Problem & solution (Task 7 )

Global warming

Global Warming is caused by many things. The causes are split up into two groups, man-made or anthropogenic causes, and natural causes(Dr. Mark Maslin). One natural cause is a release of methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a greenhouse gas which traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. Another natural cause is that the earth goes through a cycle of climate change that usually lasts about 40,000 years.

On the other hand man-made causes include the biggest problem which is pollution made by mankind. Pollution has many shapes such as burning fossil fuels, population and their needs for more food and methods of transportation and industrial emissions of carbon dioxide.(Time for change, 2007)

Away from the causes, the world had set many solutions for this complex problem. First, the European Union led by Angela Merkel tries to get rid of 20 per cent of her continent’s emissions by 2020 from the 1990 level. Depending on the renewable sources of power such as, water, air, tidal power, biofuel and nuclear power. Secondly, China imposed bitter penalties and taxes against people who use plastic sacks in order to reduce the consumption of plastic; the thing that leads to reducing the pollution of water, air and land. Thirdly, the UN’s convocation for a meeting in December 2007 in Indonesia, to discuss what treaty will succeed Kyoto. (World Resource Review, 1998)

Many countries started to develop technology that saves CO2 such as replacing old water heaters by new developed heaters: companies started to manufacture new fuel efficient-cars that will reduce the amount of CO2 emissions, switching to the green power. Choosing an energy-efficient central air conditioner, depending on public methods of transport instead of individual cars, reduction of driving speed and driving evenly, tuning up and maintaining cars regularly, replacing regular bulbs with compact fluorescents and , carpool or telecommute to work are ways of helping to eache co2 problem. Therefore, people started to classify the garbage according to their raw materials.

Finally, we all have to cooperate to keep our planet in which we live peacefully. We have to think more about new probable problems that may appear in the future and make fast decisions for the solutions.

Bibliography:


1-"Global Warming: Causes, Effects, and the Future" by Dr. Mark Maslin, Feb 15, 2007.

2- "The main cause of global warming." Time for change. 19 Mar. 2007. 24 May 2009 http://timeforchange.org/main-cause-of-global-warming-solutions.

3-"World Resource Review", Global Warming Science & Policy, Proceedings of 9th Global Warming International Conference & Expo (GW9), June 8-11, 1998, Hong Kong, China (3 Volume Set) by Sinyan Shen, October 1, 1998, Supcon International

Cool City (Task 6)

According to the Cool City video which we saw last weekm there are several problems that have happened since the industrial revolution started. The video shows some of them like: The population growth - The traffic congestion - The carbon dioxide emissions.

If we don’t find solutions of this problem we will never decrease the CO2 emissions which need to decreased by 50%.

Since 30 years ago the GDP of Japan has doubled and the energy efficiency has increased by 37%, also the oil consumption decreased by 8%. Most of the emissions comes from the buildings & transport.

There are 3 main zones in Cool city:
Business, Commercial or Cultural and Residential.

Cool city provides three types of transportation :
Hybrid cars, Monorail or Light rail and Solar water taxis.

The solutions which the video mentions to reduce the heat with zero CO2 emissions are by planting trees, water ways and roof membranes.

Cool cityks expected CO2 reductions: for eco-towers 50% & for eco-residences 30%.

In my opinion the people in the UAE must change their life same as the lifestyle in the video. As we know the UAE has the highest rate per kead in carbon footprint in the world. Cool city will solve an important problem. Finally, my hope is to change my country to a cool country and it will be a better life for us and the future.

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