CLIMATE CHANGE: WHAT EUROPE HAS BEEN DOING?

 

Climate change is one of the gravest challenges facing humanity. The EU is working for a global agreement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and is leading the way by taking bold action of its own. In a landmark decision in December 2008, EU leaders approved a comprehensive package of emission-cutting measures. The plan aims to reduce greenhouse gases at least 20% by 2020 (compared with 1990 levels), raise renewable energy's share of the market to 20% and cut overall energy consumption by 20% (compared with projected trends). Within the drive for more renewable energy, it was agreed that 10% of fuel for transport should come from bio fuels, electricity or hydrogen.

Emissions trading

A cornerstone of the EU’s climate change strategy, the emissions trading system rewards companies that reduce their CO2 emissions and penalizes those that exceed limits.

Introduced in 2005, the scheme takes in about 12,000 factories and plants responsible for about half the EU’s emissions of CO2, the main gas blamed for global warming.

Under the system, EU governments set limits on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by energyintensive industries like power generation and steel and cement makers. If these businesses want to emit more CO2 than their quota, they have to buy spare permits from more efficient companies.

 In the future, more industries will be subject to quotas, including airlines and petrochemical companies. EU countries will also be able to offset emissions by buying credits from projects to reduce CO2 in non-EU countries.

Effects of Climate Change Today

Have you ever taken your temperature to see if you are getting sick? Scientists have been taking the Earth's temperature and have found that it is getting warmer. During the past 100 years, the Earth's temperature has risen more than half a degree Celsius (or about one degree Fahrenheit). This may not sound like very much but it is changing our world. Here are some effects of global warming that scientists see happening now.

SEA LEVEL IS RISING

During the 20th century, sea level rose about 15 cm (6 inches) due to melting seawater. It could rise much more than that in the next 100 years.

ARCTIC SEA ICE IS MELTING

The summer thickness of sea ice is about half of what it was in 1950. This is causing the Arctic to warm up faster.

THE OCEAN IS WARMING

Warmer waters in the shallow oceans make coral reefs less healthy. About a quarter of the world's coral reefs have died in the last few decades.

MORE RAIN CAUSES FLOODING

Warmer temperatures have caused more intense rainfall in some places. This can cause flooding.

ECOSYSTEMS ARE CHANGING

As temperatures warm, animals and plants may either look for a cooler place to live or die. Species that are vulnerable include endangered species, coral reefs and polar animals. Warming has also caused changes in the timing of spring events and the length of the growing season.

Hurricanes have changed in frequency and strength.There is evidence that the number of intense hurricanes has increased in the Atlantic since 1970. Scientists continue to study whether climate is the cause.

More frequent heat waves It is likely that heat waves have become more common in more areas of the world.

Seawater is becoming more acidic When carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, gets into the oceans, it makes the water more acidic. This could impact coral reefs and other marine life.

 

Is this the world we want?

Save Our Earth

Questo poster è stato proposto dalla prof.ssa Vincenza Mercadante.

Accogliamo il suo appello.