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Global Warming and the Copenhagen Summit 2009 – Issues Concerning the Entire World

by Environmental Articles on February 27, 2010


Since last decade, global warming and climate change has become an issue of great concern at the the international platform. The policy makers from all over the world have decided to unite and chalk out a plan to keep the adverse effects of global warming within safety limits. Recently a climate conference is being held up in Copenhagen from 6th to 18th December 2009 where the governments of different nations meet for the last time before the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and global warming runs out at 2012.

Now,as the world is getting technologically and industrially advanced resulting in setting up of huge factories and projects the environmental pollution is heading towards alarming levels at an exponential rate. It's obvious that more factories means more pollution and more carbon emissions which highly aggravate global warming. But the bitter truth behind the entire framework is that we, the common mass, are aware to a great extent regarding this alarming situation yet we do so little for the cause. Actually the fact is that we feel hardly concerned about the effect the global warming is having on our locality and at a large scale, on the world.

Standing today towards the end of the year 2009,the entire world is looking forward towards a successful and mutual agreement at the Copenhagen climate conference. Subsequently several key issues have come up which needs to be resolved first by the governments of the world before we can come to a successful conclusion. The United States have agreed to reduce carbon emissions by 17% by 2020 over 2005. Now they demand India to reduce its emissions by 20-25% within 2020.

India is a developing country which is growing presently at a rate of 8%. But US is technologically a far developed nation than India and obviously they should be taking the upper hand in reducing the global warming across the world. Thus US should make more sacrifices than what is expected out of India. They should agree to reduce carbon emission by more than 17%. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently stated that India has the potent to reduce carbon emission not only by 20-25% but to a level of 37% without sacrificing over the present growth rate but it is only ready to make the commitments provided the US agrees to do the one expected on their part.

Recently a group of UK scientists have warned that if the global warming is allowed to increase at the present rate,the temperature of the world can increase by 4 degree centigrade within 2060 which is earlier than expected. A simple rule that needs to be followed is that the biggest gainers should make the biggest sacrifices. Otherwise the issue of global warming will result in a barrier to the underdeveloped countries towards their development. This is also not desirable under any circumstance.

Thus keeping focus on the entire situation, we must join hands to fight global warming and make the world a better place to breadth and live on.

Anubhav Raychaudhuri

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anubhav_Raychaudhuri
http://EzineArticles.com/?Global-Warming-and-the-Copenhagen-Summit-2009—Issues-Concerning-the-Entire-World&id=3379055

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Carbon Credits – What They Are And How They Help Reduce Emissions

by Mariel Scott on December 17, 2009


Fossil fuels have been extensively used as the main source of energy for many decades now in all kinds of industries and for individual use. However, emission of greenhouse gases like methane and CO2 is caused by fossil fuels, which is quite hazardous for the environment. Increasing emissions have led to a high level of accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming, which is threatening life on earth.

The concept of carbon credits came into existence out of our need to reduce the emissions and save the environment. The famous Kyoto protocol saw over 170 national representatives agreeing to fix standard caps on greenhouse gas emissions in their respective countries in a phased manner. The nations’ government then uses the prescribed limits and allocates quotas to various manufacturing units, fixing the upper limit of emissions by them so that their business activities do not result in excessive emissions.

Through the carbon credits system, the market grants incentives to manufacturing entities that create emissions less than the quota, and punishes those who fail to do so. One ton of carbon released in the air amounts to one carbon credit, according to its definition. Under the arrangement, the entities which release above the limit have to purchase an equivalent amount of carbon credits for such emissions from the global trading market and entities which are under the prescribed emission levels can sell a corresponding amount of carbon credits for the difference between their quota and there emissions.

Such carbon credits transactions motivate lower emissions and thereby help reduce unregulated emissions of greenhouse gases in the air. The trading of carbon credits has made firms pay for their emissions, and it now has a direct effect on the firm’s financial analysis. This has caused companies to actively look for ways to decrease their emissions and opt for cleaner ways of doing business.

Carbon offset credit is another innovative scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emission, which follows a similar strategy. A carbon offset credit is equivalent to one metric ton of carbon dioxide or corresponding greenhouse gas reduction in the atmosphere. Making use of cleaner and renewable energy sources like wind and solar energy helps to attain this crucial reduction.

Like carbon credits, a carbon offset is bought to make up for the emissions that are beyond the allocated limits for a company so that it is able to conform to the emission regulations. Industries, governments and even individual people can buy carbon offset to counterbalance their excess carbon footprint. This helps in promoting and financing decrease in emissions and furthering eco-friendly efforts of generation of energy.

Discover more about Carbon Credits and Carbon Offset and get a deeper understanding on how you can help in saving the environment.

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British Carbon Reduction Roars Ahead

September 11, 2009

Once the Climate Change Act of 2008 was signed, the British carbon initiative was off to the races. This program is likely to get a lot of attention worldwide as it is very forward thinking and sure to make a significant impact in the near future. In this case, the British have set the precedent.

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The US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement on Global Warming

September 11, 2009

When the dust settled on February 16, 2005, 141 countries had ratified the Kyoto Protocol and put it into effect. The United States was not one of those countries who saw fit to join together to stop global warming. Many citizens were disappointed, but one US Mayor decided to do something about it. [...]

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The Kyoto Protocol and Global Warming

August 11, 2009

The Kyoto Protocol was set up in a session of the United Nations in Japan in the year 1997. This initiative was set forth to reduce harmful emissions and to lessen global warming. It was adopted and contains goals for emissions that are legally binding for the countries involved.
The aim of [...]

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The History of the Movement to Stop Global Warming

June 11, 2009

People have not always known about global warming. The idea had to start somewhere. The history of the global warming concept is probably older than you might think. It all began in the late 1800’s.
There was a scientist named Svante Arrhenius who was studying fossil fuel combustion in Sweden towards [...]

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