Global Warming Causes, Consequences, Measures

Causes of global warming

1. Carbon Dioxide
2. Methane
3. Nitrous Oxide
4. Chlorofluorocarbons

Consequences (Impacts of global warming)

Changes in weather conditions
- Increased temperature
-Global climate change e.g. more droughts & floods

Impact on plants
Amount of rainfall affects food supply

Impact on people
- Diseases
- Dehydration & heat stroke

Impact on animals
Need to migrate to cooler areas for survival

Rising sea levels
- Sea water expand
- Ice caps melt
- Flooding of cities and islands

Measures

INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
Help reduce emission of GHG
1.public transport / cycle / walk
2.Car-pooling
3.Energy saving light bulb
4.Buy CFC free products

NATIONAL LEVEL

A. Enforcing laws & regulations - strict laws on amount of pollutants emitted by vehicles, industries, power stations

B. Use alternate sources of energy
promote vehicles that run on alternative fuel e.g. Hybrid cars in Germany powered by petrol and electric batteries = consume less fuel / release less pollutants

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
1. Montreal Protocol

•Treaty to limit the production and use of CFCs (signed in 1987)
•Signs of ozone depletion slowing down since then

2. Kyoto Protocol

•Treaty for developed countries to reduce emission of GHG •Note that many countries did not accede due to profits from industries and jobs for people