What You Can Do about Global Warming

Global warming can be frightening and depressing. What can one person, or even one nation, do on their own to slow and reverse climate change? Here are several steps for everyone that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions to safer levels. Doing just a few of them could make a difference.

The first challenge is eliminating the burning of coal, oil and, eventually, natural gas. This is perhaps the most difficult because all over the world a lot of countries live selling oil and natural gas, while other counties consume fossil fuels for heating and industries. There are no perfect solutions for reducing dependence on fossil fuels but every bit counts. So try to employ alternatives when possible – biodiesel, wind power.

The next step is infrastructure upgrade. Buildings worldwide contribute around ⅓ of all greenhouse gas emissions (43 % in the U.S., for example), even though investing in thicker insulation and other cost-effective, temperature-regulating steps can save money in the long run. And bad roads can lower the fuel economy of the most efficient vehicle. Investing in new infrastructure or upgrading existing roads would help to cut greenhouse gas emissions and drive economic growth in developing countries.

You can also move closer to work. Transportation is the second leading source of greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting down on long-distance travel would also help, especially airplane flights, which are one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Flights are also one of the few sources of globe-warming pollution for which there isn't an alternative: planes use kerosene.

Consume Less. The easiest way to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions is simply to buy less stuff. Think green when going shopping. For example, if you are buying a new car, buy one that will last the longest and have the least petrol.

It’s clever to stop cutting down trees – every year, 33 million acres of forests are cut down. Improved agricultural practices along with paper recycling and good forest management could quickly eliminate this part of emissions.

One simple step is unplugging. Believe it or not, a lot of people spend more money on electricity to power devices when they are off than when on. Televisions, stereo equipment, computers, battery chargers and other gadgets consume more energy when switched off, so unplug them instead. Buying energy-efficient gadgets can also save both energy and money, and thus prevent more greenhouse gas emissions. Swapping old lightbulbs for more efficient replacements, such as compact fluorescents (warning: these lightbulbs contain mercury and must be properly disposed of at the end of their long life), would save billions of kilowatt-hours.

Exercise 5. Work in groups/pairs. Think and write down a list of things you can do to reduce greenhouse gases emissions:

People can/can’t … .

I should/shouldn’t … .

We must/mustn’t … .

What steps have you (your friends, your relatives) already been using in your daily life to reduce greenhouse gases emissions? What will you do in future? Some ideas are given as an example:

I/my relatives have already … .

My friend has already … .

I have already unplugged my PC and battery chargers.

I/my relatives/my friend will … .

My father will buy a fuel-efficient car.

Unit 1.6 It’s Global Dimming!