Climate change and the need to manage the dwindling fossil fuel reserves are one of the biggest challenges of the planet today. Climate change has occurred in the past, but the current changes are faster than any known occurrence in Earth’s history.
In order to protect ourselves and lead the future, it is widely accepted that we must now work to reduce energy consumption and substantially reduce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. In 1990, the world’s government signed the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases and decided to work out solutions to combat global warming.
What is Climate Change?
Massive changes in the Earth’s climate and environment at local, regional, or global levels, as well as the consequences of these changes, are known as Climate Change. The term “climate change” has most commonly been used to describe changes in the Earth’s climate collectively caused by the emission of greenhouse gases mostly carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, human activity since the pre-industrial period (1850 onwards), burning of fossil fuels and the removal of forests, emissions of pollutants in a huge amount into the air from black carbon, pollution from agriculture, steelmaking, cement, and other factory productions, and forest loss are further sources that rapidly increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in a global climate change.
Temperature rise is also affected by climate feedbacks such as the loss of sunlight-reflecting snow cover, and the release of carbon dioxide from drought-stricken forests and large-scale forest fires, thus modern climate change contains both human-caused global warming and its effects on Earth’s weather patterns.
Global warming and climate change are frequently used interchangeably. The term “global warming” refers to the rise in average worldwide temperatures, which has been connected to serious consequences for humans, wildlife, and ecosystems all across the world. Because there are more variables and consequences than just rising surface temperatures, the phrase climate change is used to encompass these extra consequences. Scientists, representing 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists, agree that human influence has been the dominant cause of observed warming trends since the twentieth century.
“Human activities mean the contribution to climate change by causing changes in Earth’s atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse gases, aerosols, cloudiness, burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere.”
Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have climbed from roughly 280 parts per million (ppm) in pre-Industrial times to 413 ppm in early 2020. This level of carbon dioxide is unmatched in human history. Scientists have claimed that in order to moderate global warming, we need to return to a safe concentration of 350 ppm by 2100.
Kyoto Protocol
A signatory to the UK Kyoto Protocol to manage climate change is actively engaged in measures to fulfill its commitment to a 12.5 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions during the period 2008–12. But there is no way for the UK or 155 other countries to reduce their single emissions. The UK’s response to this challenge is a suite of policies that deal with the problem of emissions in all regions and in different ways. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are the component parts of the North, not only for climate change but also for achieving safe, future energy resources.
After the Kyoto Protocol was signed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the UK government set a target for electricity generation from renewable energy. The first of these goals is to meet 10 percent of the UK’s electricity needs from renewable sources by 2010, with a target of 20 percent of renewable energy by 2020.
However, in Scotland, the load is set higher, as around 24 percent of all electricity needs have already been met from renewable sources, mainly from existing large-scale hydroelectric schemes. As a result, the Scottish Government has set a target for renewable energy of 31 percent by 2011, with the aim of generating 80 percent by 2020. In addition, Scotland has a 42% reduction by 2020 of the highest carbon reduction targets on Earth.
To achieve these goals, the UK Government and the Scottish Government have introduced legislation for licensed electricity suppliers to increase the amount of electricity from qualified renewable sources from year to year from 2003. Additionally, a series of capital grant schemes have been established to support the development of low-commercial renewable technologies such as wave and solar power.
Since the introduction of Renewables (Scotland), or ROS, the Government of Scotland has provided planning consent for 0.9 GW of renewable capacity. Formally awaiting the determination of 4.2 GW with 3.1 GW in the pre-application stage. Similar obligations have been introduced in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, creating a UK-wide cross-border marketplace for renewable energy.
With no small part in Scotland for a favorable policy environment and a streamlined consensus regime, the UK has been rated as one of the top nations in the world to invest in renewable energy and it is the best place to invest in offshore energy projects.
Need to save electricity, how to save electricity
Energy can be saved in many ways. The easiest and cheapest way to save energy is to ensure that it is preserved wherever possible through common-sense actions. This includes turning off lights and appliances when they are not needed and ensuring that the thermostats are set to the correct temperature so that heat is not wasted.
Energy-efficient products and equipment have a major role after energy conservation. White goods, such as fridges and washing machines, now carry European energy efficiency labels, which will tell you how energy efficient the product is. A, A +, or A ++ rating products are the most efficient, and consumers should buy these products. Is being encouraged – saving energy and money in the process. Consumers are also being encouraged to consider other products’ energy efficiency, such as TVs, computers, and hi-fi equipment.
Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings is now a top priority. Buildings waste large amounts of energy through poor design, poor insulation, and inefficient boilers, requiring that we take the necessary steps to deal with the energy efficiency of existing buildings. Use reusable water bottles, not disposable ones. Washing our cars and bikes on the lawn or in the park, not in the driveway. Proper disposal of hazardous chemicals.
There are many ways in which we can save our environment and save energy. And can make your life and future happiness. If we save energy and limit our use, we not only save energy but also contribute to our climate change.
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This Article was Published On: 19 January, 2019 And Last Modified On: 23 December, 2022
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