Global Warming Mitigation

Introduction

Global warming is the continuous and equivocal increase of the average temperatures of the earth`s climatic conditions. It occurs due to increase in the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ozone, methane among others. Global warming threatens the health of both human beings and animals, through increasing drought and famine levels, emergence of new diseases, flooding among others (Metz 795). Therefore, the need for adopting global warming mitigation measures at both individual and global scales becomes necessary. Mitigation involves adopting measures that can reduce future climatic changes. This paper pays high attention to the discussion of the different mitigation measures can be employed in order to reverse the increasing rate of global warming.

Global warming can be minimized through the adoption of numerous measures. For example, adoption of renewable energy sources can greatly reduce the amounts of greenhouses gases that are emitted by non-renewable forms of energy. It is has revealed that the use of fossil fuels is the most contributing factor to climatic changes, due to the release of high amounts of carbon dioxide gas. Most of these carbon-rich fuels are used in running industrial machineries and in running motor vehicle engines. States should substitute these fuels with renewable fuels such as biofuels (Metz 795).

Consecutively, energy conservation and efficient usage can also contribute in reducing global warming. For example, individuals should use public means of transport instead of personal cars. This is because, the energy that would be used by use of public vehicles is less compared to the energy that could be used when both public and personal vehicles are used. Less use of fossil fuels would mean less release of carbon dioxide. Moreover, global warming can be reduced through reforestation, which is natural sinks that absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Therefore, individuals should adopt tree-planting practices in order to enhance these natural sinks (The Economics of Climate Change Mitigation 3-5).

Pros and cons of alternative fuels and carbon sequestration

Some methods of mitigating global warming have both advantages and disadvantages. The ultimate benefit of mitigating global warming is the high reduction of climatic changes proportionally reduces the emergence of diseases, floods, drought and famine, and the conservation of natural habitats of various animals. Consecutively, the use of renewable fuels helps to reduce fuel costs since plant biomass is readily available in the environment and enabling states to attain fuel-independence, since they would not be forced to rely on fuel producing countries such as Middle East (U.S Carbon Capture and Sequestration program13-66).

However, most individuals cannot spare pieces of land for planting trees at the expense of food crops. In addition, the use of biofuels requires intensive research technical experts in order to make it a reality. Moreover, the revenues that are realized after exporting fossil fuels are anticipated to decrease, and in the long affecting the economy of fuel producing countries (The Economics of Climate Change Mitigation 3-5).

Conclusion

It is, therefore, evident that there are numerous methods of mitigating global warming, both at global and individual scale. Some of these measures include; use of renewable forms of energy, conservation and efficient use of energy, and reforestation. Nevertheless, the use of renewable forms of energy is the most promising technique of mitigating global warming. Adopting and implementing this mitigation measure would contribute greatly to the realization of sustainable development.

Work cited

The Economics of Climate Change Mitigation: Policies and Options for Global Action Beyond 2012. Paris: OECD, 2009. Print.

Metz, Bert. Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change : Contribution of Working Group Iii to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print.

U.S Carbon Capture and Sequestration program: Hearing Before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, to Receive Testimony on S. 1013, the Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration Program Amendments Act of 2009, May 14, 2009. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 2009. Print.