Samantha Golding

A teenager’s view on global warming

(July 2008)

By Samantha Jay Golding

After reading about Green Issues in Safcor Panalpina’s internal newsletter, the daughter of Eastern Cape Commercial Manager, Debbie Golding, wanted to share her passion for the environment. Below is an extract form her school assignment regarding this topic.

Many people used to describe this phase as the earth’s way of cooling and heating itself naturally. This belief has long since come and gone. It is past ignorance, it is way more serious, it is far more dangerous than most of us would care to admit.

So what is global warming?

The Sun’s energy enters the atmosphere in the form of light waves which heat up our earth. Most of the energy warms the earth and the rest is re-radiated back into space in the form of infrared waves. Normally some of the outgoing radiation is naturally trapped in, thus giving us our comfortable temperatures. The problem now is that the atmosphere is constantly being thickened by human-caused Carbon Dioxide and Greenhouse Gases which cause most of the infrared rays to stay trapped in the atmosphere. As a result of this, the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are getting dangerously warmer.

Greenhouse gases are building up day by day. The substances that form Greenhouse gases are Methane gas; Carbon Dioxide; Nitrous Oxide; Sulfur Hexafluoride PFC’s; HFC’s and Water vapour.

60% of the Methane gases currently in the atmosphere are produced by humans, such as fossil fuel burning; livestock farming; wastewater treatment; landfills and other industries. Carbon dioxide is one of the most harmful greenhouse gases. It is released by Oil; Natural gas; Coal; Cars; Factories; De-forestation; Homes and the production of cement. Nitrous Oxide occurs naturally, although we have contributed 17% more into the atmosphere, namely from our Industrial age; Fertilizers; fossil fuels, and the burning of forests and crop residues. Sulfur Hexafluoride are exclusively produced by humans. PFC’s and HFC’s are released by industrial activities e.g. aluminum smelting, semi-conductor manufacturing, electricity grids and water vapor. Water vapour is a natural Greenhouse gas that increases with warmer temperatures which magnify the impact of all greenhouse gases.

There are a few things you as an individual can do to help reduce these destructive Greenhouse gases. Each and every one of us can make a difference, we just need to believe that we can and unite in our efforts to save our planet earth.

Use energy saving light bulbs instead of the normal 100 watt bulbs.
Try using solar power rather than your geyser, if not, switch off the geyser when not in use.
Shower rather than bath – it uses less energy and water.
Keep unnecessary lights switched off.
Insulate your house or make a fire rather than using an electric heater.
Take a walk to the shops; it helps with the carbon dioxide decrease and increases your physical wellness too!
Use gas stoves rather than electric ones- it’s also easier to cook during times of load shedding too.
Drive cars with smaller engines as they give off way less CO2.
Buy CFC friendly products, e.g deodorants and detergents.
Recycle packaging, cans, bottles, plastic etc by sorting your dustbins into separate compartments.
Purchase biodegradable, usable packets and shopping bags.
Slow your consumption of meat products down as cows are one of the main contributors of Methane gas!
Less demand for meat = Less livestock = Less methane gas!
Go green, eat veggies

If we all put our minds to it we can save our planet from extinction and ensure a future for the children to come.

Want to become more eco friendly? Visit these interesting sites:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/environment/global-warming/gw-overview.html?fs=science.nationalgeographic.com

I’m trying to make a difference…after all we only have one life one chance one earth.

Samantha Golding A teenager’s view on global warming

Samantha Golding

A teenager’s view on global warming