Here is a picture that shows the 2002 breakup of the Larsen B Ice Shelf in the Antarctic. This region covering approximately 3250 km2 with 200 m thick ice had been continuously glaciated since before the end of the last glacial period.
What this shows us is what we already know. The increase in temperature is melting the poles. The two significant areas of ice that are above sea level are those of Antarctica and Greenland. The melting of the Artic sea ice (North Pole) is not an issue for sea level change, as we all know – with icebergs, most of the mass is already below the sea level. However Greenland ice is all above the water level. And the Antarctic is a cap of frozen water some 5km deep in some places above the largest continent on the planet. This ice represents 80% of the world’s fresh water between them. Melting of either or both has dire consequences.
How could humans have created this impact on a planet like earth? We have quadrupled the population on the earth in the last 100 years. At the same time we have introduced technologies (car transport, plane transport and electric power generation) that burn fossil fuels at a huge rate of consumption - all in that 100 year history. This is a significant change since the dawn of humanity.
Previously I have talked about CO2; but what are the Green House gases?
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2),
• Methane (CH4),
• Nitrous Oxide (N20)
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Perflurocarbons (PFCs)
• Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
The top two are the most significant offenders, with CO2 the direct result of fossil fuel use and forest burning. Pump these into the air, and the heat can’t escape as it did before, so you get climate change (temperature increase). Just acting on CO2 and to a lesser extent Methane is the real task at hand. In totality though we must address all elements of the Green House gas equation.
With the climate change comes dramatic differences in the world’s climate (more drought in some areas, more violent storms in others). This effects crop production and collection of water for drinking. We of course are witnessing this first hand in Australia. Put on top of that a growing population off the current base of 6.5 Billion people and you have a crisis.
Now, moving away from the drama of this situation, the crisis is actually manageable if we take action at this moment in time. For Climate Change, time is of the essence.
Here are the actions that are needed:
A reduction in electricity production via coal (one of the worse polluters)
A reduction in consumption of electricity in the home and business
A reduction on the use of fossil fuels for transport
An increase in the use of renewable energy sources ie Electricity Generation with:
- Solar
- Wind
- Hydro
- Wave/tide
The use of Petrol/Diesel fuels alternatives:
- Electric Cars
- Fuel Cell powered Cars
- Smaller lighter cars with more fuel efficient engines (ie the Toyota hybrid)
- Bio fuels in Trucks and even in planes
An increase in the use of recycling as a means to reduce the energy used to create products from their natural state ie:
- Paper (also impacts deforestation and the absorption of CO2)
- Steel
- Aluminium
- Glass
This is not invoking rocket science or developing technologies that don’t exist. All the technologies above are in existence. The cost is just not commoditized because we haven’t taken steps to wean ourselves off petrol & coal, and make each alternative a main stream way of life.
The Australian governments’ move to subsidize solar energy installation is I think a poorly planned PR response. It’s an insult to intelligence when you consider the total $30M rebate cost is insignificant to the $10B subsidisation of fossil fuel based industries each year in Australia. For a start you could carbon tax and increase the price of carbon generating devices and industries and let the marketplace use free market dynamics to fill the gaps. The subsidisation currently devised favours solar, but has the effect of stifling other promising options. It creates a funnel effect on the evolution of energy production, and thereby innovation.
Kyoto, through Carbon Trading systems, has a similar impact to Carbon taxing, it increases the cost of carbon producing elements in our economic system and “finances” the innovation and alternative low carbon footprint industries, processes and transport alternatives. It doesn’t say which alternative; it lets the market define that issue. But our Australian government in their infinite wisdom did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. This by the way is the same government that thought up the very limited response to political pressure but the brilliantly conceived solar system rebate (sarcasm, sorry!).
Here’s the position of the world today. Green is good, red is bad. What colour is Australia? Who did we follow like mindless idiots? George W Bush (oh of course! what a good idea, just like the current solar rebate increase!). I don’t see any leadership at all at the helm of the country I love.
Shame on our Australian Government!
So we have choices in this world. Individual and group choices. Let’s not vote for a narrow minded government that has a last minute reaction to political pressure and is still (and never was) on board with the single most important thing that we can do today. That is; committed reduction of our carbon footprint.
