Global Warming
Fossil Fuels
Coal, oil and natural gas are all fossil fuels. When they are burned they release greenhouse gases (for example, carbon dioxide) into the eart h1s atmosphere. Electricity
industries produce 36% of all CO2 emissions (from fuel burning) in the atmosphere -t hat1s more than any other sector such as industry or transport. Other damaging greenhouse gases include Nitrous
Oxide and Sulphur Dioxide which are emitted during combustion of solid waste and fuels, and methane which is emitted during the production and transport of fossil fuels.
The Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is the natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the sun1s energy, warming the earth enough to support life. Over the last 20 years in particular the earth has been heating up at a greater rate than before, with recent research suggesting that this global warming could be worse than first thought due to “Global Dimming” (caused by tiny airborne particles of soot, ash and sulphur dioxide reflecting back the heat of the sun into space).
Climate Change
Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change further. Scientists expect that the average global surface temperature could rise 0.6-2.5 OC in the next fifty years, and 1.4-5.8 OC in the next century. Additionally, harmful gases emitted from fossils fuels burning, such as 502 and NOx, are responsible for the creation of acid rain which has already destroyed many acres of our national forestry.
Right now!
Global warming is melting glaciers in every region of the world, putting millions of people at risk from floods, droughts and lack of drinking water. Rising sea levels threaten entire nations on low lying islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The 2003 summer heat wave in Europe killed 14,800 people in France, according to official figures released in September 2003, and 4,200 in Italy.
Did you know?
The average coal-fired power plant wastes twice as much energy heating up the planet as it converts to useful electricity. Each large 1000 Megawatt (MW) coalfired plant typically emits 5.6 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Global Dimming is believed to be masking the full potential impact of global warming. Its impact on weather patterns (such as seasonal rains) is already thought to be partly responsible for the famines in Africa that led to Band Aid in the ’80s.
Irreversible Implications
Super-hurricanes like Mitch and Floyd could well become more commonplace. Floods, drought and the spread of infectious diseases, like malaria, into new areas will put food and water resources under severe stress. Global warming could spark regional conflicts as large numbers of environmental refugees are driven from their homes. The rapid rate of global warming puts one-third of the world’s forests at risk, as well as the species that depend on forests for their survival.
How is this issue being addressed?
In Ireland and the UK targets have been set to reduce CO2 emissions as part of the commitment these countries made when they signed up to the International Kyoto agreement to reduce the rate of global warming. In particular, significant changes need to be made in energy generation to hit these targets, with far greater investment in renewable sources of electricity.