What is being done about Global warming?
Answer:
Befor being judgemental...read the facts...I never even realized.
Fight Global Warming by Going Vegetarian
According to the United Nations, the meat industry “emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.”
Global warming has been called humankind’s “greatest challenge” and the world’s most grave environmental threat.1 The scientific community says that there is no doubt that global warming is real and that humans are largely to blame. Human activities are emitting vast amounts of “greenhouse gases” that prevent heat from escaping from the Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists report that this phenomenon will increasingly lead to catastrophic natural disasters, such as more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and hurricanes; rising sea levels; and more disease outbreaks. Scientists also warn that global warming threatens the lives of millions of humans and countless other animals. Many conscientious people are trying to help reduce global warming by driving more fuel-efficient cars and using energy-saving light bulbs. Although this helps, science shows that going vegetarian is perhaps the most effective way to fight global warming.
In a groundbreaking 2006 report, the United Nations (U.N.) said that raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. Senior U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization official Henning Steinfeld reported that the meat industry is “one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems.”2
Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide together cause the vast majority of global warming. Raising animals for food is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide and the single largest source of both methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
Carbon Dioxide: The burning of fossil fuels (such as oil and gasoline) releases carbon dioxide, the primary gas responsible for global warming. Producing one calorie of animal protein requires more than 10 times as much fossil fuel input—releasing more than 10 times as much carbon dioxide—than does a calorie of plant protein.3 Feeding massive amounts of grain and water to farmed animals and then killing them and processing, transporting, and storing their flesh is extremely energy-intensive. In addition, enormous amounts of carbon dioxide stored in trees are released during the destruction of vast acres of forest to provide pastureland and to grow crops for farmed animals. On top of this, animal manure also releases large quantities of carbon dioxide.
You could exchange your “regular” car for a hybrid Toyota Prius and, by doing so, prevent about 1 ton of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year, but according to the University of Chicago, being vegan is more effective in the fight against global warming; a vegan prevents approximately 1.5 fewer tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year than a meat-eater does.4 The math is simple: You could spend more than $20,000 on a Prius and still emit 50 percent more carbon dioxide than you would if you just gave up eating meat and other animal products.
Methane: The billions of chickens, turkeys, pigs, and cows who are crammed into factory farms each year in the U.S. produce enormous amounts of methane, both during digestion and from the acres of cesspools filled with feces that they excrete. Scientists report that every pound of methane is more than 20 times as effective as carbon dioxide is at trapping heat in our atmosphere.5 The Environmental Protection Agency shows that animal agriculture is the single largest source of methane emissions in the U.S.6
Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide is about 300 times more potent as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide. According to the U.N., the meat, egg, and dairy industries account for a staggering 65 percent of worldwide nitrous oxide emissions.7
You Can Help Stop Global Warming!
The most powerful step that we can take as individuals to avert global warming is to stop eating meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Nothing serious! Sad, eh?
I think u should log onto " www.globalcool.com"
I personally believe global warming is a scare tactic. About 15 years ago or so, the buzz was all about "global cooling" and an incoming ice age.
* Did you know the earth was actually warmer in the middle ages than it is now?
* When Mt. St. Helens erupted, it spewed out more greenhouse gases than humans have created EVER. (Yes, the total combined for the entire existence of humans.)
The earth goes through normal cycles of heating and cooling. Right now, we just happen to be on an 'up' cycle. There may be some "record highs" right now, but we haven't kept records for very long at all. (Record keeping on temperature started in 1880.)
In short, not enough.
The official policy of the United States-- the largest emitter of C02 in the world-- is that of "voluntary reductions" in greenhouse gas (GHS's) emissions, as opposed to "mandatory reductions." This means that within the United States, coal power plants-- the largest contributer of GHG's-- don't have to do squat to reduce carbon gases. Other countries, like the European Union, are operating under an international agreement called the Kyoto Protocol which calls for the mandatory reduction of GHG under a market friendly "cap and trade" system. Unfortunately, because the United States chose not to participate under Kyoto, the efforts of the global community are in vain. It's worth noting that China and India-- some of the world's top GHG emitters-- aren't participating in Kyoto either.
Within the United States, at a state level, some state governments like California and most northern and new england states have bypassed the federal government and enacted their own mandatory GHG reduction plans.
Most recently, a block of environmental groups sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) arguing that the government is obligated to issue mandatory GHG limits under the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act (CAA) regulates national air quality standards and controls the amount of pollutants like smog and sulfur dioxide which can lead to acid rain. Just a few months ago, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the environmental groups and ordered the EPA to issue regulations under the CAA to reduce GHG's. The Bush administration has all but pledged to bog down the EPA in bureaucracy on this matter until the next president arrives-- in other words, as long as the current administration is in office, nothing will be done at the federal level.
We can't prevent global warming. Here in Oklahoma we are staying down into the 80s this year. We are usually into the high 90s and low 100s this time of year. Your heat wave may not be that unusual in long term history. The sun does have long cycles of heating and cooling and short term sunspot cycles. These are not the hottest times of the Earth's history. It has been hotter than it is now without mans help.
See the liveearth concert this weekend to raise awareness on the effects of global warming.. Go to the NRDC and other worthwile environmental organizations.
Carbon Diet Plan
I just read about this website on the Wall Street Journal: Carbon Diet Plan. It is an application that can put us on a 'carbon diet'. As an individual and friends, we can make an impact on global warming 1 lb at a time.
http://www.CarbonDietPlan.com
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