What this shows us is what we already know. The increase in temperature is melting the poles. The two significant areas of ice that are above sea level are those of Antarctica and Greenland. The melting of the Artic sea ice (North Pole) is not an issue for sea level change, as we all know – with icebergs, most of the mass is already below the sea level. However Greenland ice is all above the water level. And the Antarctic is a cap of frozen water some 5km deep in some places above the largest continent on the planet. This ice represents 80% of the world’s fresh water between them. Melting of either or both has dire consequences.
How could humans have created this impact on a planet like earth? We have quadrupled the population on the earth in the last 100 years. At the same time we have introduced technologies (car transport, plane transport and electric power generation) that burn fossil fuels at a huge rate of consumption - all in that 100 year history. This is a significant change since the dawn of humanity.
Previously I have talked about CO2; but what are the Green House gases?
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2),
• Methane (CH4),
• Nitrous Oxide (N20)
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Perflurocarbons (PFCs)
• Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
The top two are the most significant offenders, with CO2 the direct result of fossil fuel use and forest burning. Pump these into the air, and the heat can’t escape as it did before, so you get climate change (temperature increase). Just acting on CO2 and to a lesser extent Methane is the real task at hand. In totality though we must address all elements of the Green House gas equation.
With the climate change comes dramatic differences in the world’s climate (more drought in some areas, more violent storms in others). This effects crop production and collection of water for drinking. We of course are witnessing this first hand in Australia. Put on top of that a growing population off the current base of 6.5 Billion people and you have a crisis.
Now, moving away from the drama of this situation, the crisis is actually manageable if we take action at this moment in time. For Climate Change, time is of the essence.
Here are the actions that are needed:
A reduction in electricity production via coal (one of the worse polluters)
A reduction in consumption of electricity in the home and business
A reduction on the use of fossil fuels for transport
An increase in the use of renewable energy sources ie Electricity Generation with:
- Solar
- Wind
- Hydro
- Wave/tide
The use of Petrol/Diesel fuels alternatives:
- Electric Cars
- Fuel Cell powered Cars
- Smaller lighter cars with more fuel efficient engines (ie the Toyota hybrid)
- Bio fuels in Trucks and even in planes
An increase in the use of recycling as a means to reduce the energy used to create products from their natural state ie:
- Paper (also impacts deforestation and the absorption of CO2)
- Steel
- Aluminium
- Glass
This is not invoking rocket science or developing technologies that don’t exist. All the technologies above are in existence. The cost is just not commoditized because we haven’t taken steps to wean ourselves off petrol & coal, and make each alternative a main stream way of life.
The Australian governments’ move to subsidize solar energy installation is I think a poorly planned PR response. It’s an insult to intelligence when you consider the total $30M rebate cost is insignificant to the $10B subsidisation of fossil fuel based industries each year in Australia. For a start you could carbon tax and increase the price of carbon generating devices and industries and let the marketplace use free market dynamics to fill the gaps. The subsidisation currently devised favours solar, but has the effect of stifling other promising options. It creates a funnel effect on the evolution of energy production, and thereby innovation.
Kyoto, through Carbon Trading systems, has a similar impact to Carbon taxing, it increases the cost of carbon producing elements in our economic system and “finances” the innovation and alternative low carbon footprint industries, processes and transport alternatives. It doesn’t say which alternative; it lets the market define that issue. But our Australian government in their infinite wisdom did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. This by the way is the same government that thought up the very limited response to political pressure but the brilliantly conceived solar system rebate (sarcasm, sorry!).
Here’s the position of the world today. Green is good, red is bad. What colour is Australia? Who did we follow like mindless idiots? George W Bush (oh of course! what a good idea, just like the current solar rebate increase!). I don’t see any leadership at all at the helm of the country I love.
Shame on our Australian Government!So we have choices in this world. Individual and group choices. Let’s not vote for a narrow minded government that has a last minute reaction to political pressure and is still (and never was) on board with the single most important thing that we can do today. That is; committed reduction of our carbon footprint.
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