Add to wetlands (Post of 9/11), soil (Post of 9/7), China (Post of 9/02) and cleaner air/clearer sky (Post of 5/08) yet another cause of global warming-- air travel. Per New Scientist Magazine (NewScientist.com, September 24, 2005):
Air travel boosts climate change
AIR travel is fast emerging as the biggest single obstacle to halting climate change. It is in danger of swamping all efforts to cut greenhouse emissions elsewhere, according to a study which shows that predicted growth in air travel is incompatible with government promises to cut emissions.
The UK, for instance, has set a target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. But it also predicts a quadrupling of air travel by the same date. If that happens, says Kevin Anderson, who led the research for the Tyndall Centre at the University of Manchester, UK, aviation would use up every last tonne of British emissions entitlements. "Households, motorists and business would have to reduce their CO2 pollution to zero," he says.
Assuming this research is accurate, the research is another indication that measures to control alleged human-caused climate change cannot be done in a vacuum. Either reduction in air travel, on the one hand, or reduction in business, etcetera on the order of magnitude discussed above, would of course ruin nations' economies and produce economic regression, meaning increased poverty for those already poor and lower standards of living for everyone.
Moreover, there is simply a lot we don't know about what is causing global warming (if such is actually occurring). On the one hand, China's tremendous increase in air pollution is decried (see Post of 9/02); but, on the other hand, some scientists contend reduced air pollution is itself a cause of global warming (Post of 5/08).
Which is it? If scientists themselves remain uncertain, perhaps draconian climate change prevention measures should themselves be seen as having uncertain benefit--and maybe even as having detriment.
To minimize the glboal warming# Plant trees more and more in open space and alongroadsides.# Use recycled papers.# Discard use of poly bags.# Use ozone friendly gadgets.# Use public transport.# Tune personal vehicles properly.# Use your domestic refuse for vermicomposting.# Minimize use of chemical fertilizers.# Minimize use of chemical pesticides.# Discard food additives.# Learn to live in harmony with nature.# Minimize your needs.
Posted by: sonia | June 12, 2012 at 05:55 PM