9 Global Warming Solutions and Preventions Explained

Global warming solutions include renewable energy, sustainable development, afforestation, and effective waste management.

This article is made up of the following sections, with respect to the prevention and control of Global Warming;

1). Key Points

2). Preventing Global Warming: Ways to Address and Manage the Global Warming Problem

3). Development of Sustainable Transport

4). Planting of Trees

5). Development of Innovative Technologies with Low or Zero Carbon Emission

6).  Coal Divestment

7). Improvement of Energy Efficiency

8). Reduction of Beef Consumption

9). Renewable Energy Development

10). Efficient Waste Management

11). Conclusion

12). References

 

Key Points with Respect to Global Warming Solutions;

1). Global Warming poses a threat to the survival of all organisms on Earth, including humans, mainly because it is associated with problems like pollution, disease outbreak and loss of natural habitats

2). For this reason, it is important to address the issue Global Warming

3). Measures which can be taken to reduce or prevent further Global Warming include renewable energy development, energy efficiency improvement, waste management, planting of trees, carbon capture technological development, coal divestment, reduction of livestock production and consumption, and sustainable transport.

 

Preventing Global Warming: Ways to Address and Manage the Global Warming Problem

1). Development of Sustainable Transport

In order to develop sustainable transport, it is necessary to cut down on the use of petrol- or diesel-engine vehicles [7].

This can be achieved on both individual and collective levels.

On the individual level, we can reduce the use of vehicular transport over short distances. When purchasing vehicles, it is also possible to go for the more environment-friendly products, and maintaining vehicles properly to reduce the rate of carbon production from the engine.

Collectively, efforts can be made, to support electric vehicles and other innovative products that help reduce the carbon imprint of transportation.

2). Planting of Trees as a Solution to Global Warming

In addition to serving as carbon sinks (by consuming atmospheric carbon in the process of photosynthesis), trees are essential components of the ecosystem. Their presence supports the survival of organisms, and promotes biodiversity.

Tree-planting is needed, in order to reverse the effects of deforestation on the climate and environment [3].

3). Development of Innovative Technologies with Low or Zero Carbon Emission

Given the fact that carbon dioxide is one of the most prominent and abundant greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, it is important to address the emission of this gas.  

Technologies which have been employed so far, to tackle carbon emission, include carbon capture technology and renewable energy technology [5]. It is crucial for further research and development to be carried out in order to provide more efficient methods and alternatives for reducing carbon emissions.

4).  Coal Divestment as a Solution to Global Warming

Coal had been identified as the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel [4].

Given that most coal power plants are supported mainly by public funding and investment, a reduction or complete elimination of such investment will be a helpful move in the effort to control Global Warming.

5). Improvement of Energy Efficiency

Because electricity is one of the major causes of greenhouse emissions and Global Warming, it is important to lower the rate and volume of energy consumption in buildings and other facilities [1].

To boost energy efficiency will require a conscious effort toward using less energy for cooling, heating and power generation. While there are some energy efficiency technologies for this purpose, it can also be achieved by taking measures like using heat-reflective ceiling materials, sealing windows and doors during the winter, and using renewable energy technologies.

6). Reduction of Beef Consumption

Considering the fact that livestock farming contributes largely to the emission of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, the reduction of the production and consumption of beef and other diary products might be a positive step in the fight against Global Warming and Climate Change [6].

7). Renewable Energy Development

By developing renewable energy technologies like wind, bioenergy, solar and geothermal, the need for fossil fuels as a source of energy can be reduced drastically [2].

This will in turn reduce greenhouse emissions, and control Global Warming.

8). Efficient Waste Management

Waste management can be made more efficient by implementing a number of different measures.

One of such measures is to control the rate of production by manufacturing companies. When the rate of production is controlled, it will enable manufacturing companies to produce less products with higher quality, and will also encourage these companies to release more environment-friendly products.

Another measure which can be taken is to develop efficient and reliable methods and facilities for waste disposal. Sanitary landfills is a good example of such facilities.  In addition, recycling can be encouraged to ensure that more products are reused, rather than discarded.

Through these measures, it will be possible to check the amount of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide that are emitted from discarded waste, thereby controlling Global Warming. It will also help to address the issue of environmental pollution by waste.

Also, waste can be used to derive biofuel, which can be used in place of conventional fossil fuels like oil and natural gas [8]. Biofuel generally produces less carbon and has been used vehicles and power plants.

biofuel production from waste
Biofuel Production from Waste

 

biofuel vehicle, global warming
A Vehicle running on Biofuel (Credit: Mariordo 2013 .CC BY-SA 3.0.)

 

9). Nuclear Power Development

Nuclear energy can be considered a clean energy source. This is because it does not produce any significant atmospheric emissions. If fully developed, it is also capable of meeting the energy demand in the United States, and even worldwide.

It is estimated that nuclear energy usage prevents the emission of up to 470 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, annually.

 

Conclusion

As this article has shown, the possible ways to address the problem of Global Warming, are fairly numerous.

Generally, the ideal approach to reduce Global Warming must involve a reduction of greenhouse emissions. This is because of the major role played by greenhouse gases in causing Global Warming.

Some of the important ways to tackle Global Warming, which have been discussed in this article include; tree-planting, efficient waste management, renewable energy development, sustainable transport and improvement of energy efficiency.

 

References

1). Abdallah, L.; El-Shennawy, T. (2013). “Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Electricity Sector Using Smart Electric Grid Applications”, Journal of Engineering, vol. 2013, Article ID 845051. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/845051.

2). Ahuja, D.; and Tatsutani, M. (2009). “Sustainable energy for developing countries.” Available at: http://journals.openedition.org/sapiens/823. (Accessed 3 December 2021).

3). Carrington, D. (2019). “Tree planting ‘has mind-blowing potential’ to tackle climate crisis.” Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions. (Accessed 3 December 2021).

4). EPA (2021). “Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Available at: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions. (Accessed 3 December 2021).

5). Gray, A. (2017). “5 Tech Innovations that could save us from Climate Change.” Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/01/tech-innovations-save-us-from-climate-change/. (Accessed 3 December 2021).

6). Grossi, G.; Goglio, P.; Vitali, A.; Williams, A., G. (2019). Livestock and climate change: impact of livestock on climate and mitigation strategies, Animal Frontiers, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages 69–76, https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfy034

7). Kumar, N.; Sonthalia, A. Pali, H. S.; and Sidharth (2018). “Alternative Fuels for Diesel Engines: New Frontiers.” DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.80614. Available at: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/63346. (Accessed 3 December 2021).

8). Merriman, J. A. (1993) Waste management and global warming: Finding the least greenhouse gas pathways, Society & Natural Resources, 6:3, 213-227, DOI: 10.1080/08941929309380822

Similar Posts