islands will partially or even completely sink under water! As you can imagine, this highly alarms island-dwelling people. Some islands are already experiencing this traumatic occurrence.
As if you need more evidence that global warming is absolutely terrible, here is yet another paragraph about negative effects due to climate change. It will cause a rise in the mosquito population, more poison ivy, coral dying all over the oceans, lots of heat waves, stronger hurricanes and other storms, bigger and more common floods, many more powerful wildfires, [...] more volcanic eruptions, more malaria, Lyme disease and other illnesses, more ticks, droughts, and asthma attacks, worsening allergies, the possible extinction of hundreds of amazing creatures such as polar bears, penguins, frogs, and Koala bears, oh, and Greenland will melt. Yes, it already melts 52 cubic miles per year. Also, the glaciers, which hold 75% or three-quarters of our freshwater will melt into the salty ocean. And if that doesn't convince you, nothing will so I will stop there.
By now, you are probably hoping I will tell you how to fix this. Before I answer that, you should know that there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that there are only a few ways to reverse the effects of global warming, the good news is that we can stop global warming before it becomes overwhelming.
To potentially ease the effects of global warming, there are numerous steps you can take that are both simple and easy. Some things you could do are use water wisely or remember to turn electronics off when you are not using them. You can also ride a bike or carpool with friends. You could grow a vegetable garden. You can support the use of solar and wind power. You can reduce waste by recycling. You could also make sure to insulate homes or buildings so that the heating or cooling system has less of a job. You could even go as far as to host a "Help the Earth" event to spread your concern. Other ways to prevent disastrous levels of global warming would be to use less hot water, buy things with less packaging, or eat things made or grown locally. It wouldn't hurt to eat less meat either. One of the best [ways] that you could help [Earth] would be raising money to protect forests. Trees love to breathe in carbon dioxide!
Some of you may say, "Well, won't we have to change some of our ways of living to keep ahead of climate change?" Yes, we will, I won't deny it. But think of it this way: if global warming continues at the pace it is going right now, we will be in big trouble. We will have to change our entire lifestyles and even that might not be enough! So, let's prepare for the future and think of the good it will do you in the the long run!
Other people might say that, "Well won't it cost a lot of money to fix this crisis?" Yes, it will, but as much as it would cost to protect our home planet, we must, because as soon as this disaster gets out of our hands, there will be no amount of money that can fix it.
Wouldn't it be great if we could live in a world without worrying about storms and flooding? Wouldn't it be neat if you could walk out your front door and not have to worry about being infected by poison ivy, inflicted with Lyme disease or affected by worsening asthma? Wouldn't it be amazing if you could take a stroll through a park and see fresh grass and trees and crystal clear streams that are free of garbage and litter? Wouldn't it be wonderful if a visit to the zoo meant seeing amazing animals and not seeing creatures that are the last of their kind? Wouldn't it be marvelous if you lived in a world where people were working together to save the planet and were succeeding? Unfortunately, the way we are headed as a global community will not be like this.
I don't know about you, but I would sure like to live in this world. If you agree with me, you will be pleased to hear that this world is possible. Join with me to fight global warming and make this world a reality!"
~JEMCDLX Beta