So you have started to walk to work, hang the clothes outside to dry and mow the lawn with a manual mower – will all these changes help to reverse global warming? Yes, according to scientists, but only if the growth of greenhouse gas emissions can be slowed in the next 20 years. We can do this by improving energy efficiency to cut the CO² emissions, and decreasing the non- CO² gases such as methane and carbon monoxide.
The goal is to keep the Earth’s temperature from continuing to raise another once degree Celsius. If this goal is not met, scientists warn that our planet will be warmer than it has been for one million years. The result? The ice on Greenland and West Antarctic will continue to melt and cause the sea level to rise by 25 metres (80 feet). This would be catastrophic for people living along coastlines around the world. We will also continue to see an increase in tropical storms such as cyclones and hurricanes.
To reverse global warming, we will have to cut emissions by 60 to 80 percent, which is possible if governments and industry will use current technology - as well as develop new sources of energy - to improve energy efficiency by 30 percent in the next 25 years. In addition, CO² from power plants need to be sequestered, a process that removes CO² and stores it in oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams and even plants and trees. By restoring native grasses and vegetation billions of tons of CO² could be sequestered from the atmosphere.
While this is a challenge, it is not impossible. With everyone working together to cut emissions and making changes in the way we use energy, we can make a collective difference.
